652884 Wed Sep 16 17:18:25 -0700 2009 12 58 Italy 0 5035427 Anyone recommend any good festivals in Piemonte the first week of October? Heard tell of truffle & harvest festivals but have had little luck searching online... Also any restaurant recommendations are much appreciated. We're renting a car and don't mind making plans around eating. Wed Sep 16 17:18:25 -0700 2009 208287 eatmeateat 1 5035497 Can you be more specific where you're going? While it isn't Texas, Piemonte is pretty big. For what it's worth, I recommend La Morra, Sinio, and Alba as three towns worth hanging out in. Wed Sep 16 17:52:09 -0700 2009 5035427 13350 glutton 1 5036208 Lots of info here, including this long thread: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/598841 And this, from my trip last spring: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/616806 Thu Sep 17 04:08:37 -0700 2009 5035427 12618 erica 1 5059428 Every weekend in October and November you will find a local truffle festival somewhere in the Piemonte "zone" ie the Monferatto and Langhe hills centred around Asti, Acqui Terme, Alba and Casale. When you get into the area ask at the tourist information office for schedules of festivals (Asti and Alba each produce separate schedules as they are in different provinces) - likewise for restaurants. So many restaurants to choose from in this area and its hard to go wrong. You can scour the forums for popular eateries or set out on your own find some new places and write about them. Piedmontese love their food and wine so if you see locals eating there it must be good. Also ask the place where you stay to guide you. Fri Sep 25 23:17:04 -0700 2009 5035427 1100065 Villasampaguita 2 5064712 Thanks so much for the reply. I'm pretty sure my wife and I are actually staying at Villa Sampaguita the first few nights we're in Italy! (oct 1st and 2nd) Small world. Mon Sep 28 13:23:16 -0700 2009 5059428 208287 eatmeateat 3 5065825 I have your number then LOL , but you will miss the weekend which is always when festivals happen Mon Sep 28 21:26:32 -0700 2009 5064712 1100065 Villasampaguita 1 5059461 I'll be heading into Piemonte probably the second week of October for hazlenuts, although I'm not sure I need the festivals, which in my experience often have slapdash foods or lesser quality than the local stores and purveyors, even if they are socially fun. But I would like to hear of any hazlenut goings on if anyone knows them. Another thing I'll be looking out for is chestnut fetes, but I think I'll stick to Liguria for that. Sat Sep 26 00:32:00 -0700 2009 5035427 208466 summerUWS2008 2 5059492 Whereas it is true that the "pro loco" food service at many festivals is "fast" by Piedmontese standards, sometimes you can get excellent local specials and of course any of the restaurants in a festival town will be serving a special for the occasion. You have missed the big Nocciolo Sagre in Cortemilla which was end of August and another in Costigliole in August. In Salerno at end of September they are having a big Nocciolo fair with tastings of hazelnuts from all the major areas of Italy .http://www.cittadellanocciola.it/ I have found one reference in Asti province events guide to a Sagra della Nocciola in Castellero from 1st to 11th October. Cuneo hasn't published their October guide yet. My pick for October festivals would be the Fiera del Rapule in Calosso on 17-18th October. Chestnuts are all over Italy, search google for "sagre castagna" Sat Sep 26 02:43:27 -0700 2009 5059461 1100065 Villasampaguita 3 5061347 thanks! Too hot to go to Piemonte this August -- and in general I think I'm better off not attending the festivals but just trying to get there in peak season. Liguria (where I am) is pretty good on chestnuts. What is rapule? Sun Sep 27 05:56:39 -0700 2009 5059492 208466 summerUWS2008 4 5061822 Rapul is the Piedmontese word for the small second bunches of grapes not harvested with the main vendemmia, but later on for a light wine or eating, or mostada. The fair is really an autumn fair and usually involves walking around the hill top town visiting the Crotins (cellar inside a cellar) that the town is famous for dug into the limestone hill, where each will be offering a wine and antipasto. And there are some good restaurants for after when you are hungry with all the snacks! (the Crota di Calos is a very good restaurant and enoteca) Calosso is in both Moscato di Asti and Barbera di Asti zones. Sun Sep 27 10:18:55 -0700 2009 5061347 1100065 Villasampaguita 5 5062211 Thanks -- although I'd stick with the grapes for eating if driving. Sun Sep 27 13:50:57 -0700 2009 5061822 208466 summerUWS2008 1 5062381 I have mentioned this on other threads about Piemonte, but I will mention again that the tourist offices in towns across the Piemone have some of the best brochures and pamphlets I have come across any where in Italy. They are especially good covering food, wine, markets, etc. The brochures have always been available in English wherever I have been. Be sure to check the tourist offices in towns like Bra, Alba, Asti, Cuneo, etc. You should also be aware that many wineries do not usually welcome drop-in visitors. There are a number of regional "enotecas" that offer wine tasting from 20 or 30 wineries in the surrounding region. The enoteca in the castle above the village of Grinzane Cavour is highly recommended. Sun Sep 27 15:04:35 -0700 2009 5035427 23776 DavidT 1 5063128 True, most wineries prefer that you call in advance, but unless they are busy they do welcome visitors and are real working wineries not coach tour wine shops! Grinzane Cavour is my favourite Enoteca in the Barolo area, but one should also not miss the Barbaresco enoteca in the old church, and La Signora in Rossa in Nizza Monferrato - the Barbera zone. And the underground cathedrals of wine in Canelli. Asti tourism : http://www.astiturismo.it/ Alba tourism : http://www.langheroero.it/ Sun Sep 27 22:18:17 -0700 2009 5035427 1100065 Villasampaguita