Regrettably, Piedmont is not on the destination list
of most American tourists. This may be
in part due to Rick Steves, who has yet to include this gem of an area in his
popular books and television travel programs.
Grazie, Ricardo! Even if you’re not
a foodie or a wine-lover, Piedmont offers many gems. If you’re a foodie or oenophile, Piedmont may
just be the most exciting region in all of Italy.
Most foodies know about of the Slow Food movement, but
how many knew it began in Piedmont? The
opening of a fast food restaurant in the heart of Rome in the mid-1980’s touched
a real nerve with a journalist from Piedmont. Shortly thereafter, the writer began Slow Food. Today, the organization is in 150 countries
and its mission is to preserve traditional and regional cuisine.
Wine-Knows will watch the birth of artisinal chocolate at a rock-star producer
Piedmont’s traditional cuisine is a treasure-trove of
culinary delights. Home of the premier white
truffle, the world’s most expensive gastronomic item, Piedmont is also the area
for some Italy’s finest chocolate and hazelnuts. In addition to high-end artisanal chocolates, even Nutella and Ferrero Rocher are made here. The area is also the source of
Italy’s most illustrious rice. Preferred
by many Michelin-star chefs throughout Italy for risotto because of its firmer
texture, canaroli rice is grown in Piedmont.
Piedmont's Alps provide the perfect situation for a plethora of cow, sheep & goat cheeses
Piedmont means
the “foot of the mountain.” The
foothills of the Alps shared with France and Switzerland, also produce some
outstanding cheeses. Even in a country
recognized for its cheeses, Piedmont is a standout.
Eataly offers a cornucopia of the very best food products from all of Italy
The Piedmont
district is the birthplace for Italy’s most famous food emporium-kitchen shop,
Eataly. Think Williams-Sonoma meets
Whole Foods, with the addition of some mind-boggling dining venues such as a
mozzarella-bar, wood-fired pizzeria, seafood eatery, and a pasta-centric
restaurant.
Last, but not least, Piedmont is the pinnacle for
several of Italy’s most magnificent wines, Barolo and Barbaresco. These wines are some of the country’s most
complex reds…and expensive.
Wine-Knows will be visiting Piedmont next autumn (2018)
at the time of their world-renown Truffle Festival. One of the highlights will be a private truffle hunt into the forest
with a “trifalou” (truffle hunter) and his dog. Foodies will be thrilled with visits to
Piedmont’s super-star chocolate-maker, as well as a producer of canaroli rice. Naturally, we won’t miss Eataly…and there
will be a dance-card sprinkled with the district’s world-class wine
producers. At the moment, there are only
5 open spots on this trip.
www.WineKnowsTravel.com
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