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MODENA:
November is the season of truffle, mushrooms, chestnuts, and hazelnuts so it is a good time to arrange a gourmet tour in Italy. We flew to Milan and hit the road driving to Modena (~2 and a half hours) which is known as the land of fast cars (think Ferrari), opera (Pavarotti was born in Modena) and balsamic vinegar.
WHERE TO STAY:
We stayed at Hotel Cervetta 5 which is a super central and super clean bed&breakfast hotel. It is walking distance to the places we ate and shop.
WHERE TO EAT:
This year the chef-patron Massimo Bottura's Osteria Franciscana was rewarded as the best restaurant in the world. Bottura family produces Balsamic Vinegar and he is very passionate about running this family business as well as being the "best chef in the world"! We enjoyed a 4 hours long lunch and had the pleasure to meet him. Bottura family has a big art collection and Bottura is displaying the collection in his restaurant. The curated jazz focused play list was a great complement to the meal. I personally loved the interior decoration with dark wall colours and my two favourite dishes were the Black&Grey Rissotto and the Suckling Pig.
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An eel swimming up the Po River [Image]
Grey and Black Rice [Image]

[Image]Suckling pig tender and crunchy








Tortellini with cream of Parmigiano Reggiano  [Image]
Caser Salad in bloom [Image]
Yellow is bello [Image]
The Master [Image]


Massimo Bottura has a second restaurant which is ideal for a casual lunch or dinner; Franceschetta 58. The food is yummy and the atmosphere is airy. Modena is know with its Tortellini; make sure to order one!
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For a Saturday night dinner&drinks, Spaccio delle Carceri, is probably the best place. It is packed with locals and by midnight it becomes jam packed. Live DJ performance and good music creates the vibrant atmosphere.
Mon Cafe (after working with Massimo Botturo for 8 years, Antonio decided to open a cafe alternative) and Menomoka are two lovely coffee shops for a quick coffee break.
WHERE TO VISIT: On Saturdays and Sundays, Modena's historical market place Mercato Albinelli is where the action takes place. Fresh fish, vegetables, cheese and pasta are some of the selection of products. Balsamic vinegar is an artisan product from Modena and you will find a wide selection of Balsamic Vinegars in the market to taste and to shop.
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When you enter the Mercado turn left and you will see a tiny little shop which has a "Bar" sign. They prepare mini "panini"s with daily products. The menu changes everyday and we tried cheese&pumpkin, artichoke&salami and swordfish&orange. You should try these mini paninis!
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WHAT TO DO:

Ferrari Museum is fun not only for men who love fast cars but for all who love some nostalgia. [Image]
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ALBA:

After our short stay at Modena we headed to Alba; which is known as the land of white truffle. Every year late October to late November White Truffle Festival attracks lots of visitors to Alba.
TO STAY:
We stayed 10 km away from Alba; a tiny and adorable village called Asti located on top of a hill. Castello di Villa is a splendid former manor house built in 17th century and now converted into a beautiful boutique hotel.
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WHERE TO EAT:

Locanda Del Pilone is set on a hilltop overlooking Alps and the stunning surrounding vineyards. It is 7 km from the medieval town of Alba. They have 8 rooms if you like to stay in the restored Piedmontese farmhouse. The high-end restaurant serves Piedmontese Mediterreane cuisine. Make sure you add white truffle to any dish you want.
[Image]  Piedmontese raw meat veal, almonds and "Castagno" cheese from "Beppino Occelli" [Image]  Egg, celeriac and Parmesan with white truffle on top [Image]  Three-roast "Plin Agnolotti", with "Alta Langa" butter and Parmesan 36 months aged [Image]
We regret that we couldn't dine at Piazza Duomo (Sunday&Monday closed) which is located at the heart of Alba. It was highly recommended by a good friend and this year it is ranked 17 in the World's Top 50 Restaurant list.
WHAT TO DO:

The major attraction is the White Truffle Festival which is located in Alba city centre close to Duomo. On Sundays there is the farmers market close to the International Alba White Truffle Market so you will have the chance to buy cheese, vegetables and delicious chocolate as well. Make sure you eat the super delicious home made paste with white truffle in the festival area.


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There are workshops and sessions of "how to white truffle" and we learned that:
-you shouldn't look for white truffle between December to October. The only time is late October to late November -you should consume white truffle in 48 hrs and can be stored in the refrigerator upto 7 days -you should keep the truffle covered with a tissue in a glass jar, in the fridge
It was a weekend full of flavours and once again I admired the richness of the Italian culture. Viva Italia, we love visiting you :)
Special thanks to our beloved friend Duygu Azun to arrange the booking at Osteria Francescana; it was a once in a life time experience. Also thanks to our friends Sophie, Salim, Ece, Baris, Eva and Emre for sharing the memorable weekend with us.


For more photos and videos, also visit instagram account @eatandtravelandlove (https://instagram.com/eatandtravelandlove/)