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Overview
Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, Italy’s Piedmont region is home to a rich, centuries-old culinary culture rooted in local and seasonal ingredients, thoughtful preparation, and meals enjoyed with others—ideals that would come to inspire Slow Food, a global movement that brought these regional traditions into the international consciousness. Join us as we wind our way from Turin to Langhe to explore Piedmont’s dynamic and variegated gastronomic landscape—zigzagging through lively markets, sipping velvety bicerin, and foraging for fresh truffles along the way. The real magic of this trip, however, will come from meeting the people who breathe life into the region’s distinctive food scene each day, from local hazelnut producers to seasoned sommeliers. Come prepared to dig deep into this delicious corner of the country, diving into a hands-on cooking class, dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant, and glimpsing into the world of food photography. Together, we’ll live out our wildest epicurean dreams, savoring each new morsel we discover along the way.
Gastro Obscura Trips: inspiring wonder and curiosity about the world through food and drink.
Highlights
Market tours and vineyard visits
Hands-on pasta-making class
Dining at a Michelin three-star restaurant
Conversations with chefs and winemakers
Fine patisserie tours
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Turin!
Arrive in Turin and settle into our charming hotel nestled in the heart of the city. If you have some free time, consider exploring the ornate castle found in Turin’s faux medieval village , or visiting astronomer Giovanni Antonio Amedeo Plana’s “ perpetual calendar ,” tucked away in a tiny baroque chapel. In the early evening, we’ll gather in the lobby and head out for a stroll and aperitivo, getting to know our fellow gastronomic adventurers over a glass of local wine. Dinner tonight will take place at a traditional Piedmontese restaurant, where we’ll toast to the bounty of culinary delights to come.
Turin Palace Hotel or similar, Turin
Welcome Dinner
Alejandro
Day 2: Street Food & Sweet Delights
We’ll start the day with a morning stroll through Turin’s winding streets, heading toward the Porta Palazzo Market, the largest open-air food market in Europe. We’ll wander through its hundreds of stalls, which sell everything from locally grown produce to fresh meats and cheeses. After spending the morning munching our way through local specialties and meeting farmers and producers, we’ll dig into some beloved street fare for lunch, then track down some of the best patisserie chocolate in the country. We’ll drop into a traditional cafe for our first sips of bicerin, Turin’s famed beverage composed of melted chocolate and espresso and topped with partially whipped cream. Alternatively, savor some pinguino, the region’s beloved chocolate-crusted gelato on a stick, or gianduiotto, Turin’s world-famous marriage of hazelnut and chocolate. The rest of the afternoon and evening will be yours to explore the city at your own pace. Feel free to ask our guides for restaurant recommendations (they have them in abundance) or navigate the city’s culinary landscape on your own.
Turin Palace Hotel or similar, Turin
Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: A Penne for Your Thoughts
This morning, we’ll set out to explore the breathtaking Langhe region—a succession of gentle, sloping hills blanketed with lush green grapevines. We’ll stop over by the small hilltop village of Trezzo Tinella, where, at a historic farmhouse surrounded by hazelnut orchards, we’ll partake in a pasta-making class. We won’t be making any penne or spaghetti here, however, as pasta in Italy is as regionally specific as dialects. Rather, we’ll be crafting traditional tajarin, an extremely fine, delicate pasta made with eggs. After our hard work, we’ll sit down and enjoy the fresh fruits of our labor, garnished with local herbs and shaved black truffle. The process itself is surprisingly simple, so you'll be able to bring the recipe back with you and share a small taste of Piedmont with your friends back home. With new culinary knowledge in our noodles, and noodles in our bellies, we’ll take a stroll through the estate before heading to Monforte, an enchanting medieval village surrounded by sweeping vineyards, which will be our home base for the rest of the trip. After checking into our hotel, you’ll have the rest of the day to explore the town independently. Wander the narrow cobblestone streets; sip Barolo, Barbaresco, or Nebbiolo at one of the village’s many wine bars; or recharge at the hotel.
Albergo Giardino da Felicin or similar, Monforte
Breakfast, Lunch
Marina Spironetti
Day 4: Sweets, Wine & Endless Hazelnuts
We’ll begin the day with a visit to a small company sustainably producing some of the region’s most iconic handcrafted sweets, such as crunchy torrone, sweet truffles, and pastel dragées, all featuring Nocciola del Piemonte—the renowned hazelnut of the Langhe. Voted the best hazelnut in the world, this celebrated nut has been a big player in Italy’s confectionary industry, from hazelnut cakes to buttery Baci di Dama biscuits. We’ll partake in a torrone-making workshop, followed by a sampling of the sweet nougat. After lunch at a charming local restaurant, we’ll continue on for a visit to a local medieval castle, followed by a glass of fine wine. Back in Monforte by late afternoon, the evening will be yours to enjoy.
Albergo Giardino da Felicin or similar, Monforte
Breakfast, Lunch
Marina Spironetti
Day 5: Michelin Dining & Biodynamic Gardens
This morning, we’ll head to the home of one of the finest wine producers of the Langhe region, in the vicinity of Alba. We’ll tour the premises, taking in the sprawling, green landscape, and cap our visit with a wine tasting led by an experienced sommelier. Later, we’ll indulge in the culinary delights of one of Italy’s most innovative chefs at a three-star Michelin restaurant. Alongside a culinary gardener, we’ll explore the biodynamic gardens where the restaurant’s vegetables are cultivated and harvested. After a wonderful lunch, we take a walk in the center of Alba. On our drive back to Monforte, we’ll pause to visit the brightly colored Chapel of Barolo—built initially as an emergency shelter for vineyard workers in 1914 and converted into a multicolored cappella ("chapel") by artists Sol LeWitt and David Tremlett in the late ’90s. Then, after a long day of eating, drinking, and exploring, take the rest of the night to relax (read: digest) on your own.
Albergo Giardino da Felicin or similar, Monforte
Breakfast, Lunch
Marina Spironetti
Day 6: The Truffle Hunt
Wake up early, lace up your most comfortable hiking shoes, and perhaps even do some light calisthenics. Today, we’re tracking down truffles. (You’ll have the option to join in the truffle hunt, or stick around the hotel if you’d prefer.) Right after breakfast, we’ll venture deep into the woods in search of the tantalizing tuber, following an experienced truffle hunter and his trusty canine. We’re specifically seeking black truffles, as white truffle season comes later in the year, and they’ll be far from ready to be harvested. After what will hopefully be a fungus-filled journey, we’ll head back to the hotel, where you can relax and enjoy lunch on your own. We’ll regroup in the afternoon for an excursion to Barolo, a picturesque town and the namesake of the region’s iconic wine. After learning all about Barolo (and beyond) at the Wine Museum , we’ll enjoy a tasting before heading to the small hilltop village of Roddino for a spectacular farewell feast.
Albergo Giardino da Felicin or similar, Monforte
Breakfast, Dinner
Marina Spironetti
Day 7: Arrivederci, Piedmont!
This morning, depart for home or head to your next destination. If you’d like to extend your stay and explore more of the region, we’d be more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do (and eat) in the area. For those heading back to Turin, we’ll offer a transfer right after breakfast—or, upon request, we can drop folks hoping to continue their adventure in Alba. Wherever you may be headed, go well! Arrivederci, and until next time!
Breakfast
Marina Spironetti
Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.