A Caravan of Bagna Cauda from Liguria to Piedmont The Olympic “fujot” lights up in Asti on November 23.
The largest collective bagna cauda in the world is scheduled for the last two weekends of November and from January 29 to February 2, 2025 with the Bagna della Merla. The slogan of Bagna Cauda Day 2024 is: «Esageruma nen: the world belongs to everyone»
Bagna Cauda Day 2024 is enriched with a new event: a caravan of vintage cars that, starting from Liguria and going up the Col di Nava, will arrive in Piedmont to bring – like the three wise men – the “foreign” ingredients of bagna cauda: the new oil of freshly pressed Taggiasca olives and anchovies from the Ligurian Sea. There will also be garlic from Vessalico.
On Saturday 23 November, on the trail of one of the ancient salt routes, a group of vintage cars from the Camea club of Asti , with the support of Asti Energy , will set off from Badalucco, one of the towns in the Argentina Valley, one of the capitals of Ligurian oil, famous for its medieval bridges. From Piazza Marconi to Badalucco, the town of the historic Roi oil mill , the caravan, greeted by the Ligurians after the symbolic delivery of oil, anchovies and garlic, will climb the hairpin bends of Col di Nava, then descend into Piedmont along the Tanaro Valley. Before arriving in Asti, it will pass through Nizza Monferrato to stock up on cardoons, the queen vegetables of every bagna cauda, and Barbera ( Cantina del Nizza ).
The arrival is expected at 5.30 pm in Piazza Libertà in Asti where a large fujot (the typical stove for bagna cauda) has been set up which will be lit like a brazier by Olympic athlete Alice Sotero, the pentathlete who represented Italy twice at the Tokyo and Paris games.
Bagna Cauda Day 2024: from Piedmont to China, from New York to Japan
Bagna Cauda Day is the largest collective and contemporary bagna cauda in the world. It will be celebrated in more than 170 venues including restaurants, historic cellars, and agritourism, with over 48,000 seats available at the table. The initiative is promoted for the twelfth year by the Astigiani Cultural Association, which allocates its profits to concrete solidarity actions. This year with a new feature: no longer two, but three weekends: November 22, 23, 24 and November 29-30 and December 1, to which the Bagna della Merla is added January 29-30-31 and February 1-2, 2025.
The event, which is widespread throughout Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta and Liguria, also has significant presences abroad. In China, the Piedmontese who work in Shanghai and Wuhan will celebrate Bagna Cauda Day, and Bagna Cauda Day will also be celebrated in Japan , New York , London and other European capitals: Madrid, Budapest and Bratislava .
The bagna cauda
It is a traditional and convivial dish spread throughout the world wherever there are Piedmontese. A hot sauce of oil, anchovies and garlic that welcomes all types of vegetables from the garden, “dipped” in fujot and accompanied by bread and wine. There are cardoons, but also cabbages, turnips, red biarava, boiled potatoes and onions, leeks and Jerusalem artichokes etc. Bagna Cauda has accompanied the winters of dozens of generations of farmers. It is an ancient ritual that has become current again with the addition of an ingredient: irony.
Which venues are participating and why you need to follow the traffic lights
To find out which venues are participating in the original formula, simply go to the website: www.bagnacaudaday.it and scroll through the lists, divided by geographical area: Asti, Monferrato, Langhe, Torinese, Alto Piemonte and more. For each venue, a card is published with the number of places available, telephone and email to book.
You have to follow the traffic lights that indicate the type of bagna cauda offered: red for the classic version “as God commands”, yellow for the “heretical” one with diluted garlic and green for the “atheist” bagna without garlic. There is also the possibility of having the bagna cauda at home, ready with all the right vegetables from the places that offer the “Sporta a ca’” version.
Bagnacaudisti will be able to express their appreciation for the welcome and conviviality received.
How much does it cost to participate?
The reference price of Bagna Cauda in all establishments will be 30 euros, without the addition of a cover charge. Some establishments will also include appetizers and other delicacies in this price. Also planned are the Bagna sovrana version and the Finale in gloria with truffle. The wine is offered at the price of 15 euros per bottle. The Bagna Cauda Day sees the alliance of four important wineries from Asti, leaders of Barbera: Bava di Cocconato, Braida di Rocchetta Tanaro, Cascina Castlèt di Costigliole d’Asti and Coppo di Canelli.