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Sunday, September 30, 2012

Cena - La Piola #3

After the disappointing lunch we returned to the ever reliable La Piola for dinner.

For starters, Paalo opts for his favourite - Misto di Antipasto



Pranzo - Osteria del Vecchio Gallo

For lunch today we've decided to try someplace new - Osteria del Vecchio Gallo (Osteria of the Old Cock) and unlike our other Alba dining experiences, this one left us a bit disappointed.

The kitchen seemed to be struggling with the numbers - service was slow and the dishes presented weren't quite to the standard as we've come to expect.


Friday, September 28, 2012

Pranzo - La Libera #2

All week we've been enjoying the company of our french "eators" Curtis and Leigh and with  Leigh unfortunately under the weather, we've taken Curtis out to La Libera for our final lunch together.

For starters



Sunday, September 23, 2012

Aperitivo - Hemingway

It's our first visit to Hemingway, a rather trendy spot just round the corner from Vincafe.



Very well made Negroni - very close to Calissano just a little smaller.



The aperitivo plate is impressive - freshly made, the frittata still deliciously warm. There are slices of zucchini sformato, stuffed foccacia and mortadella mousse on croutons. An excellent plate.

Cost wise - interestingly it's priced exactly the same as Vincafe.

The details:

Hemingway
Via Mandelli 3
Alba

Phone:
347 889 0628

Open:
6pm to 2am

FACEBOOK
TWITTER

Aperitivo - Antico Caffe Calissano #3

The negroni search continues - our first visit of the evening sees at back at Calissano



and we're happy to report that while the negroni are as good as ever, the aperitivo plate has improved considerably.

Details:
Anitco Caffe' Calissano
Piazza Risorgimento 3
12051 Alba

Phone:
0173441704

Closed - Monday

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Pranzo - Osteria dei Sognatori #3

After a busy morning spent moving into our new apartment, we've headed out for a quick bite at the Osteria before we tackle the unpacking.

For antipasto today there is



Friday, September 21, 2012

Cena - Bistrot Duomo

Tomorrow we're moving into our new apartment and tonight will be spent on cleaning and packing so we're off with a quick bite at Bistrot Duomo.




Pranzo - Enoclub Ristorante

We had been falling into a bit of a rut dining out wise so we've decided to try out a new restaurant. There's actually two restaurants in this building - on the ground floor a casual place called Caffè Umberto and underground in the cellars, a finer dining option called Enoclub.


Thursday, September 20, 2012

Aperitivo - Vincafe

Continuing our Negroni hunt we've headed to an old favourite Vincafe to test their wares.



Monday, September 17, 2012

Cena - La Piola #2

There's no surprises for our entrees


Carne cruda and Vitello Tonnato

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Pranzo - Antico Caffe Calissano

Going out for Sunday lunch is a bit of traditional family thing in Italy and as we like to follow the habits of the locals we're off for a long lunch (and not a negroni) at the Antico Caffé Calissano.



Friday, September 14, 2012

Pranzo - Osteria dei Sognatori #2

After a hectic morning spent shopping in Bra we're arrived back into Alba before 2 - just enough time to sneak into the Osteria for lunch.



Thursday, September 13, 2012

Cena - Vigin Mudset

We're trying a new restaurant to us - Vigin Mudset, located opposite the Chiesa di San Giuseppe.




Aperitivo - Bistrot dei Sognatori #2

A short walk are we're onto round 2



Aperitivo - Antico Caffe Calissano #2

We have certainly developed a taste for Negroni - it's just been the idea weather for them and today we thought we do a head to head taste test between Calissano and the Bistrot.



Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Pranzo - Piazza Duomo 2012

It's been a whole week since we left Melbourne and to mark the occasion we'll be dining at the brilliant Piazza Duomo.



Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Pranzo - La Birroteca Terzo Tempo

As if Alba didn't have enough going for it, it's now got another string to its bow. I mean you have chocolate and hazelnuts, truffles both black and white, wines from arneis to barolo and now there's a Birroteca - a dedicated hub for all things beer.

There's a daily changing menu but a word of warning, this is a wine free zone.



Monday, September 10, 2012

Pranzo - Osteria dei Sognatori

We've been spending enough time at the Bistro it's about time we sample the delights of the Osteria.



Sunday, September 09, 2012

Aperitivo @ Bistrot dei Sognatori

I am just going to blame it on the weather but we've both developed a taste for negroni and we've returned for a late afternoon tipple.



Saturday, September 08, 2012

Aperitivo @ Antico Caffe' Calissano

Alba isn't exactly short on restaurants, wine bars and cafes but there's been an addition to the list - Antico Caffe' Calissano. It's only recently opened and located right next door to La Piola - right on Piazza Risorgimento.  Interesting tidbit - apparently the location is haunted. It's open  6 days a week (closed on Mondays) - from breakfast to dinner. Today we're visiting for aperitivo



Friday, September 07, 2012

Bistrot dei Sognatori

It was probably a combination of an excellent lunch, a bottle of wine and jetlag that caused us to drift off to sleep in the afternoon. When we awoke in the early evening, we found a message from Mario and arranged to catch up for a drink at Bistrot dei Sognatori.




Pranzo - La Libera

Today for lunch, we're going to one of the places we didn't have time to visit last year - Ristorante Osteria La Libera



Thursday, September 06, 2012

Cena @ La Piola

For our first meal in Italy, we're crossing the piazza to eat at La Piola - the sister restaurant of Piazza Duomo.



Flight: QR 33 Doha to Milan Malpensa

There aren't any pictures of our flight from Doha to Milan - the plane isn't quite as spacious, the seat isn't very well designed but as the flight only takes a little over 6 hours, it's okay.

We're offered another breakfast which wasn't particularly good but we both manage to have a little snooze after it. A couple of hours out from Milan we're offered lunch which isn't too bad.

We're pretty much first off when we land and have a dream run through immigration - they barely even want to look at Paalo's English passport and in my case, the only delay is finding a page to place the stamp.

From here it's a short walk to the baggage area and we wait less than 10 minutes for our bags. From this area you could take one exit that leads you to the train that will take you to Milan but as we have a driver waiting for us, we have to go through customs.

There are three paths marked on the floor and we figure out we just need to follow the nothing to declare line. Surprisingly, we basically take a few steps and waltz out the sliding doors to find we out in the airport proper. I'm scratching my head to understand why people don't like Malpensa airport - it's been a breeze. We quickly scan the waiting hordes and find our driver dutifully holding his sign. It's then out the door and across the street and we're ready to go.

This has got to be the easiest and quickest exit we've ever had from any airport.

The drive from Malpensa to Alba is without any issues - we get to relax in a lovely Mercedes and cruise the highways topping 160 clicks - it doesn't even feel that fast and in just over an hour and a half we're at our destination.


Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Flight: QR 31 Melbourne to Doha

Our flight tonight leaves at 10:55pm so unlike every other overseas trip we've been on, we had a good night sleep and we've got the rest of the day to deal with any unexpected issues. With the winds causing all sorts of problems, we've booked our taxi for the earlier time of 6.15pm - in hindsight this proved quite a sensible thing to do.

As we made our way through the tunnel and towards the Bolte Bridge, trouble lay ahead. Our driver had noticed that something was wrong with the traffic and a well-timed bulletin on the radio announced that a car had broken down on the bridge and the traffic was now gridlocked - sensibly, we decided to forgo the Bolte and headed for the Westgate.

Fortunately, apart from the initial hiccup, the run to the airport was pretty easy and we arrived without any further problems. In fact, we arrive before check-in had even opened.

Check in runs smoothly - and since we're flying business, we're given access to the Air New Zealand lounge since Qatar doesn't have a lounge of its own in Melbourne.






Dinner @Cafe Vue at Melbourne Airport

We're off to Italy again and this time we're leaving straight from Melbourne rather than having to start our trip via Sydney. One of the benefits is that we finally get to see the "new" Melbourne International Terminal and visit Cafe Vue.

It's located diagonally opposite Movida's Bar Pulpo and neither place is what I'd call remotely busy.