Ascoli Piceno

Dish

Brodetto di Pesaro

Brodetto di Pesaro is a quintessential Adriatic seafaring dish, born of necessity among the fishing communities of the Marche region. Historically, fishermen utilized the 'scarti'—the undersized, broken, or less commercially valuable fish left over after the day's catch was sold—to feed their families. These disparate species were simmered together in a single pot, providing a nutrient-dense, filling meal for those spending long hours at sea or returning to the port after a shift. The dish serves as a point of fierce regional pride, with the coastal towns of Marche each claiming their specific iteration as the original or most authentic. While often grouped under the general term 'brodetto alla marchigiana,' the version from Pesaro is defined by its strict adherence to a multi-species requirement and a specific balance of acid and sweetness. It reflects a Mediterranean culinary philosophy where local availability dictates the recipe rather than a static list of ingredients.

Dish

Olive Ascolane

Olive Ascolane originate from the city of Ascoli Piceno in the Marche region. Their history is often traced back to the 19th century, when local wealthy families commissioned their personal chefs to create elaborate dishes using the local Tenera Ascolana olives. These olives, characterized by their large size and delicate, tender flesh, were stuffed with a rich filling of various meats, reflecting the prosperity of the area's culinary tradition at the time. Over time, the recipe migrated from aristocratic kitchens to the tables of ordinary citizens, becoming the quintessential festive food of the city. While the exact origins are debated by local culinary historians, it is widely accepted that they evolved as a way to utilize leftover roasted meats and slow-cooked stews, making them a resourceful yet luxurious snack. They have since become the defining culinary symbol of Ascoli Piceno, served at weddings, saint's days, and as a staple in the city's lively bar scene.

Dish

Vincisgrassi

Vincisgrassi originated in the Marche region, specifically centered around the province of Ancona. Its name is widely attributed by local tradition to the Austrian General Alfred von Windisch-Graetz, who commanded troops in Ancona during the siege of 1799. As the legend goes, the local cooks created a refined version of lasagna to honor the general, with the name eventually evolving from his surname into the Italianized 'Vincisgrassi'. While the etymology is largely accepted in the region, the dish itself draws from a long history of Marche's rural culinary traditions, utilizing ingredients common to the region's farmhouse kitchens. It was historically a celebratory dish, prepared for weddings, religious feast days, and significant family gatherings, serving as a display of resourcefulness and hospitality in the face of local scarcity. Unlike many other regional pasta dishes that rely on simple tomato-based sauces, Vincisgrassi represents a more complex, aristocratic influence applied to peasant-style proteins, particularly the use of offal.

Wine Appellation

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOCG

Verdicchio-based white from the hills of central Marche — one of Italy's most undervalued whites.