Pasta specialty chain Jolly Pasta will hold its “Northern Italy Journey Fair: Emilia-Romagna Edition” starting Tuesday, October 6, 2026. The spotlight is on Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, known as the birthplace of Bolognese. The lineup draws on the region’s food culture, from two Bolognese pastas made with beef and autumn mushrooms to a unique eel pasta, Bologna’s famous lasagna, and a lightly sparkling red wine from the region itself.
Fair Overview
- Fair name: Northern Italy Journey Fair: Emilia-Romagna Edition (北イタリア縦断フェア “エミリア＝ロマーニャ編”)
- Start date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
- Locations: Scheduled at all 322 Jolly Pasta restaurants (as of September 29, 2026)
- Operator: Jolly Pasta Co., Ltd. (Zensho Holdings group)
Every month, Jolly Pasta runs a “Recommendation of the Month” (今月のおすすめ) promotion with a different theme, and this fair is October’s theme. The press release does not specify an end date, so it’s a good idea to check with your local restaurant for the exact sales period.
Three Pastas Inspired by Emilia-Romagna
Fresh Mozzarella and Mushroom Bolognese
Price: ¥1,350 (¥1,485 incl. tax)
This Bolognese is made with 100% ground beef and combined with fresh mozzarella, maitake and oyster mushrooms (hiratake), then finished with arugula and Grana Padano. The beef is deglazed* and slowly simmered with fond de veau, red wine, tomato sauce and more, creating a deep flavor infused with the natural umami of the meat.
The key is in how the beef is ground: finely ground meat clings easily to the pasta, while coarsely ground meat delivers satisfying, chunky bites. Milky fresh mozzarella, rich Italian Grana Padano and slightly bitter arugula add accents of flavor to the Bolognese.
*Deglazing: a cooking method in which the flavorful browned bits left from searing meat are dissolved with red wine or a similar liquid and added to the sauce.
Ragù alla Bolognese Bianco (White Bolognese)
Price: ¥1,190 (¥1,309 incl. tax)
Jolly Pasta’s take on a “white Bolognese” combines a tomato-free Bolognese with elements of carbonara. The white Bolognese sauce, finished with aromatic vegetables and white wine, is blended with fresh cream, egg yolk and more. Beef and other ingredients are slowly sautéed to bring out their umami, and herbs are added for a deep, layered flavor.
The rich, aromatic sauce pairs well with savory maitake and oyster mushrooms and pleasantly salty bacon. Be sure to toss it well with the freshly grated Grana Padano on top before eating. As the most affordable of the fair’s three pastas, it’s an easy pick if you want to try just one dish first.
Seared Eel Aglio e Olio with Lemon
Price: ¥1,290 (¥1,419 incl. tax)
Like Japan, the eastern part of Emilia-Romagna has a culture of eating eel, and this pasta was inspired by the region’s cuisine. A simple garlic-and-oil pasta is combined with shirayaki eel (grilled without sauce), Japanese leek, sliced lemon and cherry tomatoes, then topped with seared eel and aromatic vegetables.
The fragrant, plump eel is a perfect match for pasta that is seasoned with garlic yet kept refreshing with lemon and cherry tomatoes. Myoga ginger on top adds a crisp freshness, while radish sprouts bring a peppery kick. Squeeze on lemon to taste for an even lighter finish.
Bologna-Style Lasagna and Wine-Friendly Bites
Side dishes and drinks will be available alongside the pastas.
- Lasagna: ¥490 (¥539 incl. tax). Jolly Pasta’s arrangement of Bologna’s signature dish
- Aged Salami Tagliere: ¥550 (¥605 incl. tax). A perfect match for wine
- Donelli Lambrusco (ドネリ ランブルスコ): A lightly sparkling red wine from Emilia-Romagna (price not listed in the press release)
Pair Bolognese or lasagna with Lambrusco, and both the food and the wine tie back to Emilia-Romagna, letting you fully enjoy a taste of Italy.
Editor’s Note
The highlight of this fair is the chance to compare a Bolognese simmered with tomato sauce and a tomato-free white Bolognese. Both feature maitake and oyster mushrooms, giving them a distinctly autumnal feel. Together with the surprising eel aglio e olio, the fair offers an easy way to experience northern Italian food culture at a neighborhood pasta restaurant.
Source: press release by 株式会社ゼンショーホールディングス (PR TIMES, in Japanese)