The Roman town of Bra
On July 1 I was wearing my Canadian T-shirt with the red maple leaf and large text "CANADA" written on the back. I found myself explaining to locals what it was all about. They were surprised of how much an Italian can become a proud Canadian after "only" 7 years of living there..
I visited the town of Bra. The name is interesting.. As already well explained to my wife, there are NO bra factories in this town..Its name actually derives from the ancient Brayda, which was the first name of the village erected in the year 1000. This town, on the left bank of the Tanaro River, near the Roero hills, is rich in churches and baroque palaces where important frescos, paintings and statues are to be found.
The importance of this place, to me, was the location of the main offices of Slow Food. An association dedicated to the "art" of eating and drinking well. I was looking for some literature and books that I know I would not find anywhere else.
Today is my last day in the Langhe. I wanted to celebrate it with a nice dinner in one of the towns of the Barolo area. I drove through La Morra and stopped to admire again the view of the entire Barolo DOCG from the piazza.
Then I stopped in the town of Barolo and I went to an Enoteca, right near the Castle in the main piazza of Barolo. The host was glued to the TV because of a soccer game.. I had fun watching him (and the soccer game) serving me dish after dish in an endless parade of flavors. The Enoteche are usually places where you taste wine and eat simple food. So, this one fully reflected the concept. However as "simple" as the food can be, it is definitely in abundance!
Here is my Enoteca experience:
1) Antipasti: bresaola, lardo, peperoni, porchetta
Matched with a glass of Roero "Buganza" - Garbianotto Piobesi d'Alba and a glass of Langhe Nebbiolo Monsu' Giuseppe Negro 2001.
2) Maltagliati al pomodoro fresco (home made pasta - "maltagliati": "badly cut") with a glass of Barolo 1999 Cannubi Fratelli Serio & Battista Borgogno - Barolo.
La Piazza in the town of La Morra
The town of Barolo