Food is a fundamental part of any holiday experience and at Headwater we pride ourselves on choosing locations where you can sample the best of authentic regional cuisine. Whether it’s a gourmet meal paired with the finest wines, a cookery lesson sampling local delicacies or a simple local dish that just hits the spot, food is king on a Headwater holiday.
To provide you with a taster of the food on offer in Piedmont, or if you’ve travelled with us before, to enable you to recreate moments from your travels, we have spoken to a local chef who’s provided a flavoursome recipe that you can put together in your own home.
Piedmont and food
Tucked away in the north-west of Italy is the gastronomic gem Piedmont – home of the Slow Food Movement, characterised by rolling countryside and sweeping vineyards.
The region was deservedly put in the spotlight by 2015’s Masterchef: The Professionals and Gino Di Campo also featured the delicious delicacies of Piedmont in his 2016 series, Gino’s Italian Escape. Its rich and fertile landscape is responsible for some of Italy’s finest food and wine. Think quality, local meats such as locally-caught game served up in mouth-watering ragùs, aromatic white truffles and signature cheeses like Gorgonzola and Toma delle Langhe. Not forgetting crunchy hazelnuts that grow in lush hazelnut groves around the region. In Alba, the famous chocolate is hard to resist – home of Ferrero Rocher, the sweet scent fills the air as you explore the bustling piazze.
Recipe
Creamy Risotto with a Carpaccio of Porcini Mushrooms (Serves 4)
Ingredients:
Method:
The chef: Damiano Nigro, Relais Villa d’Amelia
Damiano learnt his trade under famous chefs including Marco Pierre White, and gained his Michelin Star in 2011. He specialises in creative yet traditional Italian cooking, mixing classic Piemontesi flavours with a rich Puglian twist, straight from his roots. He personally selects top-quality seasonal ingredients for his cuisine supplied by small local producers.
Heather Godbert, Senior Programme Manager at Headwater, said:
“This will make a perfect main course if entertaining at home – although in Italy, risotto is served as the first course, with a hearty main to follow and then the dessert. Damiano gives his risotto an unusual yet highly tasty twist, with the local Moscato wine (don’t forget to bring a bottle home if you visit Piedmont!)”
Refresh your palate in Piedmont
On our self-guided Gastronomic Barolo Cycling holiday you’ll spend two nights at Relais Villa d’Amelia, just outside Benevello, which boasts a superb Michelin-starred restaurant serving delicious gastronomic meals.
Prices from £1,599 per person – all breakfasts and gastronomic evening meals included.
8 nights/hotel-to-hotel/departs every two days from 11 May ’17 to 14 Oct ‘17.
Charlotte Hudson joined Headwater as the Creative Content Executive in August 2016, managing all things content-related, including brochures, the website and newsletters. She loves nothing more than laying on a sunny beach when on holiday, but also experiencing the local culture. One of her favourite holidays was to Vietnam, where she spent three weeks travelling from the north to the south. In her spare time, when she’s not eating out or in, she enjoys fitness classes at the gym, days out and trips to the seaside.
