This time I will show you a little bit different face of Alba – Alba that not only feeds good, but also respects its own history and likes joking. 80 years have already passed since the first Palio degli Asini (the donkey race) was organized. Every year it takes place on the first Sunday of October, at the beginning of Alba International White Truffle Fair and certainly it’s one the most expected Piedmont (in Italy) touristic attractions.
On Sunday September 30th Alba city center turned into a huge wine bar under the sky. Tourists and Langhe and Roero (Piedmont, Italy) citizens took part in Festa del Vino event. Between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. you could taste different types of celebrated wines, choosing between ca 700 labels!
In Alba from Saturday (October 6th) will take place one of the most important events in Piedmont – Alba International White Truffle Fair (Fiera Internazionale del Tartufo Bianco d’Alba). For 6 weeks, till November 18th, all truffle lovers and tourist will have perfect opportunity not only to visit this area and admire beautiful landscape of vineyards, to learn more about Langhe and Roero delicacies (wines, cheeses, salumi, hazelnuts and truffles), but also to immerse in local culture and tradition.
Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a simple dish and also very cheap to prepare. It wasn’t born, after all, in high society, but… after all, its history is unclear. There are different theories about Carbonara’s origin. Some people say it was invented by charcoal makers (carbonaio = charcoal makers) that used to work in bushes around Rome, others claim that the idea was given by American soldiers arrived in Rome in 1944 after the city liberation. But which Italian will believe in that…? Continue reading “Spaghetti alla Carbonara”
From the next weekend the busiest time of the year in Langhe and Roero vineyards is going to start. The grape harvest (la vendemmia) is just around the corner. This summer, except a couple of rainy days, the weather has been cooperating and nobody could complain about lack of sun. Therefore the harvesting period this year is a little bit earlier than usually.
The Alba market (mercato) is held every Saturday, whatever the season and weather may be. Piazza Risorgimento, via Cavour, via Vittorio Emanuele, Piazza Marconi and Piazza Garibaldi transform into a huge supermarket under the sky. From the first morning till lunchtime it’s a popular shopping place among people from Alba, nearest towns and villages. And you can buy there almost everything: groceries (vegetables, fruits, cheeses, ready meals), plants (flowers, potherbs), clothes (mainly made in China), furnishing articles (tablecloths, pillows, etc), some household chemicals and cosmetics. Briefly speaking you will leave the market dressed, with full belly and even you will decorate your house…
Neive is 4,5 km far from Barbaresco and to reach it you basically need to go downhill and then to go uphill. Although it doesn’t have such marketing name like Barbaresco, or Barolo town, it’s also a popular tourist destination in Langhe region. Even in the middle of a hot day I met people taking photos, eating lunch in cozy restaurants. I noticed even drawing course students capturing this lovely Italian spot.
