Excellent gastronomy meets the Ticino agricultural and wine-making world on the occasion of the fourth edition of the Taste Market, the event organized by Cantina alla Maggia and Terreni alla Maggia which will liven up Ascona on Sunday 7 June from 11 am to 17 pm.
The event, which has attracted an ever-growing audience in recent years, offers a formula that combines signature cuisine, regional products, and the promotion of local agricultural supply chains. This opportunity allows visitors to engage directly with producers, chefs, and local businesses, all while maintaining a commitment to quality and sustainability.
A showcase for gastronomic excellence
The 2026 edition will bring together 21 chefs from different regions of Switzerland and northern Italy. Together, the professionals involved represent a culinary heritage boasting 15 Michelin stars and 231 GaultMillau points, numbers that confirm the event's importance in the Ticino gastronomic landscape.
Among the protagonists are Mattias Roock of the Locanda Barbarossa at Castello del Sole, Stefan Heilemann and André Siedl of the Widder Restaurant, Miguel Marques of Soï28, Stefan Jäckel of the Rôtisserie at Storchen Zürich and Luigi De Gregorio of the Restaurant Alex.
They are joined by well-known names from the regional and national gastronomic scene such as Marco Campanella of La Brezza, Arturo Fragnito of Meta, Federico Palladino of Osteria Enoteca Cuntitt, Jacopo Rovetini of Osteria dell'Enoteca, Lorenzo Albrici of Locanda Orico, Simeon Nikolov of Restaurant OZ and Valentin Sträuli of IGNIV Andermatt.
The event will also see the participation of Tino Staub of Boucherie AuGust, Kira Ghidoni of Osteria Bisnona, Stefan Nowaczyk of Grotto Broggini, Dry Aged Factory Malcantone, Karis Margaroli of Macelleria Margaroli and Irene Mason of the Widder Hotel.
The link between cuisine and territory
One of the distinctive aspects of the Mercato del Gusto is its strong connection to the local area. Alongside the chefs' culinary offerings, special attention will be paid to the agricultural products grown by Terreni alla Maggia.
Visitors will be able to discover some of the specialties that characterize the company's agricultural activity, from rice to rare corn varieties, to other products that tell the story of the region's biodiversity and rural tradition.
Completing the sensory journey will be the wines of Cantina alla Maggia, an expression of Ticino viticulture and the work carried out with respect for the unique characteristics of the terroir. The proposed labels will accompany the tastings, offering a further tool for understanding the winemaking characteristics of the Locarno area.
How to participate
Admission to the Mercato del Gusto is free. Food tastings will be offered in portions, costing 7 francs each. Visitors can purchase the necessary vouchers at the information stands located throughout the event area.
The same vouchers will also be valid in the areas dedicated to catering and product sales, while drinks and other specialties will be available for purchase separately.
Support from the territory and partners
The initiative can count on the support of numerous institutional, economic, and media partners.
Main sponsors include Banca Stato and Winteler. Institutional collaborations include Borgo di Ascona, Ascona-Locarno, Ticino a te, and Ticino Gourmet.
Numerous local companies are also supporting the event: Impresa Cocquio SA, Elettro Mastai SA, Aerimpianti, Ferretti & Co. SA, Giugni SA, LumiLight Sagl, More Engineering SA, Petrucciani, Scerpella SA, Luca Stauffer, Morisoli & Figli SA, Pedrazzi Pavimenti SA and Pasinelli SA.
The Living Circle, hospitality and agriculture in a single model
Mercato del Gusto was born within the universe of The Living Circle, a family-run Swiss group operating in the hospitality, restaurant, and agriculture sectors.
The group's philosophy is based on the integration of hotel facilities, farms, and wine production, with the aim of offering experiences based on the concept of a short supply chain and direct contact with nature.
The portfolio includes several prestigious hotels, including the Castello del Sole Beach Resort & SPA in Ascona, the Storchen Zurich, the Alex Lake Zurich, the Widder Hotel Zurich, and the Château de Raymontpierre. These will be joined in autumn 2026 by the Bergwelt Grindelwald, a new property located in the Bernese Oberland.
The agricultural activity is instead developed through the Schlattgut in Herrliberg, the Château de Raymontpierre estate, the Terreni alla Maggia and the Cantina alla Maggia, creating a direct link between production and catering which represents one of the distinctive elements of the group.
