Community & Business
6 August, 2025
Final events of Cairns Italian Festival
AUTHENTIC flavours of Italy came to the fore on Sunday when Mareeba hosted the Salami and Sausage Festa, with a wealth of beautifully prepared food showcased during the event which is part of the Cairns Italian Festival.
Taking out four of the awards at the event, which was held at the Mareeba International Club, was 19-year-old Salvatore Fortunato, a Sicilian who just moved to Australia with his family a few months ago.
Salvatore, who now lives at Trinity Beach, has a passion for keeping traditional salami making alive, being taught the craft by his father, grandfather and great grandfather.
“It’s all homemade using traditional recipes handed down over the generations. It’s something that I want to continue,” he said after the event.
Salvatore won the Northern Style category, Salsiccia Style, Culatello Style and Salami Champion.
He thanked the organisers for a terrific event and said he would be back again next year.
The event was a great way to end the 2025 Cairns Italian Festival, according to president Claudio De Bartolomeo.
He said the Salami and Sausage Festa had ended the festival on a high note and was what Italians are known for – food, wine and entertainment.
The sold-out event attracted visitors and competitors from across the country and locally. The fine Italian food, wine and home-made sausage was the drawcard, and no one left disappointed.
Results
SOUTHERN STYLE
1. Rita Parise, 2. Ross Mangano, 3. Paul Parise
NORTHERN STYLE
1. Salvatore Fortunato, 2. Ross Mangano, 3. Paul Parise
NO STYLE SALAMI
1. Ross Mangano, 2. Paul Parise, 3. Salvatore Fortunato
SALSICCIA STYLE
1. Salvatore Fortunato, 2. Derren Low, 3. Tanya Ellis
CULATELLO STYLE
1. Salvatore Fortunato, 2. Paul Parise, 3. Ignazio Fortunato
CAPOCOLLO STYLE
1. Paul Parise, 2. Salvatore Fortunato, 3. Ross Mangano
SALAMI CHAMPION
1. Salvatore Fortunato, 2. Paul Parise, 3. Ross Mangano
