It's getting down to crunch time for our May 31 departure. Today I decided it was time to get more organized and finally make some restaurant decisions. I started with our 4 dinners in Alba. Here's the restaurants I have on my short list:

Dinners:
Osteria del Teatro - Alba
Osteria del Vignaiolo - La Morra
Enoclub - Alba
Belvedere -La Morra

Lunch: Osteria del Boccondivino - Bra

Any additions or subtractions would be appreciated.

Carole

Title fixed for search engine.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Doru,

Nice mix! Looks good.

I'm not greatly enamored with Bra, or with the reviews I've read about Boccondivino. It's probably great, but this is an area with fantastic at every turn. Lots of choices.

If it were me, I'd bag Boccondivino for lunch and go to drive somewhere farther for lunch that's more quaint. That is, you won't be too sloshed on the roads at lunch! Kidding. But it IS light outside for twisty-raod driving. What about Crota d'Callos (cheap-moderate-wine enoteca)? How about Il Bardon in Calamandrana? Why not go to Asti (it's maybe 20 minutes) and go to Tacabanda, Pompa Magna.

Belvedere? You asked for feedback, so ... Antine! I mean, we loved Belvedere (and so does Matt Kramer) but I thought it a bit overstuffed for the scene. Antine is fresh and lively, although it is an elegant place too.

Enjoy. I think you've done a great job figuring this one out, and someone sure sure appreciate it! Ciao

You can't go wrong with lunch at I Caffi in Acqui Terme. First of all it's located right in the center, in a very pretty part of town, second the room is a beautiful wine room, third the food's great!

jan

Tim, I've replaced Belvedere with Antine. I was informed by Roberta of Villa LaFavorita that Belvedere has a new chef and the former chef runs a new restaurant in LaMorra. It's so new she doesn't know even know the name.

I've made note of your lunch suggestions although we usually eat a substantial breakfast and not much of a lunch maybe just a gelato or two.

Thanks.
Carole

of course I Caffi's dinner is even more fabulous than the lunch, but then again it is considered one of the best restaurants in Piedmont.

Guests were at Belvedere last week and enjoyed it.

I would trust anything Roberta from LaFavorita tells me (number one because she is a darling and number two because she is originally from Parma, as my family is, and so she has food genes that run deep).

Well, I think spontaneity is a good thing when on holiday, so remember to leave a few things to chance and unplanned.

I am with Tim. Antine is a great choice. Another more casual choice in Barbaresco is Antica Torre.

I would add Bel Sit in La Morra to the list.
Our hosts in Barolo made reservations there for us and we had a fabulous evening.
Splendid panoramic views and wonderful food.

You will love Antine. One of the best meals I have had anywhere in Italy. I photographed our meal there in this this album of my wonderful Piemonte trip last fall.

Carole, Have fun! I will miss you at the GTG in Los Angeles but you'll be on your way to where we would all love to be! Hope to see you after the trip. Please tell us all about the journey and the food! Buon Viaggio! Barb Cabot

PS Colleenk, Hi ya! I just viewed your photos from the Fall 2007 trip...oh my gosh just fantastic and the shots of the food...what a tease! What a great trip it must have been. Now I'm going to hunt for your trip report. Thanks for sharing those photos. Barb Cabot

Don't hunt too hard Barb, I never did get around to writing one for that trip. It is on my to do list for this summer though because it really was a wonderful trip and a great combination of locations. I promise I will try but I think I have to do my Puglia trip first while it is fresh on my mind!

Carole,

I haven't eaten at Boccondivino for a few years, but it was definitely upthere with the better Piedmontese restaurants and a treat to eat at the "home of Slow Food". But it has become too famous so you need to make a reservation.

As you know there are so many wonderful places to eat in Piedmont,and although all the restaurants mentioned are great, I would not try to fix too many places in advance, leave some space for finding a new place which you cn write about. Ask your hosts if they have any new places. We have our own short list for our guests, (restricted by what can fit onto a double A4 sheet), but we love it when they come back raving about a new place, and so our list is always changing.

Tim

I now have Antine as a definite on our list.

Tim, Roberta of Villa LaFavorita made the same suggestion regarding advance reservations although she has made a few for us. I figure we can always cancel if we decide on something else. It looks like we need a lot more days in Piemonte!!

Carole