Northern Italy’s Culinary TreasuresNorthern Italy’s Culinary Treasures

We’ll start the day with a morning stroll through Turin’s winding streets, heading toward a local market. We’ll wander through the stalls, which sell everything from locally grown produce to fresh meats and cheeses. After spending the morning munching our way through local specialties and meeting farmers and producers, we’ll dig into some beloved street fare for lunch, then track down some of the best patisserie chocolate in the country. We’ll drop into a traditional cafe for our first sips of bicerin, Turin’s famed beverage composed of melted chocolate and espresso and topped with partially whipped cream. Alternatively, savor some pinguino, the region’s beloved chocolate-crusted gelato on a stick, or gianduiotto, Turin’s world-famous marriage of hazelnut and chocolate. The rest of the afternoon and evening will be yours to explore the city at your own pace. Feel free to ask our guides for restaurant recommendations (they have them in abundance) or navigate the city’s culinary landscape on your own.

This morning, we’ll head to the home of one of the finest wine producers of the Langhe region, in the vicinity of Alba. We’ll tour the premises, taking in the sprawling, green landscape, and cap our visit with a wine tasting led by an experienced sommelier.  Alongside a culinary gardener, we’ll explore the biodynamic gardens of a three-star Michelin restaurant where the restaurant’s vegetables are cultivated and harvested. We'll be back later in the week to indulge in the culinary delights of the restaurant's innovative chef. We continue our discovery of the area's culinary delights having lunch in a local charming restaurant. On our drive back to Monforte, we’ll pause to visit the brightly colored Chapel of Barolo—built initially as an emergency shelter for vineyard workers in 1914 and converted into a multicolored cappella ("chapel") by artists Sol LeWitt and David Tremlett in the late ’90s. Then, after a long day of eating, drinking, and exploring, take the rest of the night to relax.

Wake up early, lace up your most comfortable hiking shoes, and perhaps even do some light calisthenics. Today, we’re tracking down truffles. (You’ll have the option to join in the truffle hunt, or stick around the hotel if you’d prefer.) Right after breakfast, we’ll venture deep into the woods in search of the tantalizing tuber, following an experienced truffle hunter and his trusty canine. We’re specifically seeking black truffles, as white truffle season comes later in the year, and they’ll be far from ready to be harvested. After what will hopefully be a fungus-filled journey, we’ll to the small hilltop of Trezzo Tinella, where we'll partake in a pasta-making class. We won’t be making any penne or spaghetti here, however, as pasta in Italy is as regionally specific as dialects. Rather, we’ll be crafting traditional tajarin, an extremely fine, delicate pasta made with eggs. After our hard work, we’ll sit down and enjoy the fresh fruits of our labor, garnished with local herbs and shaved black truffle. The process itself is surprisingly simple, so you'll be able to bring the recipe back with you and share a small taste of Piedmont with your friends back home. With new culinary knowledge in our noodles, and noodles in our bellies, we’ll take a stroll through the estate before heading to Monforte for a wine tasting to discover the area's best producers. Afterwards, the evening will be yours to enjoy!

This morning, we begin with a visit to a local medieval castle. Later, we’ll indulge in the culinary delights of one of Italy’s most innovative chefs at a three-star Michelin restaurant.  After a wonderful lunch, we take a guided walk in the center of Alba. Then, after a long day of eating, drinking, and exploring, take the rest of the night to relax or wander the narrow cobblestone streets; sip Barolo, Barbaresco, or Nebbiolo at one of the village’s many wine bars; or recharge at the hotel.

Today we head to Barolo, a picturesque town and the namesake of the region’s iconic wine. After learning all about Barolo (and beyond) at the Wine Museum, we'll have some free time to enjoy lunch in town. In the afternoon, we'll continue on with a visit to a local shop sustainably producing some of the region's most iconic handcrafted sweets, such as crunchy torrone, sweet truffles and pastel dragées, all featuring Nocciola del Piemonte - the renowned hazelnut of the Langhe region. Voted the best hazelnut in the world, this celebrated nut has been a bit player in Italy's confectionary industry, from hazelnut cakes to buttery Baci di Dama biscuits. We will partake in a torrone-making workshop, followed by a sampling of the sweet nougat. We return to Monforte by late afternoon and regroup in the evening for a spectacular farewell feast. 

This morning, depart for home or head to your next destination. If you’d like to extend your stay and explore more of the region, we’d be more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do (and eat) in the area. For those heading back to Turin, we’ll offer a transfer right after breakfast—or, upon request, we can drop folks hoping to continue their adventure in Alba. Wherever you may be headed, go well! Arrivederci, and until next time!