Piemonte

Truffles

Truffles

Piemonte

Gourmet Piemonte

Although this tour is shown as departing throughout the year the Autumn is the best season to visit as the Truffle season is what this region is famous for.

This is an enjoyable short break for "foodies" taking you to Italy's greatest culinary region. Here you'll indulge in fine dining, go hunting for the famous white truffle (in the truffle season), taste superb Barolo wines and visit one of Northern Italy's classic food markets and stock up on some superb ingredients for your festive entertaining!

Piemonte in autumn means truffles. Cookery Writer Elizabeth David in her book 'French Provincial Cooking' describes truffles as "a variety of parasitic mushroom which grows on the roots of certain oak and hazelnut trees. There are a great number of varieties of truffle, of which the only common characteristics are their interior structure, their mode of growth, the fact that they are edible and a certain similarity of taste, but in dimension, size, colour and shape they differ extremely one from the other. She goes on to call them "the most delicious of all foods anywhere".

We will arrange for your party to spend a morning learning how to hunt truffles and have a light but utterly delicious tasting lunch made with the truffle hunter.

The Slow Food Festival - salone del Gusto, only on certain dates in October

Slow Food is a eco-gastronomic organisation that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. To do that, Slow Food brings together pleasure and responsibility, and makes them inseparable. Their annual festival is held in Turin, where 100's of small food producers come together to promote bio diversity. We will attend this morning the Salone di Gusto, where you will be able to taste a wide range of artisan foods (more details will be available closer to the date). We remain at the Salone over lunchtime so you can enjoy a wide range of irresistible foods.

In the regional capital Alba, you'll visit the market famous for its truffles, where the streets will literally be perfumed with the heady scent of this precious and expensive white tuber. Amongst the produce here are the region's cheeses, Bra, Tomme and local Castelmagno, cured meats (including wild boar) and at this time of year, another speciality too, hazelnuts. The local pasta Tajarin is also a great delicacy.

Chocolate, as we know it today, was first created in Turin and this area is still well known in Italy for chocolate. One of our visits is to a small chocolate maker still upholding these traditions. Vermouth, too was first created here and the region is famous for its Grappa - we will enjoy a visit to a facsinating leading artisan distiller.

Of course as this an Arblaster & Clarke Wine tour we also visit one of our favourite small wine estates in the area, where we will taste great Barolo, as well as superb examples of Dolcetto d'Alba and Barbara d'Alba. We recommend staying on for a few days at the end in Turin. There are many galleries to visit and the classic café too. Definitely try a 'Bicerin' - the delicious local hot drink of coffee, chocolate and cream!

You'll stay in Bra, at a boutique 4* winery hotel, with an excellent traditional trattoria, and a short walk to some truly delightful classic cafés and the wonderful rustic restaurant run by the Slow Food Association.

Itinerary Includes:

3 nights, 4* boutique hotel, private mini-bus transport, private gourmet guide, truffle hunt, and one lunch, all tastings. Meet and drop off at Turin airport. (Early booking essential for all autumn dates). A smaller party will incur a higher price.

Prices from:

£695 based on 8
£835 based on 6
£1135 based on 4
£2035 based on 2 participants