Moving On… From Paris To Brussels By Rail

Goodbye to Paris

From Paris to Brussels by train? Brussels is only 160 miles (and 80 minutes) from Paris (by rail) - so the Rail Europe option is a no-brainer. The Paris Gare du Nord station is a 10 minute walk from the Kube Hotel and unless you are toting a trunk, there is no need to take a taxi.

More Than a Station

Built 1861-1864 and designed by the French architect Jacques Hittorff in the Beaux-Arts (neoclassical) style, the Paris Gare du Nord station is located in the 10th arrondissement. The building is enormous and there are so many entrances that it is easy to get lost. Look (ask if necessary) for the entrance to the building and getting to the correct platform for the train to Brussels is simple…Entering by any other door will lead to parts unknown!

Arriving early at the station is a really good idea. Take the time to look at the 23 female statues that are part of the 540 ft. façade. Each status represents a particular destination served by the Chemin de Fer Nord rail company (now part of Societe Nationale des Chemins de Fer Francais). The destinations sculptured include Paris, London, Berlin, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Vienna, Brussels and Frankfurt.

An early arrival also offers time to indulge in the excellent street food that makes all European train stations so deliciously tempting. From lobster tails to spicy sausages and roast chicken – the eats are fabulously yummy. The stations also feature seductive candy and pastry kiosks and a wide selection of soft drinks and beers at multiple bars as well as take-away.

Over 190 million people transit through this station each year, making it the most hectic railway station in Europe and the busiest in the world outside Japan. Departures for Northern France and international destinations (i.e., Belgium, Germany, the Netherland and the UK) start here.

Déjà vu

Upon arrival - the station somehow looks… familiar. Why? The interior and exterior were part of in the Bourne Identify (2002) with Matt Damon and The Bourne Ultimatum (2007). It was also part of Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Mr. Bean’s Holiday (2007). The end of The Raven (2012) takes place at this station and scenes from the Gossip Girl’s episode, Double Identify was filmed here. The station was also featured in the video for the song Home by Blake Shelton and the station is mentioned in The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.

Time to Get On-Board

All train departures (time and platform locations) are posted on huge boards dispersed throughout the station. Boarding starts approximately 20 minutes before scheduled departure – so do not tarry. As soon as the platform number is posted – grab your luggage and dash for the train. Keep tickets handy so that the car and seat numbers can be referenced. Sometimes a train conductor is stationed at the first car and can be queried for directions to “your” car; other times there is no one to ask – so – the best advice is to get on the car that offers the first boarding opportunity – and then find the way to your seat. Yes it is a pain to have to push/pull luggage through the aisles and there must be a better way; unfortunately, I never found a solution to this problem.

Arriving in Brussels

Be aware that cell phones may not work in European train stations. Supposedly there are hot spots – but my carrier (Verizon) was not able to link to them. Do not bother asking station personnel to make a call for you (on their business or their personal cell phones) – they will not do it. If you are arriving after 6 PM the stations tourism office are likely to be closed – so do not expect assistance from this source. Since I was traveling exclusively on Rail Europe I finally went into the Eurostar office to ask them to make a call to my hotel for a pick-up.

Arriving late? Hungry? It might be a good idea to pick up sandwiches at the station before heading to the hotel (not all have hotels have late night F&B services); in addition, there is no guaranty that neighborhood restaurants will be open.

Sleeping at Be Manos. Pleasant Surprises

While the website places the hotel “next to” the train station – this is not exactly correct! It is close (perhaps a 10 minute walk) – and it is not easy to find (unless you are familiar with the mixed commercial/residential neighborhood). The best idea is to contact the hotel from the train station and arrange a pick-up or take a taxi (dozens parked outside the terminal).

The 1920s façade offers an understated entrance to this 60-room boutique property (it can easily be missed). Even the first steps into the lobby and the front desk are low-key; however, if you suspend an opinion until you see the dining spaces and rooms (large, great desk space, designer inspired with smoked Plexiglas furniture and 'S' chairs from Danish designer Verner Panton) – you will, ultimately, be a very happy guest. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi (that actually works in rooms as well as public space).

The living space is separated from the bath/toilet area by industrial glass doors – offering a terrific feeling of space and style. The color palate for the hotel is black/white/grey/beige with color blocks of orange and lime green. The natural black stone floors, metallic curtains and huge black and white photographs of attractive men and women on the doors to the rooms – makes this boutique property memorable.

The modern/minimalist sophisticated and comfortable dining/drinking spaces are perfect for enjoying a glass of wine and dinner, as well as the generous breakfast that is included in the room rate.

It is important to note that the hotel is located in a business district and weekends are very quiet. There is a self-service laundry a few blocks away (a necessity for executives on the move) and a few neighborhood /family style restaurants are useful (not gourmet – think eating; not dining).

What’s Going On

Shopping

Most (not all – so check) shops are open 10am—6pm or 7pm Monday—Saturday and closed on Sunday. Brussels is the capital city and the headquarters of the European Community and NATO, thusly the retailers on the Avenue Louise focus on Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Versace, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton. The couture options for men and women are dazzling and seductive. Make sure that your pockets are stuffed with credit cards and lots of Euros.

Luxury

Delvaux (founded in 1829). The oldest family-owned, upmarket leather luxury goods in the world. The official purveyor to the Belgian royal court

Dinh Van Jewelers. Elegant, contemporary and entirely delicious; jewelry that becomes part of the family heritage

Howards Jewelry. Italian inspired jewels and accessories from Mattioli, Marco Bicego, Centoventuno, Casato and Moraglione

Carlode Pascale, Founder, Mmmmh!

Cooking Class

Mmmmh! Open 7 days a week, this center for the culinary arts, cooking equipment and raw materials for the chef (and the wannabe chef), requires a few hours of time. Mmmmh! was founded by Carlo de Pascale who started his career in law and public affairs. When he realized that his passion was not lurking in the library but alive and well in the kitchen he abandoned the law and never looked back. Today Pascale is a noted entrepreneur, columnist and television journalist who is recognized for his strong beliefs in locally sourced ingredients and a supporter of the Slow Food movement. He also co-authored the cookbook, Yes You Can. With over 50 recipes, it provides guidance and assistance to those who are also having love affairs – not in the boardroom - but rather in the kitchen.

His cooking classes attract corporate executives who use the techniques of the chef and the atmosphere of the kitchen for team building. The classes are also filled with lovers who want to share their passion for creating food and eating, millennials who are willing to expand their senses beyond Big Macs and 7 year old children who want to find their way beyond the cereal box.

The chefs teaching the classes are multi-lingual so cooking experiences can be coordinated to meet the languages preferences of the students. The variety of subjects covered in the classes is almost endless and include vegan and organic as well as a multiplicity of European and Asian cuisines. Because Brussels is an international city, so students come from all parts of the world and from a variety of industries.

Nightlife

Jazz Station. What happens to an old train station that is no longer used for trains? In Brussels the space has been morphed into a jazz club with space devoted to concerts, exhibitions, parties and band rehearsals (that are frequently open to the public). The retrofit was the brainchild of the former mayor of Sent-Joust-ten-Node, Jean Demines. He lobbied the European commission, the municipality of Sent-Jose-ten-Node and the Brussels-Capital Region to fund the project. The space opened in 2005 and Saturdays (starting at 6 PM), scores of jazz groupies (and their families) file in, sit on metal chairs, buy a beer and the bar, and listed to Belgian musicians.

What’s the Motive?

Although most visitors to Brussels are filling up hotel rooms and restaurants because of meetings because of meetings and related activities (MICE accounts for 52.5% of night stays). Brussels is the number one city in Europe and the number of two in the world among congress cities (according to the Union of International Associations). There are scads of museums, dozens of galleries, lots of restaurants and is gay friendly.

For additional information, click here:
http://www.visitbrussels.be/

Discover Destinations Where Cheese Is Synonymous With Tradition

 - Think of wine and images of Bordeaux or Tuscany may come to mind, but does one of wine's finest pairings,cheese, conjure up any images? Well, it should. But, even with its equally rich history and vast industry, many of us still don't know much about this favorite food and the special places it comes from. That's why Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, has made a fine pairing of its own.

Cheese is part of the food tradition in almost every corner of the world. So our first course, Around the World in 29 Cheeses, is a culinary tour stretching from Andorra to Serbia with stops in Argentina, Iceland and Mongolia along the way. Next we are serving a more robust plate of culture with our Top 10 Storied Cheese Destinations. From caves full of cheese wheels to rolling cheese races and remote island farms, these destinations are enticing for the local tastes and traditions.

Here are five cheesy choices to start:

• Parma, Italy - Imagine trading your house for an endless supply of a special cheese. That's the level of love inspired by Parmesan, even more than 1,100 years ago. What started as a local specialty, initially made by monks in the Middle Ages, burst its regional boundaries with the growth of trade in the 13th century. Its first reputed claim to fame was a noblewoman of Genoa who, in 1254, traded her home for 53 pounds a year of cheese from Parma. Over the centuries, the cheese makers of Parma and nearby Reggio standardized their production process and officially adopted the name Parmigiano-Reggiano for their product. In Europe, any cheese labeled Parmesan is made in the Parma region. And efforts are underway to limit the use of the name in other parts of the world. Get a first-hand look how the so-called King of Cheeses shaped the development of Parma and surrounding provinces with a visit to the Museo del Parmigiano Reggiano or see it being crafted with a factory tour.
• Gloucestershire, United Kingdom - Here, cheese's biggest day comes in May when thousands descend for the annual Cooper's Hill cheese-rolling races. Competitors from as far as Australia and Japan join in a series of races chasing a wheel of the local Double Gloucester cheese down an impressively steep hill. Sounds simple but it's closer to insane. The rolling cheese builds up to speeds of close to 70 miles per hour. The mad dash to catch it, or at least be first down the hill behind it, repeats four times during the day -- three men's races and one women's race. In between, kids 14 and under race up the hill, which isn't really much easier though at least there doesn't need to be a line of rugby players at the finish line to catch out-of-control competitors. The prize for the race winners is, of course, the very cheese they've been chasing.
• Wisconsin, United States - No place takes pride in its cheese like Wisconsin. People wear their love of cheese and of home on their heads. Welcome to "America's Dairyland" where 15 percent of the country's milk is produced along with more than 350 varieties of award-winning cheese. Welcome, also, to Green Bay Packer country. The NFL team's home crowd is easy to spot as fans fill Lambeau Field in green and yellow jerseys and giant cheese hats. These self-proclaimed "cheeseheads" are following in the footsteps of Ralph Bruno, who made the first cheesehead hat from the foam of a sofa cushion using a turkey slicer. Bruno wore the original to a Milwaukee Brewers baseball game in 1987. Its immediate popularity prompted Bruno to trademark and begin selling the hat, which is now a symbol of local pride for Green Bay and all of Wisconsin.
• Île d'Orléans, Quebec, Canada - In the middle of the St. Lawrence River, just east of Quebec City, lies Île d'Orléans (the island of Orleans), which was one of the earliest French settlements in Canada. These settlers, true to their French heritage, were the first to make cheese in North America. Cheese-making methods on Île d'Orléans, which remained a rural farming island for generations and still retains its rustic feel, has been handed down over the years, dating back to the 1600s. Today, the traditional cheese of the island is sold locally by costumed vendors. There are three variations of Fromages de l'isle d'Orléans, with two sold only on the island.
• Roquefort, France - While cheese is a way of life throughout much of France, the village of Roquefort is basically built on cheese. The collapse of Combalou Mountain created a network of natural caves that are the one and only place where Roquefort cheese can be aged. While the village itself is home to fewer than 1,000 people, its caves hold hundreds of thousands of aging wheels of this pungent but highly sought-after cheese. The history of the cheese dates back to the Middle Ages and is rumored to have been invented by a shepherd who left his cheese curd and rye bread lunch behind in a cave to chase a shepherdess who caught his eye. He returned days later to find his moldy meal. Quite hungry, he still opted to eat it and made a delicious discovery. Today, seven companies produce Roquefort, each with its own blend of sheep milk curds and specially bred molds. It's this mold, however, that has prompted the most recent chapter of the story as the FDA just declared Roquefort and other moldy cheeses off limits in the United States, launching what some are calling a "war on cheese."

And, if that's not enough cheese to fill your palette, check out these other destinations that round out our list: Emmental, Switzerland; Pag Island, Croatia; Alkmaar, Netherlands; Tibet; and Chihuahua, Mexico. For a full list of Cheapflights.com's storied cheese destinations visit:www.cheapflights.com/news/get-cultured-top-10-storied-cheese-destinations.

Save 30% On An Exclusive Spain Basque Experience

                                                   

      

Unprecedented  nonstop flight from New York to the Basque Country paired with memorable journeys launches promotional offer

 As if a week of basking in Basque culinary bliss wasn't enough to tantalize your palate, how about experiencing this magical part of Spain at 30% off? 

The innovative Basque In It experience combining an exclusive non-stop flight from New York JFK to Vitoria-Foronda Airport in the heart of Spain's Basque Country with an exceptional collection of food and wine journeys is now available at special savings for a limited time with pricing starting at just US $2100 per person, double occupancy for the 8 day/7 night tour including airfare.  

This special tour will run from October 4-12, 2014 and will travel through Bilbao and the country's most stunningly sublime wine regions.  This is just one of a selection of masterpiece voyages curated exclusively for those traveling on board, featuring  boutique hotel selections, fused with  experiences such as "pintxo" bar crawls in San Sebastian, Guggenheim museum visits, cooking exhibitions, and tastings with the best chefs in the Basque Country.   A range of tours with various experiences and upgrades are available as well for those that wish to further customize their journey.

The flight will depart JFK on October 4 at 5:05 PM EST/NY, arriving October 5 at 6:20 AM local Spanish time, and will return on October 12^th, departing at 12:30 PM Spanish time and arriving at 3:10 PM EST/NY operated by Iberia Airlines. 

Savings on flight-only bookings apply with economy class tickets starting at US $1650 per person.   Special flight and touring packages must be booked by August 1, 2014.

 The renowned Basque Country specialist tour outfitter Romotur will serve as the exclusive booking agent for this special flight and land packages. US-based Spain expert Teresa Parker of Spanish Journeys is partnering on the project to handle traveler inquiries in the US. For more information contact Carmen Romo at Romotur - carmen@romotur.com  / +34 94 443 34 63, or Teresa Parker at Spanish Journeys - teresa@spanishjourneys.com / +1 508 349 9769.

Wine Festivals Of Germany: Always A Reason To Celebrate Wine

In vino veritas... there may be truth in wine, but it is also one of life's great pleasures! Discover Germany's wonderful wine festivals the length and breadth of the country and join the party in a picture-perfect wine village, the winding narrow streets of a quaint town, a cosy inn or a rustic wine cellar.

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Ahr Wine Market in Ahrweiler

Wine and sekt from the Ahr region are the centrepieces in Ahrweiler market square, where more than 200 wines grown in vineyards from Altenahr to Heppingen are ready to be poured. This wine festival has been a firm fixture in the Ahr region for years. Its special atmosphere, excellent music and entertainment, and outstanding setting attract the crowds. It culminates in the coronation of the new Ahr wine queen.

www.ahrwein.de

Bergstrasse Vintners' Festival, Bensheim

More than eighty years old but still in its prime. The first Bergstrasse Vintners' Festival may have been held in Bensheim back in 1929, but it remains a firm favourite for all ages and among wine enthusiasts from the local area and beyond. South Hessen's biggest wine festival has a young, fresh and modern image – but it still retains its traditional charm.

www.verkehrsverein-bensheim.de

Boppard Wine Festival – a Middle Rhine tradition

Boppard is on the romantic Rhine in the UNESCO World Heritage Upper Middle Rhine Valley . Bopparder Hamm is the biggest vineyard site in the Middle Rhine wine region . The wine festival takes place in the historical setting of Boppard's medieval market square. Every autumn, winemakers and restaurateurs invite wine connoisseurs and gourmets to taste their riesling and other specialities.

www.boppard-tourismus.de

Culinary wine walk in Kernen

The white marquees that are the hallmarks of the culinary wine walk in the Stetten vineyards can be seen from miles around on Whit weekend. Ten winegrowers and five chefs at five points along the existing Stetten wine walking trail serve fine wines from their own vineyards along with gourmet delights.

www.kernen.de

Deidesheimer Weinkerwe – a special wine festival

For decades, the Weinkerwe festival, with its wide range of wines, has been one of the most popular festivals on the German Wine Route. A genuine wine lovers' festival at which excellent wines from the top vineyards and cellars are assured. Enjoy a glass in the sociable atmosphere of the 'Weingasse', or sip superior vintages together with fine food in the 'Weinkabinett' or at the traditional wine estates.

www.deidesheim.de

Freiburg Wine Festival around the minster

Strolling around the streets of Freiburg in a superbly atmospheric setting, visitors get to know the region and its people, enjoy the local specialities and feel inspired by the Badensian zest for life and wine. Stalls packed around Freiburg's famous landmark are full of traditional and regional specialities from wine cellar and kitchen.

www.freiburger-weinfest.de

Heilbronner Weindorf – a traditional wine festival

The wine-making town of Heilbronn holds its traditional German wine festival around the town hall. Thirteen cooperatives and 17 wine-growing estates showcase around 300 still wines and 16 sparkling sekts. Robust reds, crisp whites and full-bodied rosés are on offer. Selected dishes accompany the top-quality wines while musical entertainment sets the tone.

www.heilbronn-tourist.de

Middle Moselle Wine Festival, Bernkastel-Kues

Experience the biggest wine festival in the Middle Moselle region. Its highlights are the reception for the wine queen, firework displays at Landshut Castle and along the banks of the Moselle, the vintners' parade with a string of floats, marching bands and traditional dance groups from Germany and abroad. Over 30 stalls offer acclaimed riesling wines, including Bernkasteler Doctor, Zeller schwarze Katz, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen and Wehlener Sonnenuhr.

www.bernkastel.de

Nordheim Food and Wine Festival

Nordheim Food and Wine Festival, held beneath a canopy of chestnut trees, is a wine lover's delight. Visitors to the lavishly decorated marquee can sample a broad range of wines produced by Nordheim vintners and the DIVINO wine cooperative . Also featuring typical Franconian specialities and light international dishes, it is one of the highlights of the Franconian wine calendar.

www.nordheim-main.de

Oberwesel Wine Market and Rhine in Flames

This traditional autumn wine fair takes place in the picturesque market square. Dance bands and music groups entertain the visitors while winemakers showcase their exquisite wines at vine-clad stalls. The vintner's parade is the highlight, with colourful floats proceeding through the lavishly decorated town. The original Rhine in Flames firework display can be admired from the riverbank or aboard boats.

www.oberwesel.de

Ortenau Regional Wine Festival, Offenburg

The Ortenau vineyards showcase the full variety of their fine wines on the last weekend in September. The spacious setting of Offenburg market square, a host of music groups – some from neighbouring Alsace – a farmers market, barbecued food and speciality cheeses, tarte flambée and zwiebelkuchen make this a traditional wine festival with a cosmopolitan feel.

www.offenburg.de

Rheingau Wine Festival, Wiesbaden

Visitors to the Rheingau Wine Festival embark on a voyage of discovery. Around 100 winemakers offer acclaimed Rheingau riesling wines as well as sparkling sekt and regional fare. The ten-day wine festival includes a varied programme of entertainment in Schlossplatz and Dern'schen Gelände squares in Wiesbaden .

www.wiesbaden.de

Rüdesheim Wine Festival – the riesling festival

Famous vineyards in the UNESCO World Heritage site along the Rhine guarantee the quality of this traditional wine festival held under the lime tree in the market square. On the third weekend in August, you can taste the best rieslings and pinot noirs from the famous steep vineyards of the Rheingau , just 50 kilometres from Frankfurt . Rüdesheim wine estates such as Johannes Leitz, the Gault Millau 2011 winemaker of the year, are not to be missed.

www.ruedesheim.de

Stuttgart Wine Festival – Swabian joie de vivre

Stuttgart Wine Festival has lost none of its original appeal. It is not only a hit in Stuttgart , it has long been a byword and ambassador for the Swabians' love of life, well beyond the Baden-Württemberg state capital. It shows Stuttgart and the Swabian region at its best – convivial and welcoming and celebrating wine as their cultural heritage.

www.stuttgarter-weindorf.de

Traditional Mainz Wine Market

The traditional Mainz Wine Market is regarded as one of Mainz's best festivals. The municipal park in Mainz provides an unparalleled setting for the wine stalls, with the sekt festival and arts and crafts market in its rose garden. Strolling wine tastings and delicious food are other attractions in Mainz , which has been a member of the Great Wine Capitals network since 2008.

www.mainzer-weinmarkt.de

Weyher Wine Panorama – food, wine and views

Fine wine and good food are on the menu for this vineyard walk with panoramic views. A special miniature 'train' takes visitors up to the start of the wine walk on Michelsberg hill. Vintners and chefs work together in the pavilions spread around the vineyards to ensure that the hearty Palatinate specialities and creative local tapas match up to the range of wines provided by the nine winemakers.

www.weyher.de

Wine and fun at the Baden Wine Festival, Europa-Park

A very special wine festival with a variety of stage shows, showbiz celebrities, cool live music, acrobatic displays by Europa-Park performers and the traditional barrel-tapping ceremony. Many award-winning regional wines are uncorked and poured in the charming setting of the historical Balthasar Palace garden in Europa-Park .

www.europapark.de

Wine festival in Freyburg, in the Saale-Unstrut region

Central Germany's biggest wine festival is held in Freyburg, the capital of the most northerly German region where qualitätswein can be grown. Music and shows attract the crowds all around the town where the streets are packed with stallholders and Saale-Unstrut vintners offer their wares in the 'wine village' and around the festival site.

www.weinregion-saale-unstrut.de

Turin – Italy’s Forgotten Food Capital

by Sofia 

Before we traveled to Turin we knew very little about the city other than that it was known for its car production

Little did we know that Turin is also a foodie’s heaven, something that we discovered during our time there. Not many people seem to know about this great gastronomical treasure of northern Italy – it’s almost as though it as been forgotten of.

The locals claim that the reason is because they don’t brag and tell everyone about how great their food is, they just know it’s the best…

Europe’s Largest Open-Air Market

In Turin you will find the largest open-air fruit and vegetable market in Europe.

Full of life, the bustling market starts in the morning (around 8am) and goes on until 2pm. This is where the locals go to buy their weekly food shopping, and a great place to soak up the Italian atmosphere.

Selling seasonal fruits and vegetables by the kilo, you can easily buy a whole week of greens for €6, and it’s the perfect place to put together a cheap pic nic lunch before heading over to one of the parks nearby.

Giandujotto

If you’re a chocolate fan, prepare to be in for a real treat! What was originally an attempt to “thin out” chocolate to make it more affordable turned into one of the most delicious chocolate treats ever: the Gianduja.

A mixture of chocolate and hazelnuts, the Gianduja comes in bite sized treats called Giandujotto, and can be bought pretty much anywhere in Turin. They’re seriously some of the most amazing chocolate treats I’ve ever had, and I’ve eaten a lot of chocolate in my life..!

To give you an idea of the flavor, Gianduja was the inspiration to the more famous (and cheaper) Nutella spread we all love so much – which in Turin they throw into almost everything, from coffee to snacks.

Bicerin

We’ve written before about Turin’s obsession for chocolate, and the Bicerin is one of its proudest inventions. A hot chocolate/coffee drink, Bicerin is a unique drink of Turin, and a must-try for cool evenings.

Zabaglione

Another warm drink typical for Turin is Zabaglione, an alcoholic type of egg-nod, where the egg is whipped into a foam, and you basically eat the drink with a spoon.
It’s sweet, a little sticky, and has a strong alcoholic liqueur flavor.

Biscotti & Bagnati

To go with their hot chocolate coffee drinks, the Savoy family that ruled Piedmont invented bite sized biscuits to dip in their hot drinks.

These delights made especially to be dunked come in many different flavors and varieties, some of the most famous are Baci di Dama, Canestrelli and Savoiardi – better known as ladies fingers.

Our favorite were Torcetti (in the lower left corner), but there is really an infinite variety of specialities waiting to seduce you and be enjoyed in Turin’s small, traditional patisseries.

At Caffé al Bicerin (famous for their Bicerin) you can order a plate of assorted traditional biscuits for €6 to go with your drink – they’re definitely worth it!

Ferrero Rocher

As if the fact that Turin invented eating chocolate wasn’t enough, one of the most famous gourmet chocolates in the world – Ferrero Rocher, was also invented in Turin.

Wine

The Piedmont region of Turin is famous for their wine, especially of the red sort.

One of the perks of Italy, and especially Piedmont, is that wine can be bought everywhere, and surprisingly cheap.

In some of the cheaper restaurants such as “Brek” you just grab a jug of the size you want and pour wine from a tap lie it was water!

Two glasses can cost as little as €1,70, not to mention the prices of bottles from a wine shop of supermarket.

If you like wine that is a little tangy, you’ll love Italian wine.

Aperitivo

Turin claims to be the inventor of so many things it’s almost a bit of a joke; one cafe even claims the fame for “bite sized sandwiches”, and prize them accordingly…

The city is apparently also where “aperitivo” was invented, a sort of “happy hour” thing when you buy a drink and get a buffet or snacks for free.

Unlike “happy hour”, drinks aren’t usually cheaper, but you get free food included. For a proper buffet expect to pay €9, but if you just want to enjoy a refreshing Aperol Spritz with some peanuts and chips you can get a drink for as little as €4 (at least from our favorite local hangout, Roger Bar at Via Torquato Tasso 9).

Slow Food Movement

The invasion of fast food joints popping up like a plague across Italy in the 80’s gave birth to a new food revolution – the Slow Food Movement.

This new movement began in the Piedmont region (in a town called Bra close to Turin) and was aimed to reclaim the meaning of eating in Italy, and offer the public good food carefully made with love, rather than pre-made reheated burger patties.

While the Supermarket/Restaurant Eataly is the most famous, there are many great slow food restaurants all over Turin.

Truffles

The Piedmont area is not only one of the best wine growing areas in Italy, but also the best for growing the exotic (and expensive) Truffels.

Every year Turin holds a truffle festival where the best chefs from around the world travel to the city to seek out the best truffles for their restaurants.

If you’re interested in visiting Turin and sample their amazing food, Co-op Travel offers some great holiday packages to Italy, where you can easily make Turin part of a day-trip.

Next time you travel through northern Italy make sure you stop over in Turin for a day or two to sample their great food!

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