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The
true flavours of Italy
Even among Italian gourmets, the Piemonte region
is renowned for the quality and range of its food and
wine. It is rich agricultural land, with a huge range
of local crops and specialities. |
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Perhaps the most famous - and certainly one of
the most expensive - is the white truffle, nurtured
by the magical, misty climate and the deep, chalky
soil of the rolling hills around Alba and Asti.
It is almost an obsession here.
Other local specialities are hazelnuts, walnuts
and chestnuts, once grown for their oil and now
featuring in many of the region's fantastic desserts.
When combined with chocolate and coffee, they
make puddings to die for. Look out for the delicious
crème brulee: hazelnuts marinated in milk for
24 hours, then crumbled into a smooth paste with
chocolate. In fact chocolate is a perennial favourite
in the Piemontese kitchen! In the Langhe region,
they also make delicious nougat - and don't miss
the ice cream!
The foothills of the Alps to the north are stuffed
with game, which features heavily in the local
cuisine as delicious roasts and casseroles, often
marinated in the superb wines of the region.
All the restaurants we have selected use, as far
as possible, only locally produced ingredients.
Piemontese meat, for instance, is superb - thanks
to the wonderful local pastures, product of the
climate, the water and the altitude.
A typical local speciality is albese, sliced,
cured beef served with rocket, lemon and olive
oil. Fassone is another: local veal served rare
with lemon juice and herbs or cooked with wine
and mushrooms. And what about roast beef with
nuts and asparagus tips?
The Ligurian coast is close at hand, supplying
the finest fresh fish, delicious with wild fennel
or seasonal vegetables. Piemonte, of course, has
its own traditional local pasta recipes, including
agnolotti stuffed with venison or cheese and herbs
and served with various sauces, and the local
arborio rice, the best for making risotto. And
let's not forget the wonderful cured meats and
salami, some cured with Barolo or white truffles
for a true local delicacy.
Chocolate and coffee desserts are legendary, and
the local cheeses sublime: look out for a type
called Toma, subtly different varieties of which
come from tiny villages in the region. To finish
- Lavazza coffee, of course.
And to drink? Some of the finest wines in the
world come from Piemonte - no less than 37 DOC
wines and 4 of the superior DOCG varieties. Barolo
- the king of wines - and his dukes Barbaresco,
Barbera and Nebbiolo simply must be tried, while
puddings must be accompanied by the adorable sweet,
sparkling Moscato d'Asti wine. One of the highlights
of your Riva Break will be a trip to a local vineyard
or two, where you can sample some of the best
and most famous Piemontese wines.
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