The Bob Fest 2025 was not only an event, but a manifesto of Calabrian beauty, the strength of the community and the transformative power of food. A success that leaves its mark and that already looks to the future. In the heart of the Riviera dei Gelsomini, between the crystal clear sea and the scented hills of olive trees, the 2025 edition of the Bob Fest took place, transforming Roccella Ionica In an international epicenter of gastronomic culture, music and social commitment. An event that has been able to combine culinary excellence, art and solidarity, attracting thousands of visitors and over 400 food & beverage professionals from all over the world. A multisensory journey between flavors and stories. Organized by the Alchemist Association for Love, the Festival animated for three days (28-30 June) three symbolic locations of the town: the Carafa Castle, the Port of Grazie and the Torre Vèdera Torre. Each place told a different face of Calabria: history, welcome and authentic beauty.
The port of the Graces has turned into a taste village with over 400 stands between farms, pizzerias, cellars, pastry shops and mixology workshops.
Live music accompanied the evenings, merging art and cuisine in a single sensory experience. The Festival also hosted talk and masterclass. The grand finale was held on June 30 with a spectacular gala dinner at Torre Vèdera Torre. Eleven star chefs, including Marco Ambrosino, Nino Di Costanzo, Floriano Pellegrino, Gianfranco Pascucci and the Calabresi Caterina Ceraudo, Nino Rossi and Riccardo Sculli, signed a menu that celebrated Calabria in every dish. Among the creations, the “Calamaro’s” fusillo in Pascucci, the “Lamb in Parmigiana of aubergines” by Di Costanzo and the “30th” dessert with pineapple, lemongrass and chili pepper by Belu Melamed and Mauro Pompili. In short, a festival with a soul.
In addition to the taste, the Bob Fest put solidarity at the center: the proceeds of the event, net of expenses, was donated to the AIRC Foundation for cancer research, confirming the ethical vocation of the Festival since its first edition. “Food can be a peaceful weapon to communicate and unite, especially in times marked by conflicts and divisions,” said Roberto Davanzo and Anna Rotella on several occasions and with them the other important protagonists.
Calabria protagonist in the world, therefore. With international guests such as Albert Adrià, Andoni Luis Aduriz, Tala Bashmi and Aya Yamamoto, the Bob Fest has shown that this region has all the credentials to be the protagonist on the global gastronomic scene.