Piedmont with Giorgio Rapicavoli

Benvenuto a Torino! Today we take in the beauty of the Piedmont region in Turin, which with its Baroque buildings, stone streets and towering Alps backdrop, is all too easy. The city market—Europe’s largest open-air fruit and vegetable market—is alive and bustling, and we’ll dive right in. Our first taste of the city is a literal one: a food tour led by a local expert. We’ll sample regional flavors, including the stracchino, toma and robiola cheeses for which Turin is known, and lunch on seasonal delicacies.

Besides cheese and truffles, Turin is obsessed with chocolate (produced locally since 1560). So, of course, we’ll taste an array of chocolates from legendary local chocolatiers including Gobino, Domori and D. Barbero, perhaps washed down with one of the city’s proudest inventions, a steaming Bicerin made of espresso, drinking chocolate, and milk.

We’ll reconvene in the evening for a pre-dinner aperitif and introduction to Turin’s Slow Food movement—a theme we’ll be exploring deliciously during the week ahead—followed by a welcome dinner as the sun dissolves behind the Alps, a truly epic first day.

Hold your morning cup of joe. Today, we’ll journey just outside Turin to the small town of Chieri to experience Piedmont’s coffee culture at Accademia Vergnano. Here, we’ll take an expert lesson in coffee cupping and roasting the slow and flavorful Piedmont way at Italy’s oldest coffee roaster.

Once back in the city center, the afternoon and evening are ours to spend exploring. Visit art galleries and museums, or relish city views from the observation deck of the National Cinema Museum. Or, if you’re craving a green escape from the city, snag some fresh fixings from a local market and have yourself a picnic along the River Po. Lie in the grass and let the sun lull you further into this Italian paradise. Just be sure to wake in time for dinner, perhaps at one of Turin’s seven Michelin starred restaurants.

Today, it’s best you arrive hungry for some Slow Food knowledge. Giorgio is sharing some of his all-time favorite spots in Bra, where he spent time growing up. We’ll hit up his go-to bakery, macelleria or salumeria and live like a native. We’ll meet up at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, birthplace of the Slow Food movement, for Giorgio to cook us lunch sourced from local meats and produce. This will be a meal to remember, a toast to Giorgio and our new shared connection to his favorite place in the world.

And because great food deserves a great pairing, after lunch we’ll head to Ettore Germano. This family-owned spot is steeped in four generations of viticulture knowledge. Thanks to its loyalty to small scale, this vineyard is an inviting nod to Slow Food—or in this case, slow wine.

It’s time to head to Canelli, the birthplace of Italian sparkling wine. Vineyards stretch in all directions across the area’s gently rolling land, and it’s our mission to explore its flavors. In keeping with our slow-food theme, our dining will be localized to Canelli. We’ll visit with a cheese maker who produces the exquisite Tuma di Langa, a rindless sheep cheese made locally for centuries.

We’ll cap the day at Contratto, best known for its sparkling wines and prominent fanbase, including the Italian royal family. Salute!

The hunt is on for truffles! Led by a judge from the local Truffle Fair, you’ll retreat to the forest with specially trained dogs for a guided experience on locating, identifying and cooking up these flavorful fungi, the centerpiece of your lunch today. After, you’ll have some time to unwind and relax, perhaps take a walk through the city or recline in Valentino Park along the River Po.

We’ll reconvene for dinner, which will be another skillful lesson in how to make a delicious Piedmontese meal with truffles as the highlight.

Yesterday was your truffle primer—today is the main event. The Internazionale Tartufo Bianco (White Truffle Fair), for 90 years held each October and November in nearby Alba, is a gathering of people from around the world who appreciate flavorful food sourced ethically and locally. A local expert will guide us through the fair, explaining the many local flavors on display.

Later this evening, Giorgio will cook a farewell meal for us that incorporates the ethos of flavor we’ve experienced on our journey. Saluti to locally sourced food, bountiful wine, tasting truffles and the Italian experience!

All good things must come to an end. We’ll soak up the last of our time together over a big farewell breakfast before bidding goodbyes. We’ll pack our bags and try our best to take one last mental picture of the magical Turin before heading out on afternoon flights. Until next time: Ciao!