Piedmont: Eat, drink and slow down - The Jewish Chronicle

The rhythms of harvest time may not dictate our lives any more but with autumn's festivals and their symbolic foods approaching, as well as Slow Food week from October 1-7, it's a good reminder to take the time to enjoy the best of nature's bounty.

And where better to indulge than Piedmont in northern Italy, the birthplace of the Slow Food movement in 1986 and an area that's still a foodie delight to tour?

Stop one: Turin

As the capital of Piedmont, Turin brings together the tastes of the region - hazelnuts, wine and truffles - but it's the history of chocolate that's worth exploring in the city itself. Once only the indulgence of the rich, chocolate became more widely available when the Queen of the state of Savoy granted the first licence to produce solid chocolate to Turinese chocolatier Gio Antonio Ari in 1678.

Today it's mixed with locally grown hazelnuts to create gianduiotto and one of the best places to try it is one of the city's "historic cafes". These beautiful buildings combine dining with architecture, history, elegance and culture - a wonderfully rich way to pass an afternoon.

Getting there

Various UK airlines fly direct to Turin. Flights start from around £45 return from London Stansted with Ryanair and from around £82 return from Gatwick with British Airways. EasyJet flies from Gatwick, Luton, Bristol and Manchester with fares from around £50 return.
Rooms at Agriturismo Brusalino start from €80 Euros (around £67) with self-catering apartments, as well as B&B and an onsite restaurant. To find other local Agriturismo sites visit www.agriturismo.it.
For more information on the Slow Food movement and events in the UK, visit www.slowfood.org.uk.

Baratti & Milano (barattiemilano.it) in Turin's main square offers a dining experience dating back to 1858 - their hot chocolate is rich, dark and intense. Or try the local delicacy Bicerin- a tempting mixture of espresso, chocolate and cream.

The city is also the home of Eataly (eataly.net), Piedmont's vast Slow Food supermarket whose shelves are stocked with fresh, local produce. Eataly believes that the greatest joy is derived from what happens around the dinner table, and by demanding quality local goods, consumers are not only supporting local producers but also creating a better environment for us all.

For those who don't wish to cook on holiday, you can dine in Eataly's busy food hall without lifting a finger.

Stop two: Stay in an agriturismo

After touring the city, head into the rolling hills of Piedmont to explore the region's vineyards and hazelnut groves.

Check in to an Agriturismo: these working farms and vineyards mix quality accommodation in ridiculously picturesque settings where you can walk among the vines or visit the animals for a fun, family-friendly choice.

Agriturismo Brusalino, a 75-minute drive from Turin, serves up a tasting menu of four courses for €25 (around £21) which incorporates many of the nuts, fruits and wine from its land. You can't get much fresher than that. If you're tempted to stay, there's an outdoor pool.

Stop three: Barolo

A good meal deserves good wine. The nearby small town of Barolo is the namesake of a world renowned wine, protected by the strict criteria of Denomination of Controlled and Guaranteed Origin (DOCG).

Only wines produced in the region, meeting agreed parameters such as alcohol levels and ageing processes, can proudly carry the name Barolo -including a select number of kosher vintages.

If combining history, architecture and wine appeals then the town's Castle, Castello Falletti, houses a wine museum and wine tasting experience (wimubarolo.it/en).

Or simply order a bottle of Barolo over lunch at the popular restaurant La Cantinetta on the town's Via Roma, where good food, wine and a relaxed ambience fit the Slow Food mould perfectly.

Stop four: Barbaresco

While Barolo is bold, Barbaresco is beautiful. Dominated by its tower, you can drink up the town's stunning views along with a glass of wine (also DOCG) after a climb to a rooftop terrace. If heights don't appeal, then Barbaresco's Wine Exhibition and Promotion Centre (enotecadelbarbaresco.it), set in an attractive converted 19th-century church, sells and samples products from 130 different local wineries.

Or quaff al fresco on the terrace at Azienda Vitivinicola Boffa Carlo (boffacarlo.it) with its stunning views of the Italian countryside.

Stop five: Alba

The home of one of the most luxurious foods available - truffles. Alba celebrates its annual white truffle festival (fieradeltartufo.org) from October 8 to November 27, with a chance to buy, eat and ask questions about this prized fungus.

While truffles are kosher in their natural state, it's not uncommon for them to be infested with insects, making them off-limits to the most observant. Here, every truffle on sale at the market has been checked by a special commission before it opens to the public with its experts available for consultation so guests can ask questions of the best in the business.

Or the truffle emporium of Tartufi Ratti Elio is a gourmet treasure trove with fresh pasta, mushrooms and cheeses available as well.

Prefer the chocolate variety? Alba is home to the Ferrero factory, and the birthplace of Nutella, thanks to those local hazelnuts.

All that's left is to say "Buon appetito".