Act 1
Italy – Cities of Veneto

Young Italians and Norwegians met each other during an Erasmus and kept in touch.

A group of Italians in a restaurant eating the cod wonders what are their Norwegian friends doing now.

Sofia calls Tor on smartphone and finds out that is he is fishing on his father's boat.

In fact it is the fishing season and all, fishermen and graduated, are engaged in sea.

Sofia: "Hey Man, send me a photo, a video, make ​​a selfie ... "

Shortly after arrives the video of Tor while fishing .

Tor says that Lars is fishing too, but near the coast.

Sofia phones Lars and askes him to send another video.

Sofia : "And where is Erik ?"

Lars : "I have just seen him enter, he should be downloading the catch. "

Sofia calls Erik too, and he sends him another video.

In the end they agree to meet in Italy for holiday, to make a gastronomic tour and see how their cod is eaten in our country.

The young Italians pass the phone to each other and make comments about fishing in the unpolluted sea, the triumph of nature and the same fish caught 3,000 km further north that they are tasting now.

At the end of the meal will taste even a sweet Venetian specialty and a "grappa".

(In this way finishes the part of the film dedicated to fishing).

Act 2
Norway – Lofoten Islands

Our troupe will go to Lofoten Islands during the finish of winter to film all the steps of production of stock fish: drying, storage, sorting, extraction of the language (work assigned to young) etc.

We will taste different local versions of the culinary preparation of stock fish, such as a dish made ​​with the tongue of the fish.
 

We will interview young and old people, who would tell fascinating stories and the legend of the shipwreck of Querini.

Erik intervenes:

"Yes, Querini! My grandfather told me that many, many years ago Venetians shipwrecked here."

"And do you know where? Come on, take me there, I want to see the island. "

Erik accompanies us to the island where Venetians shipwrecked and then takes the troupe to a tour to show the natural, artistic and touristic attractions, focusing on topics that would push Italians to visit them (nature, colors, stretches of hanging stock fish, vessels, painted houses etc.).

It can be added a fantasy element of union between Italy (Venice) and Norway (Rost): are there genes of the Venetians left to Rost? It may be one of the reasons that drives the boys to explore Rost.

There will be an emphasis on the tranquility of the place, waiting for the fishing, and the stock fish that represents the nature.

Act 3
Italy - Veneto

Young Norwegians on holiday in Italy; they are accommodated in a farmhouse with a beautiful natural background .

During the stay they will visit taverns or restaurants and savor their codfish prepared in a very different manner from what I they are used to eating in Norway .

Guided by their Italian friends they visit the most important monuments of Vicenza starting with those signed by Palladio .
 

 

Under the patronage of the Municipality of Vicenza

 

After the visit to the Olympic Theatre and the Chiericati Palace, leaving the Santa Corona church, they see the Il Ceppo rotisserie with stockfish in the showcase and two of its best-known culinary versions: Baccalà alla vicentina (stockfish Vicenza stile) and Baccalà mantecato (venetian creamed cod).

The scent, and a bit of hunger after walking for a long time, makes them go down to the rotisserie winery and taste some food of Veneto.

Erik : "How do you prepare the cod, pardon, baccalà here in Veneto ? "

Sofia explains the recipe of Baccalà alla vicentina (also with images of preparation) and then they taste it with great satisfaction .

Erik: "How did stockfish arrive here in Veneto?"

Sofia: "By water, along the river Brenta, with rafts. Oh, I forgot, in Bassano del Grappa rafts passed under the Bridge of Alpini, one of the two bridges designed by Palladio."

Bassano del Grappa

Erik: "But can we find Palladio only here in the province of Vicenza?"

Sofia: "No, there are his works also in Venice, let's go."

But before we must go to Padua where you have to stop at the historic Gran Caffé Pedrocchi for an aperitif, Spritz with Aperol Spritz, famous liqueur of Padua, accompanied by finger food of cod.

They also drink a "Pedrocchi" coffee, read the Stendhal plate and observe the sign left of the Austrian bullet fired during the insurrection of Students of the University of Padua in 1848.

Young people also observe the enormous nineteenth-century map "upside down", with the North downwards and the South upwards, and indicate their places of origin.

Padova

They go to Venice with the Burchiello (a touristic ship) that departs from Padua, as the famous voyagers of the Grand Tour.

During the trip, which in reality takes 8 hours, they can admire a large number of Venetian villas (and visit some of them), locks and swing bridges .

Inside the boat they will taste the wines and foods of the Venetian tradition and in the evening it will be dancing on the deck with San Marco Square in the background.

At the end of the meal will taste even a sweet  Venetian specialty and a "grappa".

Brenta Riviera

They get to Venice and visit churches and palaces of Palladio .

Venezia

They go up the bell tower, take a ride in gondola and stop at a "Bacaro - tavern" where to taste a dish of the Doge, the creamed cod fish.

At the end of the meal will taste even a sweet  Venetian specialty and a "grappa".

Erik: "And how do you prepare it?"

Sofia: "Here is the recipe" (also with images of preparation ).

Erik "But is it prepared in this way only here?"

Sofia: "No, in Istria too."

They go to Istria and assist to the preparation of creamed cod at Konoba Milena o Alden in Croazia.

Croatia

 

After enjoying a plate of creamed cod fish they listen to the song "la Mula de Parenzo, gà meso su botega, de tuto la vendeva, fora che el bacalà".

Images of "Venetian" Porec-Parenzo.

Erik: "I read that also in Trentino they prepare a good cod; I’d like to taste it. "

Sofia: "Certainly it is the one promoted by the Friars of Stofiss of Rovereto. It is similar to the stockfish of Vicenza but it contains a good deal of potatoes, celeriac and a lot of onions. We take the train and go to make them a visit!"

They arrive in the convent of Brancolino and are welcomed by the Friars who illustrate them the recipe and then make them taste the cod. And not only. The friars also offer an excellent risotto with zucchini.

 

Erik: "I notice that these friars are united into a brotherhood. Are there others in Veneto?"

Sofia: "Yes, of course, the most famous is the Venerable Brotherhood of Bacalà alla Vicentina - which includes the Mayor of Rost - they organize the Gran Gala and the Feast of Cod during which in 2015 was awarded the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries ".

The video will include scenes of the two mentioned events.

We can also insert scenes on the other Brotherhoods of stockfish.
 

 

Erik: "And as for the wine? What are the best combinations? "

 

Sofia: "The cod is fat, you need a wine that "cleanse" the mouth. Tai - old red Tocai, sparkling Durello, Vespaiolo di Breganze would do well,

Tai or old red tocai

spumante Durello

Vespaiolo di Breganze

Soave

 

but also Malvasia of Heraklion - Crete, the Greek island from where Querini, the "discoverer" of stockfish, left.

 

The great final at a set table: the young people end the dinner of stockfis and drink a toast for friendship between Italy and Norway.