Mayor Elena Pavan has defined it as the city's ambassador and tourist attraction. For regional councilor Elena Donazzan, it is the heart of the "ancient" and winning alliance between growers and restaurateurs. And Giandomenico Cortese, president of the Brotherhood born to celebrate the local asparagus, has not failed to extol its aphrodisiac properties, known - it seems - since the 1500s. The white asparagus of Bassano Dop is once again in the spotlight: not only a protagonist on the tables but also in tourist promotion strategies and territorial marketing. On the day of San Giuseppe - which traditionally marks the beginning of the harvesting season - the Bassano Confcommercio presented the 44th edition of the food and wine festival dedicated to the white vegetable, inaugurating, together with the Consortium for the protection of asparagus growers certified by the Dop brand, a rich program aimed at enhancing the flagship product of the Bassano agricultural area. A cultivation area restricted to 10 Municipalities where, in reality, asparagus beds began to offer first fruits as early as March 8, about ten days earlier than the canonical date of March 19. "The mild winter and the abundance of rains have favored an early development, and this has somewhat caught the growers off guard," explained Consortium president Paolo Brotto. "However, the quality level is high, and the quantities are also good. Expectations are therefore positive, and we hope to end the season with a total balance of 800 quintals." The area's restaurateurs as well as bar and bistro owners are ready, therefore, to network further to turn this horticultural excellence into a driving force for tourism and the economy.
Also involved are former president of the old Ristoratori Bassanesi group Sergio Dussin and other colleagues who, last spring - following some internal controversies - withdrew from a festival completely revolutionized compared to the past. This year, however, the owner of Pioppeto is involved in the promotion program devised by the organization and will also host one of the 11 gala dinners (a twelfth is still being defined) scheduled from April 4 to May 16 in the city and the surrounding area. Until June 13 (Sant'Antonio), it will then be possible to taste the exquisite shoots every day in many other establishments, including pizzerias and even in an ice cream parlor. In the coming weeks, moreover, the territorial president of Confcommercio Paolo Lunardi announced, there will be a trip to Venice to let the Bassano asparagus be tasted by the Regional Council. "The ancient alliance between growers and restaurateurs tells us that teamwork wins battles," warned regional councilor Donazzan, emphasizing how, in terms of tourism, Bassano has now surpassed even the numbers of Vicenza. "After Masterchef," confirmed Mayor Pavan, "many other television programs have dedicated episodes to Bassano, and with the city stop of the 4 Ristoranti format, we have recorded a significant increase in gastronomic tourism."
(GdV, mercoledì 20 marzo)