Farm Vigano, tucked into the bank of a river bend in Plenty Gorge Park, is an icon in the history of Italian immigration to the land down under.
The South Morang farm belonged to migrants Mario and Maria Teresa Vigano, who ran the famous Mario’s restaurant in Exhibition Street in the 1930s.
Their grand-daughters, well-known Victorian restaurateur Patricia O’Donnell and her late sister Mietta O’Donnell, a renowned food critic and the face of Melbourne’s Mietta’s, spent weekends and school holidays at the farm.
Now much smaller than it once was, the six-hectare estate is owned by the state government and has been turned into a community farm, with the orchard and vegetable and herb gardens replanted in traditional Italian style.
On Sunday, October 12, an event to honour the area’s Italian immigrant history and traditions will gather people around kitchen tables in a storytelling and biscuit-baking event called “Biscotti With Stories”.
Participants will prepare traditional biscuits and hear stories that go with them from members of the Italian community.
The event will be hosted by writer and raconteur Saverio Minutolo and there will a surprise appearance by a guest chef.
For bookings visit www.whittlesea.vic.gov.au or call 9217 2174.
