• Book signings start at 12pm outside on Shafter Avenue
• Crucolo Parade starts at 12:30pm along Shafter Avenue
• Discussion with authors starts at 1:30pm at ACRE
• Italian food tastings from 12–3pm throughout Rockridge Market Hall

Join us outside Rockridge Market Hall on Saturday, Oct. 14, from noon to 3pm, for a day of family-friendly festivities dedicated to Italian food.

This year, Market Hall Foods and Paul Marcus Wine have invited two authors to sign and talk about their newest books about Italian food and wine: Viola Buitoni, author of Italy by Ingredient and Shelley Lindgren, author of Italian Wine. The book signings will take place outside from 12pm–1:30pm; a lively discussion between Shelley and Viola will follow at 1:30pm at ACRE.

In honor of Viola's new book, Market Hall Foods' Kitchen and Bakery will be preparing two recipes from Italy by Ingredient: Baked Polenta and Sage and Orange-Scented Chicken with Black Olives. These dishes will be featured on the Weekend Menu, which guests can purchase on the day of the event to enjoy at home. Hapuku Fish Shop will also be tasting IASA anchovies and Olio Verde Extra Virgin Olive Oil prepared in Viola's recipe for Winter Chicories with Anchovy Dressing (p.220) and Marin Sun Farms will offer pork tenderloin for customers who want to try it in Viola' recipe for Pork Tenderloin in Seasoned Bread Crust (p. 208-209). And in celebration of Shelley's appearance, Paul Marcus Wines will be pouring tastes of Italian wines.

Along with the book event with these two Italian food and wine luminaries, Market Hall Foods will host the Crucolo parade, an annual tradition that pays homage to one of our favorite Italian cheeses from the Trentino-Alto Adige region. Our expert cheesemongers, dressed in Italian garb, will ceremoniously roll a cart carrying a 350lb wheel of Crucolo cheese down Shafter Avenue to the parklet. There they'll cut into this gigantic, artisan wheel of creamy cow's milk cheese and give out samples, along with samples of prosciutto and other Italian ingredients.

While you're here, step inside the businesses at Rockridge Market Hall, many of which will be offering Italian food and ingredient tastings throughout the day.

Viola Buitoni is a San Francisco-based chef instructor and Italian food expert who was born and raised in Italy. In addition to teaching for Milk Street, 18Reasons and the Civic Kitchen, she leads off-the-beaten-path food tours in Italy and was awarded the prestigious title of "Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia" for her contributions in promoting Italian food and culture. In her debut cookbook, Italy by Ingredient, Viola showcases Italian cuisine through its most essential and iconic ingredients.

Shelley Lindgren is the wine director and owner of A16 in San Francisco and Oakland. She's won a James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Program, received the Slow Wine Fair Award for Best Selection of Good, Clean, and Fair Italian Wine and was awarded the “Cavaliere dell’Ordine Della Stella d'Italia” title for her professional dedication to Italian wine. In Italian Wine, Lindgren and co-writer Kate Leahy give an in-depth guide to the 20 regions in Italy that have indelibly shaped the country's wine industry.