Festa della PITILLA

AUTHENTIC SALENTO STREET FOOD IN CELEBRATION: ON 18 AUGUST IN
SPECCHIA GALLONE THE 'FESTA DELLA PITILLA' RETURNS


On 18 August, the unmissable event of the
of the Salento summer organised by the Fratres ODV group of Specchia Gallone
which celebrates the origins of typical Salento 'street food', the Pitilla, bread
of Arab origin seasoned with key elements of the Mediterranean diet, combining
the spirit of the Salento festival with that of solidarity and charity.





In Specchia Gallone (hamlet of Minervino di Lecce) on 18 August
2024 the 'Festa della Pitilla' returns for the 18th edition, the particular type
of bread of Arab origin, recognised as a typical product with Ministerial Decree 8663 of 05
June 2009 known only in certain areas of the Lower Salento, of which Specchia Gallone
is the leader.


The volunteers of the Fratres ODV Group of Specchia Gallone - with the
patronage of the Lecce-Brindisi Territorial Fratres Group and the Municipality of
Minervino di Lecce - are already at work for the success of this edition that
sees festivity, fun and taste combined with healthy principles of communion and
charity, in the solidarity spirit at the heart of the Fratres group.


The event was born 18 years ago in order to promote conviviality
and spread the principles of solidarity typical of Fratres: encouraging
transfusion donations by promoting the motto 'Donating is life', revolving
the festival on one of the primary elements of good food: bread.


The popular cuisine of Salento is made up of poor ingredients that become rich and full of flavour thanks to the skills of the Salento housewives: this is the leitmotif of the event, to prevent traditions from fading away and to rediscover the true flavours of poor cuisine and comfort food: the pitilla stuffed with 'scattarisciati' tomatoes (sautéed in oil to create a delicious sauce) or fried peppers can raise serotonin levels!
Celebrating the typical cuisine of Salento means going back in time, dusting off the customs and traditions of the peasant world, seeing our ancestors working in the fields, savouring the first fruits as a small reward, taking a break under the sun and recharging oneself with an energetic 'snack', primarily bread and tomato. This snack would then become a rich and elaborate dinner thanks to the skilful hands of the Salento housewives who - having returned from the fields - would transform the first fruits of the garden into succulent dishes full of flavour in which to scarpetta with bread, - peperonata, fried peppers, 'scattarisciati' tomatoes, to name but a few dishes of the popular Salento gastronomic tradition.
This tradition lives again in Specchia Gallone - a small village on high ground not far from the famous seaside resorts of Castro, Santa Cesarea terme and Otranto - thanks to the group's volunteers, who personally take care of the selection, harvesting and preparation of all the products that will make the pitille.

PITILLA is a special bread kneaded only with water and flour and baked in a stone oven. It is distinguished by its spongy texture, which goes well with the ingredients of the genuine 'poor' gastronomy most typical of the Salento: fried peppers, peppers and tomatoes 'scattarisciati' (sautéed in oil to create a delicious sauce), grilled aubergines or mushrooms in oil. Another very particular variant of filling for pitillas is the one called 'de li masculi', made with anchovies and ricotta forte, so nicknamed because it would have an aphrodisiac power, in fact, it would be a particularly 'virile' dish, according to our ancestors.
To fully pay homage to the traction and gastronomy typical of the Salento, during the event it will also be possible to taste other typical local street food products: the ever-present 'pittule' (similar to fried pizza dough, classic plain variant and variant stuffed with tomatoes or capers); sandwiches with chunks and grilled meat, and Chips.
Soundtrack of the evening, the notes of traditional Salento music, pizzica, DJ sets, karaoke and group dances.

The popular musical entertainment is entrusted to the 'Gruppo Folk 2000 - I Scianari' with their 'Balla Balla Musica Popolare Salentina Live Tour'.
The venue is the Parco S. Anna in Specchia Gallone (SP 56 towards Poggiardo), Sunday 18 August 2024, 9 pm.
Free admission.
In order to encourage transfusion donations, the 'PITILLA E BEVANDA GRATIS' (PITIL AND FREE DRINK) initiative will be running again this year in recognition of those who have donated blood in a transfusion centre in the province of Lecce in the name of the Fratres ODV Group of Specchia Gallone. It will be necessary to obtain a donation certificate from the blood transfusion centre where you went in the days preceding the event and present it at the stand.
Offerings will be donated to the Fratres Group's activities, primarily the purchase of a defibrillator for Borgo Specchia Gallone.

Mangia La Pitilla, Fai Bene E Fai Del Bene!
Web: www.facebook.com/festadella...