Taking a break from cooking to enjoy a leisurely lunch at La Piola.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Alba - Giorno 15
Posted by
Haalo
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Alba - Giorno 14
Posted by
Haalo
Monday, September 26, 2011
Alba - Giorno 13
Posted by
Haalo
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Festa Del Vino 2011
Posted by
Paalo
*WARNING: This is a photo heavy post*
While having a glass of wine, or two at Vin Cafe recovering from Slow Cheese 2011 we spied a flyer advertising something called "Festa Del Vino" even my rudimentary Italian understood that, and my even more rudimentary German understood "Das Weinfest" Reading inside it looks as if there are twenty two wineries showing about 100 wines. Right up our alley, literally since we walk out of our front door into stand four.
While having a glass of wine, or two at Vin Cafe recovering from Slow Cheese 2011 we spied a flyer advertising something called "Festa Del Vino" even my rudimentary Italian understood that, and my even more rudimentary German understood "Das Weinfest" Reading inside it looks as if there are twenty two wineries showing about 100 wines. Right up our alley, literally since we walk out of our front door into stand four.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Alba - Giorno 11
Posted by
Haalo
Friday, September 23, 2011
Alba - Giorno 10
Posted by
Haalo
Cena - Osteria dei Sognatori
Posted by
Haalo
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Alba - Giorno 8
Posted by
Haalo
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Alba - Giorno 7
Posted by
Haalo
Monday, September 19, 2011
Cena - Osteria dei Sognatori
Posted by
Haalo
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Alba - Giorno 5
Posted by
Haalo
Vincafé
Posted by
Haalo
Vincafé is one of the winebars that our host Mario has recommended and as we're walking past it on the way back from seeing the Bersaglieri, it seems a good opportunity to pause and enjoy a wine or two.
There's a constantly changing selection of 50 to 100 wines by the glass - the menu of which is written on a chalkboard on the rear wall. What makes you do a double take are the prices that range from €2 to €6 (that's for a Barolo!) a glass - when was the last time a glass of wine was that cheap (and actually drinkable) in Australia?
There's a constantly changing selection of 50 to 100 wines by the glass - the menu of which is written on a chalkboard on the rear wall. What makes you do a double take are the prices that range from €2 to €6 (that's for a Barolo!) a glass - when was the last time a glass of wine was that cheap (and actually drinkable) in Australia?
Labels:
Italy - Alba 2011,
Vincafe
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Alba - Giorno 4
Posted by
Haalo
It's Saturday which means it's market day. Now, when Mario told us that the Saturday market was big and basically took over the town, he wasn't exaggerating. In fact, as soon as we walked out our door, there it was. I think you know I might just have squealed a little.
Location
12051 Alba Cuneo, Italy
Slow Cheese 2011 - Day 2
Posted by
Haalo
Today it's all about the taste workshops and we will be attending three.
The notes of which can be found in their respective posts:
LCH07 - Roquefort - The King of Cheeses
LCH10 - On the Verge of Extinction: Alpine Beaufort
LCH12 - Giarolo's Bounty
The notes of which can be found in their respective posts:
LCH07 - Roquefort - The King of Cheeses
LCH10 - On the Verge of Extinction: Alpine Beaufort
LCH12 - Giarolo's Bounty
Taste Workshop LCH10
Posted by
Haalo
On the Verge of Extinction: Alpine Beaufort
4pm Sala Liceo Scientificio
The pearl of the Savoy Alps, Beaufort is a large, hard, raw cow's milk cheese with a distinctive concave rind, now mostly produced in cooperative dairies in the lowlands. Hervé Mons, an affineur from Saint-Haon-le-Châtel and a Meilleur Ouvrier de France, will lead a tasting of cheeses from one of the last mountain producers of Beaufort, the Perret family of La Tueda. The cheeses are aged for months in caves in an old railway tunnel. You'll taste a winter Beaufort (aged for 16 months), a summer Beaufort (14 months) and an Alpine Beaufort (14 months), paired with red and white wines from Savoy, a region whose wines are undeservedly little-known.
4pm Sala Liceo Scientificio
The pearl of the Savoy Alps, Beaufort is a large, hard, raw cow's milk cheese with a distinctive concave rind, now mostly produced in cooperative dairies in the lowlands. Hervé Mons, an affineur from Saint-Haon-le-Châtel and a Meilleur Ouvrier de France, will lead a tasting of cheeses from one of the last mountain producers of Beaufort, the Perret family of La Tueda. The cheeses are aged for months in caves in an old railway tunnel. You'll taste a winter Beaufort (aged for 16 months), a summer Beaufort (14 months) and an Alpine Beaufort (14 months), paired with red and white wines from Savoy, a region whose wines are undeservedly little-known.
Ready for the next class |
Labels:
Italy - Bra 2011,
Slow Cheese 2011,
Taste Workshop
Location
12042 Bra Cuneo, Italy
Taste Workshop LCH07
Posted by
Haalo
LCH07 - Taste Workshop - Roquefort, The King of Cheeses
Held: 1pm Sala Liceo Scientifico
Held: 1pm Sala Liceo Scientifico
Perhaps the world's best-known blue cheese, Roquefort is named after the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon in Aveyron. Here, following ancient tradition and a strict production protocol, the cheese ages for months in the natural limestone caves of the Grands Causses. The tasting will be led by Xavier Thuret, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (a prestigious recognition for French craftspeople) and technical consultant to the Société Roquefort, which unites the seven existing producers. You'll discover the nuances of the seven cheeses, pairing them with dry and sweet wines from different denominations: Bordeaux (Sauternes and Barsac), Loire (Coteaux du Layon), Alsace (Haut-Rhine), Roussillon (Rivesaltes) and Vallée du Rhône (Beaume de Venise).
Waiting for the workshop to start |
Labels:
Italy - Bra 2011,
Slow Cheese 2011,
Taste Workshop
Location
12042 Bra Cuneo, Italy
Friday, September 16, 2011
Alba - Giorno 3
Posted by
Haalo
We're in need of a coffee or two to start the day so it's a good excuse to explore more of the city.
Location
12051 Alba Cuneo, Italy
Slow Cheese 2011 - Day 1
Posted by
Haalo
Since we weren't able to get into any of the classes today, we've decided to spend our time at the Gran Sala dei Formaggi ed Enoteca (Great Hall of Cheese and Enoteca). We learnt from our previous visit to Slow Cheese that leaving this for the last day meant that most of the interesting wines and cheeses weren't available.
Entrance to the Great Hall costs €8 and you get a wine glass and glass holder as well as one cheese tasting voucher and one wine tasting voucher and if you are a Slow Food member it's €4.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Alba - Giorno 2
Posted by
Haalo
Pranzo - Piazza Duomo
Posted by
Haalo
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Alba - Giorno 1
Posted by
Haalo
We've been to Porta Susa before so we thought leaving the station to meet up with our host Mario would be easy - we didn't foresee the fact that Porta Susa is pretty much a bomb site.
Through a serious of what must have been wrong turns we end up on a street somewhere in Turin - with no train station in sight. It was like walking out of the Flinders Street underpass and finding yourself in Ringwood.
It's in the mid 30's and humid and the thought of dragged our bags back down those stairs in the hope of finding another exit was beyond us. Luckily we had Mario's number and eventually managed to find the name of the street we were on.
Fifteen minutes later we where in Mario's car being happily quenching our thirst with chilled bottles of water (he really did think ahead!) and making our way through Turin's street towards our final destination - Alba.
We've rented an apartment from Mario and we'll be here for 3 weeks - and just like Paris, we have an excellent view.
Through a serious of what must have been wrong turns we end up on a street somewhere in Turin - with no train station in sight. It was like walking out of the Flinders Street underpass and finding yourself in Ringwood.
It's in the mid 30's and humid and the thought of dragged our bags back down those stairs in the hope of finding another exit was beyond us. Luckily we had Mario's number and eventually managed to find the name of the street we were on.
Fifteen minutes later we where in Mario's car being happily quenching our thirst with chilled bottles of water (he really did think ahead!) and making our way through Turin's street towards our final destination - Alba.
We've rented an apartment from Mario and we'll be here for 3 weeks - and just like Paris, we have an excellent view.
Cena - La Bottega del Vicoletto
Posted by
Haalo
Train - Paris to Torino
Posted by
Haalo
We're both going to miss this apartment - fantastic position and wonderfully decorated, special mention to the unbelievable fantastic bed, I am so going to buy a King Koil when we get back - the kitchen is fine for shorter stays but for longer periods I'd be looking for something a little more fitted out.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Paris - Jour 7
Posted by
Haalo
Dejeuner - Au Pied du Cochon
Posted by
Haalo
Au Pied du Cochon is a Paris institution - it's been running non-stop since 1947, staying open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.
Labels:
Au Pied de Cochon,
France - Paris 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Dejeuner - Le Train Bleu
Posted by
Haalo
Le Train Bleu is located inside the Gare de Lyon station and has been in operation since 1901.
When you know what lays behind the door, the appearance of the entrance to Le Train Bleu seems a bit out of place.
Labels:
France - Paris 2011,
Le Train Bleu
Basilique du Sacre-Coeur
Posted by
Haalo
You must visit Sacre-Coeur was the advice given by my mother and her advice on what to see in the past has been spot on. There are probably easier ways to get here than our route but I've got no real desire to use the Metro especially when the weather is warm and muggy.
If you take one of the hop-on-off tour buses it will drop you off a good block from the base of the complex - from there you'll have to walk up one of the streets lined with touts and scammers playing 3 card monty.
Once you reach the base you have the choice - a long steep walk along a path that zig zags up the hill or take the venicular. Oh, if you take the venicular a word of advice - don't mistake the queue for the toilet for the queue to buy tickets for the ride.
For some reason on the day we're here only one of the veniculars are working - so the trip takes a little longer than it should. Keep an eye out on the counter - it lets you know how many spaces are available in the car and theoretically once it reaches zero no one else can enter and the car will leave. I say theoretically because it doesn't stop experienced gypsies from bumming a lift up.
Once you reach the top it's really a few short paces before you see Sacre-Coeur.
If you take one of the hop-on-off tour buses it will drop you off a good block from the base of the complex - from there you'll have to walk up one of the streets lined with touts and scammers playing 3 card monty.
Once you reach the base you have the choice - a long steep walk along a path that zig zags up the hill or take the venicular. Oh, if you take the venicular a word of advice - don't mistake the queue for the toilet for the queue to buy tickets for the ride.
For some reason on the day we're here only one of the veniculars are working - so the trip takes a little longer than it should. Keep an eye out on the counter - it lets you know how many spaces are available in the car and theoretically once it reaches zero no one else can enter and the car will leave. I say theoretically because it doesn't stop experienced gypsies from bumming a lift up.
Once you reach the top it's really a few short paces before you see Sacre-Coeur.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Paris - Jour 5
Posted by
Haalo
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Paris - Jour 4
Posted by
Haalo
Diner - Restaurant L'AOC
Posted by
Haalo
Friday, September 09, 2011
Paris - Jour 3
Posted by
Haalo
Place Monge Market
Posted by
Haalo
You'll find this market conviently nestled around the Place Monge Metro and is open Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Labels:
France - Paris 2011,
Market - Place Monge
Location
Place Monge, 75005 Paris, France
Thursday, September 08, 2011
Paris - Jour 2
Posted by
Haalo
Even though we have the most amazingly comfortable bed in this apartment, jet-lag sees us awake at some ungodly hour.
As we have plenty of time we take the long way round to the Place Maubert Market and stop for breakfast at Café Segafredo.