Some traditions aren’t told, they’re lived. Carrù’s bollito misto is one of them.
Every year, just a few kilometres from Claviva, the town of Carrù comes alive for the Fiera Nazionale del Bue Grasso (the National Fat Ox Fair), a festival with roots reaching back to 1473 that has taken its present form since 1910. At dawn, the finest Piedmontese cattle parade in front of the judges, and the winners receive the historic gualdrappe, the hand-embroidered cloths. All around, the market, the stalls and a lively, folkloric atmosphere that draws people from across the region.
And then there is the star of the table, the bollito: seven cuts of beef, served with tongue, calf’s head, tail and hen, and accompanied by bagnet verd (green sauce), bagnet rus (red sauce), cren (horseradish) and mostarda (fruit mustard). A winter ritual that Carrù celebrates with a care and pride you can feel in the air.
This year’s calendar
- Gran Galà del bollito: Sunday 15, 22 and 29 November, Sunday 6 December and Tuesday 8 December, in the market hall of Piazza Mercato Bestiame. Lunch is by reservation, through the Pro Loco di Carrù.
- Fiera Nazionale del Bue Grasso: Thursday 17 December, with the non-stop bollito from 7 a.m. until the evening, in the marquee in Piazza Divisione Cuneense. No reservation needed.
I invite you to turn this day into a little journey. Staying overnight at Claviva means enjoying your bollito without rushing, returning to the hills after lunch and finding the calm of our apartment, with its two terraces overlooking the landscape. The next morning, breakfast awaits you right in your apartment, made with local products, so you can start the day slowly.
To make this occasion even more special, I’ve prepared a little gift: by booking directly on the Claviva website and entering the code BOLLITO, all in capital letters, you’ll receive a 5% discount on your stay, for dates between November and December.
I’d suggest booking early, because in these days rooms, in Carrù as with us, go fast. I look forward to welcoming you.
