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| Fermignano, Italy |
“Ribbit, ribbit”, accompanied by massive crowd cheers isn’t all that unusual in Fermignano, Italy this Sunday. Frogs are taken very seriously at the annual Golden Frog Race, Palio della Rana, held the Sunday after Easter in the Marche region to celebrate Fermignano’s independence from The Duke of Montefeltro 1607. So seriously that the frogs are examined by a doctor before and after the race, to assure health and lack of tampering.
Of all the oddities, the event also includes Medieval costumes, Renaissance garb, and food and beverage that certainly would displease the featured participants. Young men representing one of the 
five regions in Fermignano dress up Medieval style accordingly by color to operate a frog occupied wheelbarrow through the street race. If the frog jumps, the lad must stop to retrieve it and resume once the frog is back in place. Intense. The cheering and celebration form with a kick off parade welcoming the party weekend that includes historical attire including falconers and a spotlight on, rather ironic, eats.
Fried frog legs
Fried frog legs are the widespread menu offering during the famous festival. Attendees can expect live music, fireworks, and ancient craftsmen in addition to the main attractions. Fired up patrons root for their district contender until the first lad/frog/wheelbarrow ensemble crosses the finish line declaring the winner of
this year’s Palio della Rana.
Falconers on parade goers.
The famous frog race is accurately described as hysterical, unusual, and amusing. Festivals of all varieties are a draw to Italy, Palio della Rana is certainly an event that does not disappoint in terms of tradition and entertainment. Festivals are a popular attraction for planning and choosing travel destinations. Many regions host versions of their city’s independence days, but Fermignano is the only to feature frogs in this outlandish and swell festival.
Does your city have an unusual celebration? We would enjoy having a variety of offbeat traditions at events from all over the globe in the comments section below!
At a spectacular New England wedding weekend last year featured was a pizza truck slinging individual pies to guests after a backyard welcome party/rehearsal dinner. While this highlighted the evening celebration and ultimately extended festivities well into the morning, noted missing: something sweet was in order as well. Pino Gelato offers gelato carts that would be a major hit in similarly structured pre-wedding events. A gelato cart would be ideal for a rehearsal dinner’s more casual fare treating those closest to the couple and/or welcoming guests whom traveled long distances while typically working to set the vibe for the duration of the wedding’s activities. The rich, creamy texture and endless flavors of gelato would certainly set the bar high and provide a welcome smile to all. The gelato cart would be a stellar ensemble to stations at any type of wedding, itself being completely customizable. The cart option is completely
Gelato can be used as a tool to incorporate wedding colors at dessert time. Often a couple can be swayed toward the current trends. Instead of falling victim to a gimmick or even the impractical (try to endure a make-your-own-vegan-cupcake-
Ah, the love. A day for recognizing the adoration, admiration, and appreciation one has for others. Dating back to an Italian, Saint Valentine, love and the proclamation for all it beholds has varied mildly, however gestures that represent those feelings are always evolving in displays currently through flowers, cards, and most importantly, treats. More accurately, Valentine’s Day has become a true spotlight for various sweet confections to shine in glory and display love (or self-indulgence if it is that type of year) in the most delicious way. Regardless of the sentiment wished to express this Valentine’s Day, gelato is the premium sweet to celebrate with. 
Beyond the nod to the Italian lineage of love and our beloved icy creation, gelato transpires decadence in a way no bon-bon can. The romantic Italian language of gelato flavors, Vaniglia, Cioccolato, alone are enough to impress any
Gelato represents love, in sharing, in Italian culinary history, and in the presentation it offers this Valentine’s Day. Gelato in any form and flavor will help to spread love and happiness to all lucky enough to enjoy the sweet Italian treat. The magnificence surrounding gelato and the people held most important to us pair up this holiday to make for an enchanting celebration. Gelato = amore. 
We have dessert covered this year. For an impressive yet simple option serve or bring our Pino Gelato custom gelato cake shaped and made to look like a football for guests to ogle over until dessert time. The cake itself adds instant thematic décor and is a favorite for all ages. Another convenient option for hosting or attending a party is to bring pints or quarts of various gelato flavors that can be used to top just about any dessert. An idea would be to have handheld mini pies, cakes, and other assorted favorite treats with a station for guests to self-serve scoops to accompany their selection. Similarly, the gelato can be used with a coffee bar set up to allow guests to create a pick-me up with espresso or coffee and a variety of after-dinner liqueurs poured over their gelato flavor of choice. The possibilities for gelato and dessert are endless and an ideal fit for wowing people over on food-day/game-day. 
New Orleans lends easy menu selection in terms of drinks this Sunday with
Manufacturers typically whip air into their ice cream products, which results in over 50% of air by volume. Gelato does not have all this air whipped into it, which means it is a dense, rich product full of flavor. This texture makes it thick and “creamy” without the use of heavy cream. Because ice cream contains more than twice as much air as gelato, the high fat content in the heavy cream allows ice cream to maintain a creamy texture. Sorbetto, gelato without milk, is dairy-free, gluten-free and fat-free.
Often gelato
No Italian grandmother wants to hear a family member is on a diet, food should never qualify as a stipulation. Instead, while the average mind jumps to hearty pasta dishes and decadent treats while imagining Italian food, the focus is naturally on wholesome dishes meant to bring families together over a respect for the meal. In Italy the mid-day meal or lunch is the larger portion over any other daily meal. The longer break during the day allows for time to gather with family and friends and leaves dinner to typically be of lighter fare much like an American lunch. Try to implement this on the weekend or days off to start. Another benefit of this structure is to include others in the process. Cooking together will teach children or family and friends of all ages that allotting
Italian cooking is simple and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean poultry, dairy, and healthy fats such as olive oil. Tomatoes, a staple in many dishes, have health benefits such as lycopene a type of antioxidant and vitamin c. Garlic has both anti-fungal and antibiotic properties and adds a tremendous amount of natural flavor. Olive oil is used as the primary cooking oil and is high in monounsaturated fat, when used in place of butter the saturated fat in dishes are reduced. Dark leafy greens, vegetables, and herbs
Beyond the health benefits of the commonly used foods, portion control is important when implementing the Italian way of dining. Due to the socialization aspect of meals and the rich fresh ingredients present it is simple to stop when a person is full. Moderation of real foods allows room to indulge on a small sweet treat. Gelato or pastry on occasion, is a right and a much better choice over processed sweets. Espresso and coffee products are part of daily intake and do aid in boosting metabolism and digestion. It is ritual to share an espresso after finishing a meal in Italy and a welcomed tradition to help set pace over the busy American, often rushed, mealtime.
Ladies and gentlemen, let us celebrate in spirit with spirits of the sweetest variety this year. One of the top elements to a holiday gathering is the beverage options, in order to create the most spectacular offerings serve a couple of signature cocktails that incorporate gelato. Truly brighten the crowd and atmosphere with a gelato addition to a traditional Bellini or a dark stout beer. 
Options are encouraged when entertaining, so in addition to having a full bar of spirits and wine (or a selection of personal favorites) have another featured gelato cocktail, such as a dark stout beer float. Offer chilled beer glasses filled with dark stout beer and in a make-your-own fashion present three flavors of gelato next to the poured beer. Hazelnut, caramel, or vanilla gelato is a flavor that complements the notes present in the dark beer. If there is a full bar display then use the gelato in combination with after-dinner drinks such as Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur from Northern Italy, or Sambuca, an Italian anise-flavored liqueur. Serve alongside or within an espresso, of course. 