Viva Italia! at Innisfail’s inaugural Pasta and Sugo Festa

Story And Photos By Maria Girgenti

CLOSE to 200 people enjoyed an afternoon of everything Italian at the inaugural Innisfail Pasta and Sugo Festa held at the Johnstone Shire Hall on July 23.

After the extraordinarily successful Salami and Sausages Festa in Mareeba, for the first time, a regional event took place in Innisfail as part of the festival’s celebrations.

Guests travelled from Victoria, Townsville, Cairns, Tablelands, Tully and Port Douglas to be part of the event.

A highlight of the day was the magnificent feast of Italian antipasto, buffet lunch and desserts provided by event sponsors Oliver’s Continental Deli, Roscoe’s Piazza and Sapore di Italia.

Rick Romeo and Caroline Lloyd-Doolan from Attori entertained the crowd with a unique blend of comedy and music, singing well-known Italian songs such as Volare, Mambo Italiano and La Donna.

Ross Cavallaro, Bert Pagano, Anita Oliveri, John Piccone and John Bruschi faced the difficult job of judging the best pasta and sugo (sauce).

Sisters Giacinta Houtsma from Victoria and Anita Darveniza from Innisfail teamed up and won the Best Pasta; Shaun Stuart took out the Best Sugo, whilst Gina Codotto won the Best Pasta and Sugo combination.

Locals Gina and Sebastian Basile were the lucky winners of a $150 voucher from Salt House Cairns.

Event President Steve Cordenos thanked sponsors, Puma Innisfail, Halpin Partners, Pizzos TTF, Goondi Auto Wash, Goondi Panel & Paint, Network Car and Truck Rentals, Innisfail and Cairns and Cassowary Coast Regional Council.

Sole committee member Anita Darveniza from Innisfail put her hand up and helped coordinate and bring the event to Innisfail with the help of the Cairns Italian Festival committee.

The Cairns Italian Festival, now in its second year, celebrates generations of Italians making Australia their home and changing the face and future of the Far North Queensland region in farming, business, and development.

Cairns Italian Festival President, Stephen Cordenos is well-supported by his management committee made up of Lui Garozzo (vice-president), Claudio Di Bartolomeo (treasurer/logistics/planning coordinator),

Anna Cito (secretary) and Angelo Aurelio (member), as well as general committee members Patty Poutanen (entertainment/gala ball coordinator), Arianna Bianchi (social media manager/web designer), Yu-Kang Huang (Patrick) graphic designer, Michael Pattini (video production director), Gemma Meoli (foundation book coordinator), Florianna Torelli (teacher team leader), Lainie Rossi (volunteer coordinator), Teresa Senna (raffle team leader) and Gina Codotto (committee member).

Last year’s 11-day event attracted over 25,000 people to Cairns, with $4 million spent in the region. In 2023, this has expanded to 10 events over 17 days.

This year’s Cairns Italian Festival runs from July 21 - August 6, which featured a massive day of live music, food, wines and dancing at La Festa at Fogarty Park on July 29 and ‘Cinecitta’ Gala Ball at Pullman Cairns International on August 4, two of the festival’s signature events.