The Orchard Ovens Guide to Creating an Italian Ferragosto Experience in Your Own UK Back Garden

Never heard of Ferragosto? Not sure what it is? Well, it is one of the biggest summer celebrations in Italy, taking place on August 15 each year. Its roots stretch back 2000 years, to a Roman festival named Feriae Augusto, created by Emperor Augustus to give agricultural workers some respite after the harvest.

Later in time, the Roman Catholic church aligned the celebration with the Feast of the Assumption, providing it with religious meaning.

Now, Ferragosto is all about families coming together for a long, relaxed meal, friends eating outdoors from lunchtime until late evening, festivities, music, games and fun.  At a culinary level, it focuses sharply on enjoying seasonal ingredients at their very best.

Unlike Christmas or Epiphany, this is not a celebration that focuses on gifting but about making time for each other and enjoying the great outdoors.  That can translate well into any English garden.  Where the homeowner has the means to bring the taste and aromas of the Mediterranean into their own back garden, thanks to owning an authentic Tuscan woodfired pizza oven, made by the maestro, Valoriani, even better.

Recreating the atmosphere of Italy for your Ferragosto party

The first thing to focus on is dress code.  Go very Italian by asking guests to dress in linen shirts and summer dresses, with sandals or espadrilles as footwear.

Think about some natural decorations to pop around the garden – basil or rosemary in a planter, terracotta pots and maybe some fresh sunflowers in vases.  String up some fairylights and have some lanterns ready for evening.  Make your tablecloth white and pristine and have a playlist of Italian artists, such as Andrea Bocelli, Eros Ramazzotti, Laura Pausini and Lucio Dalla.  Mix their uplifting songs with modern Italian lounge music.

The welcome

There’s nothing quite as delightful as an Aperol Spritz served in the sunshine or, if you prefer, a Limoncello Spritz.  Chilled Italian lagers always go down well, whilst the little ones may well like to slurp some sparkling elderflower.  Have iced water flavoured with refreshing lemon and basil, especially if it is hot weather.

The centrepiece

People don’t go missing in the kitchen at an Italian Ferragosto celebration, because everyone is gathered around the woodfired oven.  Dishes appear, one after another, with all guests taking turns to check on cooking progress, turn dishes and lift food in and out of the oven.

This interaction builds the rapport and forges new friendships and relationships but also means that all are involved and nobody is bored.  It can even get the children off their gadgets and taking a part in the food preparation, or playing outdoor games in the fresh air for once.

The oven can also play a massive part in the welcome bites that are on offer the minute guests arrive.  This could be garlic focaccia or a delicious Rosemary bread.  Burrato with roasted tomatoes is a refreshing choice or you could go crostini with a pea, mushroom or tomato topping.  How about something different, such as charred peaches wrapped in parma ham?  All is perfectly possible in your Valoriani woodfired oven.

Ferragosto Vegetables and Salads

Seasonal vegetables in Italy for Ferragosto would be tomatoes, courgettes, aubergines, peppers, onions, fennel and mushrooms.  Alongside these, families will typically enjoy gorgeous fresh salads, such as a rocket and parmesan salad, watermelon with mint, or a caprese salad.

Have bowls of your salad choice available and serve food on sharing board and large platters, to increase the interaction and not leave guests facing massive portions. Let them dive in and never have anyone asking ‘what’s next’?  Let the meal service unfold as different delights emerge from the woodfired oven.

What to cook in the oven

Focus on creating smaller sized pizzas, so these can be shared and a variety of different topping enjoyed by everyone.  Whether you want a topping of Italian sausage with red onion and fennel, a prosciutto and rocket pizza, or a traditional Margherita, guests will enjoy the opportunity to dip in and try some unfamiliar combinations.

Then focus on some great sharing dishes that can be divided between all.  Think aubergine parmigiana, peppers stuffed with ricotta, woodfired lasagne, baked gnocchi or meatballs in tomato sauce.  You could rustle up a fantastic porchetta, a delicious roasted chicken, or sea bass baked with herbs.

Keep the options coming and give everyone a chance to see how the food is progressing. And don’t forget desserts.  Baked peaches with crumbled amaretti biscuits or an Italian jam tart (crostata) are good choices, as are roasted figs with honey, wood-fired apple tart and Nutella pizza for the kids.

All of this will create the true aromas of the Mediterranean and transport you and the family to somewhere in which you have enjoyed memorable moments overseas – without ever leaving your back garden.

Activities

A Ferragosto experience is not complete without family games and fun, so have some activities available for everyone to enjoy.  This could be giant Jenga, garden skittles or boules, ball games, or something a little more unusual such as an Italian-themed or music quiz.  If you have a bigger garden, how about creating a trail of hidden things to find?

Rounding off the day

Ferragosto usually wraps up with good conversation, more music and an espresso, limoncello or almond biscuit in hand.  From there, simply sit back in an easy chair and watch the stars twinkle, as the Valoriani pizza oven provides gentle warmth on the patio and you think about what to cook for breakfast, using the retained heat in the oven, the following morning.

If you would relish creating this sort of Mediterranean experience in your garden, all you need do is put a Valoriani pizza oven at the centre of your outdoor living experience and build the rest around it.

To do that, please call us on 07743 847647.

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Editors notes

Orchard Ovens is the domestic and commercial pizza oven supplier in the UK of Valoriani, based in Reggello, Tuscany - the manufacturer of Italy's hugely respected Valoriani pizza ovens, known as the Maserati of pizza ovens and the kings of clay. These ovens are made from superb refractory clay - cotto clay - found in the family's quarry and unique, thanks to having just the right alumina. This allows Valoriani ovens to heat up quickly and retain heat superbly, bring huge advantages to homeowners, as well as restaurant owners, hotels, pubs, mobile caterers, pizzerias, takeaways and more.

Orchard Ovens supplies some of Britain's best-known restaurants and chefs, whilst it is also a specialist creator of outdoor kitchens and wood-fired oven builds for the rich and famous, as well as everyday homeowners wishing to add value to their home and enjoy an outdoor lifestyle to the full.