The regulars of Aristo’s bar in Barga Vecchia normally during the autumn months sit outside the bar in the piazza and roast chestnuts 2 or 3 times a year. It is a time for all the families to get together and join in preparing the nuts and fire, and then roasting and eating the chestnuts around the fire to the sound of music.
Last year Aristodemo Casciani (article here) finally said goodbye to this world after spending 86 years on the planet and for the last 12 months as a sign of respect, the bar has not organised any official outside events (apart from participating minimally in this year’s Barga Jazz Festival) and so this weekend was the first time that roasting chestnuts took place without the sound of Aristo’s accordion or keyboards in the background.
The family atmosphere was back as people roasted the chestnuts on an open fire and then used the glowing embers to cook sausages and ribs as the sun went down and the evening arrived -- all of which took place to the sound of Giuliano Nardi and his fisarmonica and Emma e gli Aristodemo’s (minus their double bass player Leo Gnesi) providing the music.
Then just to round things off -fresh Castagnaccio -- the classic sweet dish from this area made from chestnut flour, was brought in to the piazza… it lasted but a few minutes. In fact later on this week the annual Castagnaccio contest will be taking place at Aristo’s -- watch this space
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