There are many reasons to love the city of Sydney. One of them is its ability to reveal itself under a different light; another is the way it can gently lead you by the hand and take you down memory lane. Last week’s Blessing of the Fleet took me back to Sicily and today’s Norton Street Italian Festa 2010 in Leichhardt allowed me to reminisce about the last trip to Italy through food, drink and culture.
With the main street closed to traffic, it was through the Barilla arch and onto La Festa!
There were Zippoli and Briscoli that caught the eye,
and Italian gingerbread in various shapes.
Soft almond nougat was plentiful,
while Lupini beans made me think of the mezze I ate in Lebanon.
This was a serious looking barbecue.
Would you like an Italian sausage?
Or a Gorgeous Hot Italian that Can Cook? Personally… I’d want both!
Doughnuts with Nutella Fondue and Nutella Ravioli with Baileys Foam from Aperitivo sounded very tempting.
The Piadina stall from Mondo di Piadina was busy dishing out these flat bread sandwiches. Last time we ate a piadina, we were on the Venetian island of Murano.
“Patate…” I heard someone explain this Potato on a Stick; a popular snack with the young ones.
There were Nutella pizzas. A Nutella jar? Pass me the spoon!
The Porchetta stall was very popular. The suckling pig was succulent and cooked overnight.
They worked fast to serve the queue of hungry people.
A smiling little Piggy…
The last time we ate porchetta was under the moonlight, in a forest outside of Rome in Ariccia.
We paused in the heat to sink a couple of Birra Moretti. Last time we cin-cin’ed, we were with family in Mogliano Veneto.
It wouldn’t be an Italian event without cars such as Alfa Romeo, Fiat and Lancia,
or this vintage Fiat.
Italian memorabilia added a splash of patriotic colour.
You can be CSI (Certified Sexy Italian) or just Take the Cannoli. Last time we saw these T shirts, we were in the beautiful town of Erice in Sicily.
And the last time we saw Pinocchio, he was at a souvenir stand in Venice near the Rialto.
Folkloric dancers performed on stage.
That is why it is called La Festa!
And it wouldn’t be an Italian Food Festa without finishing the day with a ricotta Cannoli.
The Norton Street Italian Festa was part of the Crave Sydney Food Festival and took place on Sunday 31 October 2010.
Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic:
Australian Cheese Showcase 2010: The Rocks Market
Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey
Night Noodle Markets
Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar
Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic
Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel
Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets
Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets
Crave Sydney Food Festival Website
http://www.cravesydneyfoodfestival.com.au/
Italian Festa Website
http://www.festa.net.au/
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jools Stone and Ms Gourmantic, Ms Gourmantic. Ms Gourmantic said: [New on G] Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa 2010 – Crave Sydney http://bit.ly/b0PQdE #cravesiff #italian […]
This looks like so much fun! We have continental markets here but not with all the cars, singing and dancing. In answer to your questions, yes I want a sausage (and now please, quickly smartly!) and a serious barbecue or really just the products from it. The pig is smiling in anticipation of the happiness he will bring me, I like to think!
This was by far the most fun of the recent outdoor festivals. And oh yes, piggy is saying ‘eat me’. It tasted so good…
One sausage coming right up. I’ll throw in an Italian that can cook as well, preferably a good porchetta!
[…] Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic: Australian Cheese Showcase 2010: The Rocks Market Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets Sydney Food and Wine Fair Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa […]
[…] Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic: Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets Sydney Food and Wine Fair Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa […]
[…] Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic: Australian Cheese Showcase 2010: The Rocks Market Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets Sydney Food and Wine Fair Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa […]
Looks so fun! Could I have one of those little Italian cars, please? Any one will do!
They’re so cute! It amazes me how much small cars have gotten larger of late when compared to these vintage beauties.
How fun! I remember learning when I was studying Italian that there was a huge community of Italians in Australia…this festival looks like it had tons of great Italian offerings & it simply looks like a really good time! Love the Fiat 500s – & you’re so right, wouldn’t be an Italian festa without them 🙂
You are correct. Italians make up a significant part of Australia’s culture and festivals such as this can attest to that! 🙂
You are correct. Italians make up a significant part of Australia’s culture and festivals such as this can attest to that! 🙂
Gorgeous hot Italian that can cook, ok you got me. I rushed to this post searching for one in the human form, humph! Although, a few of those vendors might qualify. I would really like some of that porchetta and a cannolo, please. Looks like the festa was both tasty and fun.
I thought you might, Kathy 😉 Actually, I thought of you on the day and how much you’d enjoy it. Could have eaten our way through a few cannoli and talked about Italy.
[…] year the Leichhardt Council holds a Norton Street Italian Festa. Here is where you can find La Porchetta!!!! This years dates have not been released, but […]
[…] Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic: Australian Cheese Showcase 2010 Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets Sydney Food and Wine Fair Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa […]
[…] Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic: Australian Cheese Showcase 2010: The Rocks Market Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa […]
[…] Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic: Australian Cheese Showcase 2010: The Rocks Market Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets Sydney Food and Wine Fair Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa […]
[…] The Night Noodle Markets runs weeknights October 11-15 and 18-22 from 5pm-9.30pm. Additional information here. Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic: Australian Cheese Showcase 2010 Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Slideshow/Photographs of the Night Noodle Markets Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets Sydney Food and Wine Fair Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa […]
[…] Other Crave Sydney 2010 events on Gourmantic: Australian Cheese Showcase 2010: The Rocks Market Cocktail of the Month at La Scala on Jersey Night Noodle Markets Summer Hill Grand Food Bazaar Cocktail of the Month at Monkey Magic Monkey Magic Sugar Hit: Black Sesame Crème Caramel Blessing of the Fleet at the Sydney Fish Markets Sydney Food and Wine Fair Porchetta, Birra and Tarantella: Norton Street Italian Festa […]