Ah, November—a month that brought me to the enchanting Alba White Truffle Festival 2023. The crisp air, the vibrant colours of fall, and the promise of culinary delights awaited me in the picturesque town of Alba. It was to be an experience filled with the symphony of flavours, insights, and the revelation of the delicate world of truffles. The Alba White Truffle World Market is the perfect place to appreciate and buy the best truffles from the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato woods. Cooking Show Extravaganza My journey began with a front-row seat at a cooking show featuring the talented Chef Michelangelo Mammoliti of La Rey Natura, Il Boscareto Resort & Spa. We were first presented with delicious Prosciutto Crudo di Cuneo, which was granted Protected Denomination of Origin status in 2009. About to enjoy green pasta with matcha tea ravioli prepared by Chef Michelangelo Mammoliti and his team Chef Michelangelo Mammoliti (pictured left) was awarded Best Chef of the … [Read more...]
Slovenia’s BRDA&Vino food and wine festival returns with a bang
The much awaited BRDA & VINO Wine and Culinary Festival returned to the picturesque medieval village of Šmartno after three years on Saturday 23 April. It was great to be able to attend again after my last visit in 2019. The regular visitors who came from all across Europe and beyond and me had missed this event. BRDA & VINO is popular for many reasons, among them: the variety of dishes and wines on offer, the lovely atmosphere brought on by the many entertainers and the visitors themselves, the setting and surrounding views. All who attend are in a happy mood, heightened by the festive live music performances. Beautiful location The idyllic location, the tiny village of Šmartno, is bang in the centre of Slovenia’s most coveted wine-producing region—Goriška Brda, which has often been dubbed Slovenia’s Tuscany. One will see why when admiring the rolling hills and vineyards from one of the many hilltops. Šmartno itself is perched on a hill and offers amazing views of … [Read more...]
European Food Summit returns for second edition
LJUBLJANA: One of Europe’s most important culinary events, the European Food Summit, is back in Ljubljana this November after its premiere in 2019. Food, food, food. With a healthy dose of food-focused events from culinary walks and dinners to a gastronomy-oriented symposium, the European Food Summit (EFS) attracts some of the top names in the food world for what has become an important culinary event on the continent. Even though it’s a fairly new event, premiering in 2019, people have been talking about it ever since. It was not held last year (2020) due to the COVID pandemic, which saw the cancellation of most major events in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and beyond. The European Food Summit raises awareness of the global impact of food, and brings together great minds from around the world to create a better tomorrow. Taking place between 6th and 8th November 2021, here’s what visitors to this year’s summit can expect. Gourmet Ljubljana Crawl Anyone … [Read more...]
Bringing a bit of Champagne to Slovenia
One of the highlights of travelling is anticipation. Today, we’re travelling within the country of Slovenia, an hour’s drive east of Ljubljana, to the steep hills of the upper Dolenjska region. Slovenia boasts many culinary hotspots that are scattered all around the country, making it an ideal destination for food travellers. You can travel over the next hill or plain, and find yourself in a new gastronomic region marked by its own specialities. We’re heading to Domaine Slapšak—the house of Slovenian sparkling wine made using the Champagne method—where Gostilna Repovž, a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant, is hosting a culinary pop-up. I’ve known about this pop-up dinner for a while now, so I’ve had plenty of time to look forward to it. Enough time for anticipation to build! The Pop-Up It’s a Thursday evening. We arrive at the Slapšak estate in a tiny village called Telče, just a 20-minute drive away from Sevnica. Does Sevnica ring a bell? Yes, that’s right, it … [Read more...]