Cuisine of the Piemonte Region

1861 was a defining moment not only in the history of Italy, but also in the cuisine of the Piemonte region. The Risorgimento or reunification of Italy made a single country out what was several smaller regions and fiefdoms and made the city of Torino the center of the seat of power for all of Italy. The King of Savoy whose lands extended well into France shepherded the often contentious process of bringing many powerful forces together most likely over a famously long Piemontese meal. During their reign the Savoys transformed Torino into a glamorous city attracting chefs, architects and artists from throughout Europe. Although the capitol of Italy was later moved to Rome the influence on the cuisine of the region can still be felt today with refined sauces and desserts that reflect a sophisticated influence from nearby European cuisine. Historically, like most of the regions of Italy, the traditional cuisine of the Piemonte is based in the land and what grows well and naturally. The good news in the Piemonte Region is what grows well here is all pretty impressive for both the home cook and the restaurants. In the Langhe aside from growing world-class wine grapes they also produce chestnuts, hazelnuts and mushrooms, not to mention black and the world famous white truffles. The Po River valley produces risotto, polenta, and grains that feed much of Italy as well as being exported globally. The cheese and high quality meats from the Valle Maira and Valle Grana are appreciated throughout the country and fish finds it’s way into the cuisine

from countless rivers flowing down from the mountains that also feed lakes Maggiore and Orta. The soil from the entire region is abundantly fertile so farming and fruit production are all close to home and there is little importing done from other regions - except Liguria. The northern valleys comprise a network of some of the original Roman salt roads that carried precious cargo from the Mediterranean just across the Apennines and Maritime Alps to cities North. The influence on the cuisine is significant throughout the region. Towns deep in the mountains have anchovy festivals to celebrate the multitude of dishes made with the preserved fish from the sea. What now takes only a hour by car was once a pilgrimage to the coast bringing wine, cheese, cured meats and grains, and returning with dried and preserved fish like anchovies, bacala (salted cod) and tuna as well as capers, olives and olive oil. It's other borders with France and Switzerland have over the years created a cross pollination of cuisines. The Piemonte is the home of Nutella among many other chocolate treats, it is also acknowledged and respected for its contribution to the evolution of chocolate by creating gianduja. In Torino, pasticcerias display their delicious, sweet creations each day in their windows like fine jewels. Today it is the restaurateurs who are preserving many of the traditional recipes that are time consuming and difficult to prepare at home, like Tajarin – a remarkably light, hand rolled and hand cut pasta or Agnolotti del Plin, a small hand made ravioli that is closed with a pinch or plin in Piemontese. Families often go out to enjoy many of the traditional dishes rather than take the time to prepare them at home and fortunately there is no shortage of good restaurants to choose from. This is a region that takes its restaurants, food and wine seriously. The wine industry has for years attracted wine buyers and restaurateurs as well as food aficionados. Over the last 10 years there has been a steady increase in not only the volume of restaurants, but the quality as well. The region has large number of chef owned restaurants and osterias that serve many of the traditional regional dishes as well as new creations to satisfy a very food savvy clientele. The wines of the region, most famously Barbaresco and Barolo, are wines that become more interesting when consumed with food, especially the food from the region. It is easy to find some impressive wine lists with affordable prices at every category of restaurant.

Piedmont Cooking & Wine Tours Cooking, Wine & Walking Extravaganza in Piedmont's Barolo Wine Country, Cinque Terre/Portovenere, and Tuscany's Brunello Wine Country: 8 nights Explore three beautiful and very different regions of Italy with a cast of local people so you experience real Italian life. Discover three distinct cuisines in five cooking lessons with five different chefs, enjoy private winery visits, drink Italy’s top red wines--Barolo and Brunello and enjoy optional country walks. Cooking, Wine & Walking Discovery in Piedmont and Cinque Terre: 5 nights Explore two beautiful and very different regions of Italy with a cast of local people so you experience real Italian life. Discover two distinct cuisines, learn local dishes in two cooking lessons with two different chefs, drink Italy’s top red wines like Barolo in private winery visits and enjoy magnificent, optional country walks. Cooking & Wine Lovers' Adventure in Piedmont's Barolo Wine Country: 6 nights Discover the magnificent Barolo & Barbaresco wine country through getting to know a long list of warm local people and strolling in hill towns so you experience real Italian life. Learn to cook local dishes in three cooking lessons in two restaurants and a bakery. Drink top red wines in private winery visits. Visit and eat with a farm family and a cheese maker. Enjoy lovely, peaceful, optional country walks.

A Taste of Barolo Wine Country Cooking: 4 nights Enjoy a taste of the magnificent Barolo & Barbaresco wine country as you get to know many warm local people and stroll in hill towns. Learn to cook local dishes in two cooking lessons in a restaurant and a bakery. Drink top red wines in private winery visits. Visit and eat with a farm family and a cheese maker. Enjoy lovely, optional country walks with splendid vistas. Experience a taste of real Italian life!

Wine Lovers' Delights in Piedmont's Barolo Wine Country: 4 nights Discover the magnificent Barolo and Barbaresco wine country and meet lots of local people as you visit and taste some of Italy’s top reds at 8 wineries, some big, some small, some famous, some not yet famous. Taste many wines right with the producers! Dine well in typical restaurants and visit pretty hill towns.

COOKING WITH A FAMOUS CHEF Day 1 Arrival at Malpensa Airport in Milan. You will be met by an English- speaking guide and transferred by private coach to Hotel Villa. You will be greeted with an "Aperitivo" in the chef's wine cellar. Dinner will be an exquisite Tasting Menu including 4 wines carefully selected to complement each course. Each evening mineral water and coffee are also included. Overnight at Villa. Day 2 Time to relax and recover from travelling. Breakfast buffet. The late morning will be devoted to your 1st Lesson - an introducion of Piedmont's famous wines. Special attention will be given to learning wine-tasting techniques and especially how to combine wine and food. A light lunch will be served at the hotel with two courses and dessert. Wine will be selected to accompany the menu. The afternoon will be devoted to relaxation by the pool or for a walk to enjoy the surroundings. Dinner will be a special tasting menu planned with two carefully selected wines. Overnight at Villa. Day 3 Breakfast Buffet 2nd Wine and Cooking Lesson at 10:00AM Menu 1: o Antipasto, Celery with Tuma and Hazelnuts o First Course, Potato and Spinach Gnocchi with Fresh Tomato Sauce

o Second Course, Rabbit Fillet with Taggiasche Olives and Pine Nuts o Dessert, Grandmothers Pudding - "Bunet alla Nonna" Lunch will be the dishes the students have prepared served with 2 wines chosen to complement the menu. In the afternoon, a tour of the Alta Langa is planned along the Hazelnut Road with stops in the stone villages of Bergolo and at the castle in Prunetto. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent discovering Roero with an English-speaking guide. You will visit a wine cellar famous for the production of two white wines (Arnesi and Favorita) in addition to Barbera. Return to Villa in time for a three course dinner with two selected wines. Overnight at Villa.

Day 4 Breakfast Buffet 3rd Wine and Cooking Lesson at 10:00AM Menu 2: • Antipasto, Insalatina dell-Aia con Pollo e Raschera with Balsamic Vinegar • First Course - Ravioli Langa Style • Second Course - Fillet of Veal with Barolo • Dessert Hazelnut Torte The dishes prepared by the students will be served for lunch together with 2 wines selected to complement the menu. An afternoon excursion to the winegrowing area of Barolo along the Hazelnut Road is planned. You will visit a famous cellar where you will taste Barolo and see where it is aged. You will also enjoy a scenic view at La Morra and a rest stop at Castello di Grinzane Cavour. Return to Villa in the late afternoon. Dinner with three courses and two selected wines. Overnight at Villa.

Day 5 Breakfast Buffet 4th Wine and Cooking Lesson at 10:00AM Menu 3: • Antipasto: Prosciutto Mousse with Black Truffles • First Course, Tajarin (Piedmont's famous pasta) with Nettles and Hazelnuts • Second Course, Veal Tonnato • Dessert, White Chocolate Iced Pudding with Mint Students will the served the dishes they have prepared during their morning class with two selected wines. In the afternoon a visit to Albaâs historic center is planned with time to enjoy a coffee at the renowned Caffe Calissano in Piazza Duomo. Return to Villa in the evening for dinner. Three courses with two selected wines will be served. Overnight at Villa. Day 6 Breakfast Buffet 5th Wine and Cooking Class at 10 am Menu 4: • Antipasto, Pepper Soup Piedmont Style • First Course, Risotto with Barolo Wine • Second Course, Fillet of Chicken with Hazelnuts

• Dessert, Coffee Panna Cotta Lunch prepared by the students will be served with two selected wines. In the afternoon, a visit to Monferrato with a shopping stop at the outlets of Serravalle. Free time for shopping is planned. Return to Villa in the evening for a 3-course dinner and two selected wines. Overnight at the Villa. Day 7 Breakfast Buffet - departure for Turin where you will enjoy a guided tour of this magnificent city, once the capital of Italy. Free time for lunch. Return to Villa in the early evening. Gala dinner planned with 4 exquisite wine selections and the awarding of the diplomas! Day 8 Buffet Breakfast and departure for Milan Malpensa Airport. Arrivederci a presto!

PACKAGE INCLUDES • 7 nights accommodations • Breakfast & dinner daily • 4 cooking classes • 1 wine tasting class • Field trips • Excursions and field trips as per itinerary • English speaking guide for the excursions as indicated in the itinerary • Transportation throughout the tour • Bilingual tour guide • All local taxes and charges • Milan Malpensa airport transfers on arrival & departure • All excursions and field trips as indicated in the itinerary

PIEDMONT 3-DAY MINI WINE-COURSE PROGRAM DESCRIPTION DAY 1 - Afternoon arrival at Hotel Villa. Meet Sommelier owner-chef of the hotel. Visit his large wine cellar. Time to relax. Dinner. DAY 2 - Breakfast. First wine class on Wines of Piedmont and Wine Tasting

Techniques. Afternoon excursion in the Barolo wine area. Visit a famous wine cellar and tasting. Stop at Grinzane Cavour Castle. Dinner at Villa Hotel. DAY 3 - After breakfast second wine class on: Barolo and Barbaresco wines, and Wine Production/Wine Aging Processing. Afternoon sightseeing of Alba (famous for its white truffles) and the village of Barbaresco. Wine tasting at well-known winery. Return to Hotel Villa for dinner. DAY 4 - Breakfast and departure for your next destination. Package Includes: • 3 nights accommodations at Hotel Villa • Breakfast daily • Dinner daily with "Grand Gourmet" menu • 2 wine tasting classes • Winery visit and tasting • Available year round, excluding August (2 participants minimum)

PIEDMONT'S BEST WINES Barolo, Barbera, Barbaresco, Asti Spumante Wine & Gastronomy in the "Langhe Area" of Piedmont

Day 1 - Arrival at Malpensa Airport in Milan. You will be met by an English- speaking guide and transferred by private coach to Hotel Villa. You will be greeted with an Aperitivo in our chef's wine cellar. Dinner will be an exquisite Tasting Menu including 4 wines carefully selected to complement each course. Each evening, mineral water and coffee are also included. Overnight at Villa. Day 2 - Time to relax and recover from traveling. Breakfast buffet replete with local specialties: cheeses, cured meats and fruit. The late morning will be devoted to a truffle hunt with a trifulao (truffle hunter) from Cortemilia and his hunting dogs. A light lunch will be served with two courses of truffle dishes (including those you find), dessert and wine selected to complement the menu. In the afternoon, a tour of the Alta Langa is planned along the Hazelnut Road with stops in the stone villages of Bergolo includine a guided tour of the castle in Prunetto. Return to hotel in the afternoon. A 5pm cooking class is planned; a special tasting menu will be prepared by the students and served for dinner. Four wines have been chosen to pair with tonight’s menu. Overnight at Villa.

Day 3 - Breakfast Buffet/Roero 1st Wine Class - an introduction to Piedmont's famous wines. Special attention will be given to learning wine-tasting techniques and especially how to pair Piedmont's wine and food. Following the Piedmont wine lesson, a light lunch will be served at the Villa. The remainder of the afternoon will be spent discovering the Roero area with an English-speaking guide. You will visit a wine cellar famous for the production of two white wines (Arnesi and Favorita) in addition to Barbera. Return to hotel in the early evening. A tasting menu is planned for dinner with four selected wines. Overnight at Villa. Day 4 - Breakfast Buffet/Alba 2nd Wine Class at 10am: Piedmont's Red Wines - I Vini Rossi Piemontesi A late morning guided visit to the Barbaresco production area is planned. We will visit a winery for a tasting of young wines and also enjoy a light lunch in their cellar. Lunch will be followed by a visit to Alba, the city famous for its white truffles. Return to hotel for dinner which will include four wines selected for the menu. Overnight at Villa. Day 5 - Breakfast Buffet/Barolo & Barbaresco 3rd Wine Class at 10am: Piedmont's Noble Red Wines Barbaresco and Barolo Today a tour by private coach is planned in the Barolo area of Piedmont including a stop for a guided tasting and winery tour with a Barolo producer. Lunch will be at the Castle of the historical Cellar of the Marchesi del Barolo. A guided tour of the Castello di Grinzane Cavour is planned for the afternoon. Today you will also have the opportunity to see a torronificio - a nougat factory! Return to hotel in the early evening. Dinner will include four wines paired with the menu. Overnight at Villa. Day 6 - Breakfast Buffet/Brachetto & Vini Passiti 4th Wine Class at 10am: Dessert Wines - Moscato, Brachetto and Passiti (sweet wines) At 11am departure for the area of Acqui Termeis planned for a tour of an exclusive cellar and a wine tasting. A brief visit of Acqui is also on the schedule before returning to hotel. Dinner and overnight at Villa.

Day 7 - Breakfast Buffet/Alba Departure for Alba for the weekly open market an truffles market which takes place in the oldest part of the city. Free time for lunch before departing for Turin where you will enjoy a guided tour of this magnificent city, once the capital of Italy. Return to hotel in the evening. A Gala Dinner is planned with 4 exquisite wine selections and the awarding of the diplomas! Overnight at Villa.

Day 8 - Buffet Breakfast Departure for Malpensa Airport in Milan. Arrivederci a presto! PACKAGE INCLUDES: • 7 nights accommodations based in double occupancy • Breakfast daily • Dinner daily with paired wines • 4 Lunches • 4 Wine tasting classes • Wine tasting as indicated in the itinerary • 1 cooking class • Truffle hunting • Sommelier (wine taster) diploma • Transportation as per itinerary • Airport transfers as pre-arranged time TOUR'S HIGHLIGHTS: ∗ 4 wine tasting wine tasting classes included ∗ 4 winery visits and tasting included ∗ Truffle hunting ∗ Visits to Alba, Turin, Cortemilia, Acqui, Roero, the villages of the Alta Langha, Pruneto Castle, Castle of Grinzane Cavour ∗ Transportation as per itinerary ∗ Milano Malpensa from/to airport transfers ∗ Accommodations at the Villa with buffet breakfast of local specialties ∗ Dinner and lunches as described in the program including wine, water and coffee ∗ Guided tours as described in the program ∗ Sommelier diploma for completion of the program: Wines of Piedmont

THE BEST OF PIEDMONT TASTE . Day 1 - Arrival day Arrival at Milano Malpensa airport. Transfer by private coach to Hotel Villa in a well-known wine town near Turin. Welcome drink and a brief look at the wine cellar. Gourmet dinner with a Grand Tasting Menu paired with 4 wines. Caffé, after-dinner drink and "buona notte."

Day 2 - Relaxing day/Truffle hunting Colazione alla Piemontese. Breakfast Piedmont style before a truffle hunting outing with a famous local "trifulao," (truffle hunter). Light lunch to savor the truffles found, dessert and a properly-paired wine, before heading out on the Strada delle Nocciole (Hazelnut Road). Visit the quaint village of Bergolo and the medieval, well kept, castle of Prunetto with a visit accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Return to Cortemilia in the afternoon for a cooking class with Carlo. We will participate in preparing our evening dinner. Day 3 - Wine tasting class/Roero After breakfast our first wine tasting class. This class is designed to teach tasting techniques and the aging and refining process. After a light lunch, we will take a private tour with an English-speaking guide of the Roero district, an area with its own DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) that produces some excellent red wines with a 95% base of Nebbiolo grapes. Visit of a winery, famous for its white wines Arneis and Favorita and tasting of locally-made Barbera. The winery owner will guide our tasting. Return to Cartemilia in the evening for a dinner paired with 4 wines, coffee, after-dinner drink and"buona notte." Day 4 - Acqui Terme/Wine and Spa Today we will visit another famous winery with tasting of their production located in Acqui Terme, a renewed Spa town. We will drive along the panoramic cheese road with a stop at Roccaverano for a wine and cheese tasting. At the spa you can choose between a"Chocolate beauty day" (please, call us for details) or "Cleopatra beauty day" or a "Mud bath and massage" or a "Stone massage." The choice is totally up to you. Time for strolling along its streets with excellent shopping opportunities or visit the very interesting medieval area. Return to our hotel where they will prepare another banquet for us

. Day 5 - Torino - city of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games Morning ride to Turin, home of the Winter Olympic Games in 2006. Turin is a very elegant and sophisticated town, Italy's former capital city, and before that, the seat of its Royal Family. The city has preserved intact its elegant palazzo and other attractions from that era. Beautiful shops and miles of "portici" (arcades) make Turin an ideal place for shopping and outdoor meetings before lunch or dinner. Its "Gianduiotto" a tender soft paste made of first quality cocoa and hazelnuts (another local product) are not to be missed. Walking guided tour with an English-speaking guide and free time in the afternoon for personal activities. Return to Hotel Villa for dinner and overnight.

Day 6 - Lago Maggiore After breakfast travel to the Lago Maggiore area, one of Piedmont's best kept secrets. Lake Maggiore is the most beautiful of the Italian lakes with the Alps mountains as its backdrop and its two unique islands. Guided tour of "Isola Bella" and the quaint villages around the lake. On the way to the lake we will stop to visit the "Ricetto di Candelo" a medieval fortified village that used to be a refuge for stranded medieval pilgrims. At the end of the day return to Villa.

Day 7 - Truffle Market in Alba or Salone del Gusto After breakfast departure for Alba to enjoy its weekly outdoor market that includes its fascinating truffle market. This unique and interesting happening is well worth the trip. Free time for lunch. Afternoon visit of the Grinzane Cavour castle that houses the Enoteca Regionale del Piemonte, the largest wine and Grappa library in Northern Italy. We will also visit a Torrone makers artisan laboratory. Return to hotel in the evening for the Gala and Farewell dinner paired with 4 wines. Buona notte!! . Day 8 - Departure Early transfer to Milano Malpensa airport for departure. PACKAGE INCLUDES: ∗ 7 nights accommodations based on double occupancy ∗ Breakfast daily ∗ Dinner daily with paired wines ∗ Wine tasting as indicated in the itinerary ∗ 1 cooking class ∗ Truffle hunting ∗ Wine taster diploma ∗ Transportation as per itinerary ∗ Airport transfers at pre-arranged time∗ TOUR'S HIGHLIGHTS: • Wine tasting classes included • 4 paired wines with dinner included in the package price • Winery visits and tasting included • Spa experience • Transportation as per itinerary • Milano Malpensa airport transfers

MORE COOKING CLASSES The Piedmont region of Italy is best known for its capital, Torino (or Turin), a city that is generally thought of first as home to the famous Shroud or the seat of Italian auto manufacture FIAT. However, to Italians, this northwestern region which was home to the first king of a united Italy, is best known for its gastronomic tradition. Piedmont produces some of the best and most original cuisine in the whole country, some of the most sought-after wines and, of course, the incomparable white truffles of Alba, ounce for ounce one of the most expensive foods in the world. In this half-day cooking class you will learn some of the secrets that make Piemontese cooking so popular. Over the course of a three-hour lesson, your chef will teach you how to prepare some of the most delectable dishes you will ever taste. You’ll learn the art of making pasta from scratch, as well as the sauces to go with it. You will prepare meat dishes that simply melt in your mouth. And of course we can’t forget about the desserts which will satisfy even your sweetest sweet tooth. At the end of the day, you will have learned enough to go home with confidence, knowing that you can prepare these delicious foods from the home of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

If you have something in particular that you are interested in making, please let us know in advance so that we can arrange it with the chef. Otherwise, your menu will be based on regional and seasonally available dishes. SAMPLE MENU • • •

Guinea fowl on green salad bed with sauce vinaigrette. Agnolotti with ricotta and spinach stuffing, butter and sage sauce Vanilla Bavarian with strawberry coulis DURATION:3hours LOCATION: The cooking school is located in the heart of downtown Torino, ideally situated for those visiting the city. SERVICE INCLUDES

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3-hour cooking lesson Chef's apron and hat Printed recipe pages Accident insurance while in the lesson A small meal of the food prepared at the end of the lesson.

Cooking Classes with local Piemontese grandmothers & chefs. The cuisine of the Piemonte is going through a stage evolution that can scarcely capture many of the parola di parola or word of mouth recipes. It is in many of the restaurant kitchens where what they call the antique recipes are maintained. Recipes like Fritto Misto, Finanziera & Cugna are no longer made in most households, unless you have a Nonna who cooks for you. This series of cooking classes reflects our passion to understand the cuisine of this region that is held in the memories and kitchens of a changing generation. It also reflects the generosity of the people who open their homes and restaurants to share their knowledge, and history with you. Cooking Class with Alba’s Top Chefs This option has limited availability. Dates must be confirmed in advance. Osteria straddles the line between a small local Osteria that is regularly listed among Slow Food’s favorite Osterias and one of Alba's rest restaurants mentioned often in European and American magazines. Regular clients are devoted winemakers and Alba locals as well as chefs and traveling foodies from all over the world. We will meet with the cook in his kitchen and discuss his menu and his favorite wines and we will learn the secrets of making his famous Tajarin, Chi Che and other seasonal favorites. We will then meet with his partner who will take us through a sampling of one of the most impressive cheese carts of the Langhe and learn about her experiences as one of the judges at the Alba truffle fair. Private lunch at Osteria is included

Fresh Pasta with Nonna Mary Tajarin is the local pasta specialty. In fact tajarin is the Piemontese word for tagliateli. In many restaurants it is made with only the yolks of the eggs, but for Nonna Mary it is made with the whole egg. She prefers the lighter texture in her pasta. Today we learn the fine art of mixing, rolling and cutting pasta by hand.

High Mountain Cooking Class & Cheese Tasting Mt. Viso is the peak that separates the Cozze Alps from the Maritime Alps. Each valley has its own history, culture and cuisine. We will travel to one of the most quietly spectacular valleys where they are first Occitane, then Piemontese, then Italian. We will participate in a cooking class with the chef of one of the most respected restaurants in the region and participate in a cheese tasting that allows participants to "taste locally" in the truest sense of the word. 6 people minimum Lunch included

Cheese Tour & Cooking Class in the Alta Langhe Cheese making traditions are handed down through generations. Few of the artisan cheeses of the region ever get exported outside of the region. We will begin the day with a tour and cheese tasting at one of the region's most famous cheese villages, Murazzano. We will then drive through the Alta Langhe and arrive for a cooking class in a family trattoria. Lunch included

Farmers Market & Home Lunch (Saturdays only) 9:30 am – 3:30 pm We will shop farmers market for fresh ingredients we need to make some of the regional and seasonal dishes. We will then join together for a hands-on cooking class preparing our lunch. During lunch we will taste an array of wines from the region and after lunch we will tour a winery.