Something rotten simmers beneath the surface of Italy’s most prestigious food festival.

Prepare to venture into the shadowy corners of the culinary world, where the line between gourmet and gore fades… and no one leaves the table unscathed.

Design for 'The Festival of the Cooks'.
The graphic design for ‘The Festival of the Cooks’ was created by Erynn Hayden

Il Sagra Dei Cuochi or The Festival of the Cooks is a “giallo-inspired” audio mystery theatre podcast I worked on with my son Oliver. He created the story, wrote the script, and assembled a talented group of actors.

My role was to edit the piece and craft the sounds. A majority were original, except for one thud from a free sound effects site. The professional foley editors who shared their tips on YouTube were also a big help in showing how to create the creepy sounds I was looking for.

‘Giallo,’ which is the Italian term for “yellow,” is also defined as a film genre encompassing mystery, thriller, and horror films. It is notably led by Italian director Dario Argento, known as “The Master of Horror.”

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Listen to the trailer: The Festival of the Cooks

The Episode links below will take you to the Apple Podcast page. The show is available on other platforms where you listen to your podcasts. Or you can listen here.

Episode 1: The Investigator

A police investigator returns to the quiet Italian village of San Lucente, carrying with her the weight of an unsolved case. As the festival stirs to life, so do the whispers she thought she’d left behind.

CAST: The Investigator: Emily Stewart
Listen: The Investigator

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Episode 2: The Critic

Power, reputation, and fear converge on the eve of the festival.
One food critic’s sharp tongue and sharper ego threaten to draw more than just attention.

CAST: The Critic: Kenn Gibb
Listen: The Critic

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Episode 3: The Sous Chef

In the heat of the kitchen, ambition simmers alongside regret. But when the lights flicker, something else begins to take shape in the shadows.


CAST: The Sous Chef: Elona Love
Listen: The Sous Chef

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Episode 4: The Baker

Behind the ovens and quiet rituals of dough and flour, long-buried secrets rise. A discovery threatens to unseal what was never meant to be uncovered.

CAST: The Baker: Rob Lewin
Listen: The Baker

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Episode 5: The Assassin

The festival reaches its grand finale. Amid the celebration, an unseen presence lingers, waiting for the curtain to fall.

CAST: The Assassin: Tim Clarke Additional Voices: Emily Stewart, Kenn Gibb, Rob Lewin, Elona Love, Joe Pavia, Trudy Pavia

Listen: The Assassin

CREW:
Produced by Joe and Oliver Pavia
Written and Directed by Oliver Pavia
Foley and Sound Design by Joe Pavia
Original Music by Phil Tees
Graphic Design by Erynn Hayden