by InTrieste
Before the city’s signature food and wine festival begins, Friuli Venezia Giulia is turning the spotlight on one of its oldest traditions: the neighborhood osteria.
The preview event, “Aspettando Friuli Doc in Osteria” (“Waiting for Friuli Doc in the Osteria”), was presented Thursday in Piazzetta del Pozzo, where locals gathered for “Polenta in Piazza,” a celebration of traditional cornmeal dishes and regional specialties.
Running in two phases — Sept. 3–6 and Sept. 10–13 — the initiative will involve historic osterie across the region, offering visitors a taste of Friulian cuisine and hospitality ahead of the 32nd edition of Friuli Doc, Udine’s annual festival dedicated to the region’s food, wine and cultural heritage.
Regional Council President Mauro Bordin said the event recognizes the role that family-run osterie continue to play in preserving local identity and strengthening community life. He described them as living expressions of Friuli’s agricultural and rural traditions, carrying forward customs that remain central to the region’s character.
Among the day’s highlights was the preparation of traditional polenta by Alberto Budai, regional councilor and president of the Gruppo Tutela Antica Polenta di Fauglis, which promotes one of Friuli’s most enduring culinary symbols.
The launch was attended by Udine Deputy Mayor Alessandro Venanzi and Enzo Mancini, president of the Friulian Committee for the Preservation of Osterie, which organizes the initiative.
