PIEDMONT
TERRITORY
AND HISTORY
Piedmont is a region of Northern Italy situated at the foot of the Alps. It is known for its fine cuisine and wines, such as Barolo. The capital is Turin, which offers numerous examples of Baroque architecture and houses the famous Mole Antonelliana, with its tall spire. The Turin Automobile Museum is dedicated to the city's main industrial activity, while the Egyptian Museum exhibits archaeological and anthropological collections.
The history of Piedmont includes a series of events that involve the region from the Paleolithic to today. A notable influence received from neighboring countries: the strategic position at the foot of the Alps made it coveted by many powers (such as France) as an access point for Italy.
However, it was the Savoys who dominated Piedmont from the sixteenth century: from when Emanuele Filiberto I of Savoy moved the capital from Chambéry to Turin, the dynasty took over the reins of Piedmontese history while maintaining dominion over the duchy first and then over the kingdom until unity of Italy.
CUISINE
AND TRADITIONS
The Piedmontese cuisine was formed, for the most part, by the meeting of two culinary arts: the noble one of the Savoy court and the one born from peasant traditions. From the first derive the dishes that laden the luxurious tables of the Savoyard court such as zabaglione, chocolate, mixed boiled meat and Piedmontese mixed fry. From the second, instead, the recipes made with more humble ingredients such as bagna caoda, panissa, finanziera and more. Cold cuts, dairy products together with local excellences such as truffles and wines mainly make Piedmontese culinary art.
The Carnival is distinctly folkloric, a celebration that testifies to the strong bond with the local history that characterizes the whole of Piedmont. Other popular games, such as "il bacio della castellana", "the assault on the tower" and "the race of the blowgun" also tell the deep link with tradition. Characteristics of the territory are also the historical re-enactments: in Novara for example the homonymous battle is celebrated thanks to which, in 1849, the Italians won the First War of Independence.
Piedmont is a wine country par excellence: 45,000 hectares of vineyard, all situated in the hills and even in the alpine and pre-Alpine areas, where direct and manual work by man is predominant and low yields per hectare are pursued, precisely to enhance the quality.
TYPICAL DISHES
Albese Raw Meat
The raw meat of the Albese or more briefly Albese (Albèisa in Piedmontese) is a traditional appetizer typical of the Langhe but widespread throughout the Piedmont. The recipe is similar to that of the more recent carpaccio and consists of thin slices of veal (cut with a knife or with a slicer) or finely sliced meat, preferably of the Piedmontese breed, necessarily very fresh. The meat thus prepared is marinated in raw lemon juice, dressed with a veil of extra virgin olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Vitello tonnato
It is prepared with a specific cut of meat (the Fassone girello) marinated in dry white wine and aromas (carrot, celery, onion, laurel) for at least half a day, then boiled in water with the whole marinade. The dish is served cold having cut the walker into thin slices and having them completely covered with a tuna sauce in oil (tuna sauce).
Panissa vercellese
It is assumed that the name derives from "panìgo", a variety poor in millet, with which this dish was cooked, before the spread of rice. The ingredients of Vercelli's Panissa are: rice of the Arborio, Baldo, Sant'andrea or Maratelli varieties, beans of the typical quality grown in Saluggia or Villata, onion, Barbera red wine, lard, salam d'la duja, salt and pepper.
Agnolotti
Piedmontese agnolotti or simply agnolotti are a specialty of traditional filled pasta from Piedmont, and in particular, from the Monferrato area, in the provinces of Alessandria and Asti, but widespread throughout the region. There are variations of agnolotti, including the agnolotti pavesi, which differ in the stew-based filling.
Castelmagno
It is a semi-hard, blue cheese, produced in cylindrical shapes with a diameter between fifteen and twenty-five centimeters, barefoot between twelve and twenty and a weight of between two and seven kilograms. The rind, rather fine, is brownish-yellow, with darker variations depending on the seasoning, while the paste is white or tending to yellowish, golden yellow if matured.
Risotto with Alba white truffle
Clearly, the key ingredient at the base of this dish is the white truffle, very rare and consequently very expensive. The Alba white truffle is harvested from mid-September to the end of December. The Albanian hunters travel the most hidden paths of the Langhe and Roero hills with their dogs in search of the precious "tuber".
Gianduiotti
The gianduiotto, or giandujotto, is a chocolate in the shape of an upturned boat composed of chocolate called gianduia which is produced in Turin. It is usually wrapped in gold or silver paper.
It is obtained by mixing cocoa and sugar with the famous Piedmontese Tonda Gentile hazelnut, renowned for its quality.
STARRY
RESTAURANTS
PIAZZA
DUOMO
Piazza Risorgimento 4
Alba (CN)
+39 0173 366167
ANTICA CORONA
REALE
Via Fossano 13
Cervere (CN)
+39 0173 366167
VILLA
CRESPI
Via Giuseppe Fava 18
Orta San Giulio (NO)
+39 0322 911902
AL
SORRISO
Via Roma 18
Soriso (NO)
+39 0322 983228
PICCOLO
LAGO
Via Filippo Turati 87
Verbania (VB)
+39 0323 586792
I CAFFI
Via Scatilazzi 15
Acqui Terme (AL)
+39 0144 325206
SAN MARCO
Via Alba 136
Canelli (AT)
+39 0141 823544
CA' VITTORIA
Via Roma 14
Tigliole (AT)
+39 0141 667713
LOCANDA DEL
PILONE
Strada Della Cicchetta,
Madonna di Como 34, Alba (CN)
+39 0173 366616
DA FRANCESCO
Via Vittorio Emanuele 103
Cherasco (CN)
+39 339 809 6696
OSTERIA
ARBORINA
27
Annunziata (CN)
+39 0173 500340
GUIDO
Tenuta di, Via Alba 15
Fontanafredda (CN)
+39 0173 626162
IL CIAU DEL
TORNAVENTO
Piazza Leopoldo Baracco 7
Treiso (CN)
+39 0173 638333
CANNAVACCIUOLO
CAFFE'& BISTROT
Piazza Martiri della Libertà 1
Novara (NO)
+39 0321 612109
ZAPPATORI
Corso Torino 34
Pinerolo (TO)
+39 0121 374158
CANNAVACCIUOLO
CAFFE'& BISTROT
Via Umberto Cosmo 6
Torino (TO)
+39 011 839 9893
MAGORABIN
Corso S. Maurizio 61/B
Torino (TO)
+39 011 812 6808
DEL CAMBIO
Piazza Carignano 2
Torino (TO)
+39 011 1921 1250
I DUE BUOI
Via Camillo Cavour 34
Alessandria (AL)
+39 0131 517105
IL CASCINALE
NUOVO
SS231
Isola d'Asti (AT)
+39 0141 958166
IL PATIO
Via Oremo 14
Pollone (BI)
+39 015 61568
VILLA
D'AMELIA
Località Manera 1
Benevello (CN)
+39 0173 529225
MARC LANTERI
AL CASTELLO
Via Castello 5
Grinzane Cavour (CN)
+39 0173 262172
CHARME 21.9
FLAVIO COSTA
Località Carretta 4
Piobesi d'Alba (CN)
+39 0173 387200
LA REI
Via Roddino
Serralunga d'Alba (CU)
+39 0173 613042
MASSIMO
CAMIA
Strada Provinciale Alba - Barolo 122
La Morra (CN)
+39 0173 56355
LOCANDA
DI ORTA
Via Olina 18
Orta San Giulio (NO)
+39 0322 905188
COMBAL. ZERO
Piazza Mafalda Di Savoia
Rivoli (TO)
+39 011 956 5225
CARIGNANO
Via Carlo Alberto 35
Torino (TO)
+39 011 517 0171
SPAZIO 7
Via Modane 20
Torino (TO)
+ 39 011 379 7626
DOLCE
STIL NOVO
Reggia di Venaria, Piazza della Repubblica 4
Venaria Reale (TO)
+39 346 269 0588
LA FERMATA
Str. Bolla 2
Spinetta Marengo (AL)
+39 0131 618506
LOCANDA DEL
SANT'UFFIZIO
Strada Sant Uffizio 1
Cioccaro di Penango (AT)
+39 0363 49075
LAROSSA
Via Giacomo Alberione 10/D
Alba (CN)
+39 0173 060639
ALL'ENOTECA
Via Roma 57
Canale (CN)
+39 0173 95857
LA MADERNASSA
Località Lora 2
Castelrotto Guarene (CN)
+39 0173 611716
IL CENTRO
Via Umberto I° 5
Priocca (CN)
+39 0173 616112
GUIDO
DA COSTIGLIOLE
Località San Maurizio 39
Santo Stefano Belbo (CN)
+39 0141 841900
TANTRIS
Corso Risorgimento 384
Novara (NO)
+39 0321 657343
GARDENIA
Corso Torino 9
Caluso (TO)
+39 011 983 2249
LA CREDENZA
Via Cavour 22
San Maurizio Canavese (TO)
+39 011 927 8014
CASA
VICINA
Via Nizza 224
Torino (TO)
+39 011 1950 6840
VINTAGE
1997
Piazza Solferino 16 H
Torino (TO)
+39 011 535948
IL VEBALE
Via del Sassello 3
Verbania (VB)
+39 0323 505486
CHRISTIAN E MANUEL
Corso Magenta 71
Vercelli (VC)
+39 0161 253585