Of Nutella, Wine and Truffles

I discovered only a couple of years ago that Nutella is in fact a product of Italy. Till that point I had somehow assumed that it was one of Uncle Sam's instant foods. I can still remember three Italian colleagues in my office in Geneva looking rather displeased at my geo-culinary (aside: I think I just invented a term) faux pas. That's when I heard about the city of Alba, which is home to the famous Italian food confectionery, Ferrero, the creators of Nutella. Ever since, the city which smells of chocolate had captured my imagination.

Alba, which is located in the region of Piedmonte is everything I had dreamed of and more. Besides Nutella, it is also home to some of Italy's finest wines and the Italian white truffles. In fact, the annual truffle festival was in full swing the day we landed in Alba. The festival is said to draw people from all over the world and a kilo of truffle can cost up to 2000 Euros! Personally, I didn't think much about them, but well, I am hardly a connoisseur.

Shutterbug time!

The city center...yes you can actually smell the chocolate in the air :)

Wake up and smell the chocolate coz its running from your taps!

Of course I was the stupid tourist who photographed truffles on display

Alba is also known for its varieties of Focaccia....I really should stop photographing food

Vineyards in Barolo...sigh what it would mean to be the guy who lives in that cottage and probably owns this plantation