Title: Vincisgrassi: The Rich and Decadent Pasta Dish Drawing Tourists to Macerata
In the small hilltop city of Macerata, located in the eastern part of the Marche region, tourists are flocking for two main attractions: the summer opera festival and the famous seven-layer baked pasta dish known as vincisgrassi.
The dish, which has its roots in the 18th century, evolved from princisgras, a pasta casserole served to local nobility. The Carducci siblings, who run the Osteria Dei Fiori, have perfected their version of vincisgrassi using a ragù made from a mix of meats including duck, chicken, rabbit, and pork. Dessert wine is added to the pasta dough and used to sauté the chicken and duck livers, adding a unique depth of flavor to the dish.
Vincisgrassi is often compared to lasagna, but the Maceratese prefer to distinguish their dish as a rich and luxurious layered pasta creation. The dish is baked to perfection, with a top layer of nutmeg-inflected béchamel sauce adding a subtle hint of smoke.
While vincisgrassi may not be a dish consumed daily due to its richness, it remains a beloved traditional dish in Macerata, drawing visitors from near and far to experience its decadent flavors.
So, if you find yourself in Macerata, be sure to visit Osteria Dei Fiori and indulge in a taste of vincisgrassi, paired perfectly with a glass of Gàjole Verdicchio di Matelica 2021. It’s a culinary experience you won’t soon forget.
