The art of good living: discovering the food and drink of Piedmont
The heart of regional food and wine beats strongly here. The uninterrupted sweep of gentle slopes extends from the foothills of the Maritime Alps along the back of the Ligurian Appenine chain before coming to a sudden halt at the banks of the Po. The main centres are Monferrato, Langhe and Roero in the provinces of Asti and Cuneo.
Piedmontese food and drink is understated but very distinctive, beginning with the truffle, particularly the white truffle from Langhe and Monferrato, unique, unsurpassed, and coveted by every cook in the world. The region is also famous for its fresh pasta agnolotti or "tajarin", unforgettable risottos, bollito misto (mixed meat stew) served with various sauces and the famous cabbage soups.
The place of honour, however, must go to "bagna cauda", a warm mixture of oil, garlic and ground salted anchovies into which slices of thistle, celery, raw pepper and other vegetables are dipped.
The choice is infinite when it comes to cheese: Bra, Raschera, Toma, Robiola and Castelmagno are star turns from the valleys near Cuneo. Asti is famous for Roccaverano while Novara is the home of Gorgonzola.
Desserts include bunet, a delicious chocolate pudding prepared with crumbled macaroons. Or try bigné and chantilly, with its confectioner’s cream, zabaglione and fresh cream, margheritine from Stresa, torrone nougat from Asti and Alba, torta novecento from Ivrea, amaretti macaroons from Acqui Mombaruzzo, biscotti from Novara, Canestrelli from Biella and cuneesi al rhum.
The figures speak for themselves when it comes to recounting the success story of Piedmontese wines: the region now boasts no fewer than 8 DOCG wines (Asti, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brachetto d’Acqui, Gattinara, Gavi, Ghemme and Moscato d’Asti) and an impressive 46 DOC wines, including Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo Moscato, Grignolino, Freisa, Malvasia, Bonarda, Gattinara, Sizzano, Ghemme, Fara, Gavi, Cortese, Erbaluce di Caluso and Carem.
Moscato d'Asti and Asti Spumante are both excellent dessert wines that were being produced as far back as the thirteenth century. Nowadays nearly 80% of production is exported throughout the world.
The regional wine centres (Enoteche) are housed in prestigious buildings: Castello di Grinzane Cavour in Barolo, Castello Falletti, the Wine Cellars of Canale, Dogliani, Santo Stefano Belbo, Portacomaro, Cisterna, Moncalvo, Roppolo; a long line of prestigious venues to visit and at the same time a good excuse to discover the culture and history of Piedmont, not to mention the region's excellent wines!
You will discover the truly genuine flavours of the region in the hundreds of restaurants (with a constellation of Michelin stars between them), osterias, and trattorias to be found in the region.
A trip to Piedmont in search of high class local produce and the traditions of culinary art come together to provide you with a taste of good living.
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