The local restaurant scene is very happy with the well known dining guide "Guida Michelin" which just released it's list for 2012. We can now boast 15 stared restaurants in Langhe & Roero.

Alba is full of stars now that all the christmas lights are up and on. The streets of Alba are very pretty and festive at Christmas time.

If headed for Alba to see the lights, dress warm, Alba is always colder in the winter than the small hilltop villages.



"Better a real focaccia than a fake beard…."

Last Saturday we had a great truffle hunt with Marco Varaldo in La Morra, Barolo. We were out hunting with one of his best truffle dogs, Deena. Deena is 8 years old and a truffle hunting pro. Due to a dry summer and fall, the truffle quantities have been lower than usual, but Deena found us a fairly big, aromatic white truffle and 4 nice black summer truffles.

Deena doesn't work for free, she gets rewarded with treats when she finds a truffle.

Here are the truffles we found.

During the hunt, Marco explained to us all about the truffles of the Langhe, all the essential information of how, where and why the truffles grow. For example, what trees they grow under, how the weather affects them, hunting during the day vs. night, how the dogs are trained, the roots under a truffle and the little spores that become next year's truffles and much more. He is very passionate about truffles and happy to share his knowledge and experiences. His knowledge has been passed down from over 3 generation of truffle hunters.

Here, on our way back to town, Marco is explaining the work in the vineyards, when we encounter Agostino (below), the owner of Bosco Agostino, a winery in La Morra. He is out working in his vineyard doing the winter pruning. The farmers are expecting a lot of snow this year so they are trying to get an early start on the winter pruning. He was very charming and funny but we are not sure exactly what he said since he was talking in deep "Piedmontese" dialect.

Below, the village of La Morra in Barolo.

Alla Casa del Trifolao
Marco Varaldo
Truffle Hunting Excursions
tel +39 335 58 00143
marco.varaldo@yahoo.it
reservation is necessary
comfortable clothing and shoes recommended

Upon request, a tasting in the field is available.

After many months of no rain, the first weekend of November has been hit hard with heavy rain and flooding. Unfortunately, the rain came too late to help with the truffle season. This year the famous Alba white truffles are down in numbers and expensive.



Even though it hasn't been the best year for truffles, one can still choose from many different truffle hunters and a variety of sizes.



Inside the Truffle Fair, the smell of truffles is almost overwhelming. How do you know the truffle you're considering is aromatic or not when the smell of truffles is penetrating the fair?



This year, on account of the very dry summer, the price of the famous white Alba truffle has increased due to short supply, however, quality seems to be good.
950 Euros is a lot of cash for something that has a shelf life of 7 days or less.






Before or after buying truffles, you can have your purchase judged for quality by experts in the center of the fair.



In addition to truffles, there are tons of other food stuffs to taste and buy, pasta, truffle oil and honey, salami, cheese, hazelnut cakes, chocolates, wine and much more.





If breathing in the truffle air gets you hungry! No problem, you can buy pasta, eggs or carne cruda with ample shavings of truffles, of course!

Here in the Langhe, there is nobody as passionate about bubbles, mainly champagne, as Alessio, owner of Vinoteca in Serralunga d'Alba. His wine bar, caffè, wine shop and restaurant sports the best list of bubbles in the area.

One may come here for sparkling wine, however you will stay for the great food and of course the Nebbiolo. His list of Barolos and Barbarescos is well thought out, along with an interesting selection of desert wines. Alessio is very knowledgable in the wines of Piemonte and is happy to explain the region's wines.

Alessio does all of this in a small but efficient space that is very comfortable, the walls are adorned with black and white photos and wine maps of the area. Menu is small and changes daily, we have always been happy with the choices and have eaten very well here at a good price.

Don't forget about aperitivo time, Alessio has a great selection of salumi and cheeses.

Reservations recommended as it is small and fills up fast.

Vinoteca Centro Storico
Via Roma 6
Serralunga CN
Italy

+39 017 361 3203
vinotecaserralunga@tiscali.it
closed monday
10am to 11pm


Alessio pouring a blind tasting for some of his customers. A fun way to taste wine.

The best Eggplant Parmigiano "Melanzane Parmigiana" we have eaten to date!
Homade Hazelnut soufflé with Zabione. A great way to end a meal.

We made it to Cheese 2011 on Monday, the last day. We started in the Great Hall of Cheese tasting some white wine from Veneto and of course some cheese.

We found the Neal's Yard Booth and bought some great cheddar cheese, something we can't easily find in Piedmont and miss.

It wasn't as crowded on Monday, which we preferred. Everyone said it was packed on the weekend.

Raelin, Leslie & Robin next to a big blue Slowfood snail!

On a recent walking tour of Alba we came across the first white truffles of the season at Tartufi & Co. These are on there way to a few of the local restaurants, so far it looks to be a good year for truffles with all the rain we had in the spring.

As harvest ramps up the roads are full of tractors carrying grapes to the wineries, Moscato anyone??

The other day while working at the computer we heard a sound and thought could it be? Sure enough, there were two horses tied up to our garage door below our kitchen balcony.

Chiaro (leslie) returns home to a very happy puppy cotta, Robert can
now stop eating Ramón.

First stop on way home from airport the market to refill the fridge.
WOW Mortadella on sale only 8.90 per kilo. cut to order maybe next time.

Chiaro brings minnesota weather back with her, great !!!

Lorenzo the fantastic neighbor that he is plows us out first

Very rare in piemonte an ethnic restaurant i wouldn't travel from the states
to eat here but when you live here a nice change of pace

We are often asked what the drinking age is in Italy. Don't know but this
sign was on the door of the restaurant above. Not just forbidden but
strictly forbidden.

The last day of the world famous truffle fair in alba this years "best"
of show sold for 24,000 wow now that would be a big bag of stink!!!

Just out side the fair venders were selling both white and black truffles
from 30 to 80 Euros

No they are not all the same. The signs give details on location, altitude,
flat or hilly ,aging

Amazing the differences from wheel to wheel

SILVIO HARVESTING HAZEL NUTS WITH GIANT VACUM

FIRST STEP OF A THREE PART CLEANING PROCESS
PHOTO TAKEN FROM ARE LIVING ROOM BALCONY

TRYING NEW PLACES FOR ARE FALL TOURS YUM YUM!

COTTA APPROVES TOO!

THIS CREAMY YET CRISP ? WHITE WINE FROM THE CARSO D.O.C.
OF THE FRIULI / VENEZIA REGION IS MADE FROM THE VARIETAL
VITOVSKA I KNOW A HOUSEHOLD NAME FOR MOST OF US. THE WINERY
IS NEAR THE SLOVENIAN BORDER HENCE THE NAME.

Party for 400 in the center of barbaresco


Setting up table for 140 at Pertinace


Enjoying some 0f tomy's great cooking