I just picked up my file of posts for a trip I''ve just booked to Lake Como, Alba/Turin, and Nice and find one that you posted in February saying you'd be in Alba in April. Have you been already? Are you there? Will you be going soon? Having booked, I'm now even more eagerly awaiting your report.

She's there now. She posted briefly as erica about Alba in the Italy forum at chowhound.

Thanks Zerlina. I'll check for her chowhound post.

Hi Julie!

I returned home last night and will try to post the report, or at least the beginning, this week.
Meanwhile, please feel free to ask any and all questions!

Even before you do, here are a couple of answers based on my own, albeit very limited, experience over the past week:

1. Yes, the food in Piemonte is every bit as good (fabulous, really) as you have heard and read.

2. Yes, the wines are equally wonderful

3. The prices are surprisingly reasonable, both for food and wine, and for lodgings.

4. I think that the chance of having a bad or even a mediocre, meal in this region is slim to none!

5. The people we met were, each and every one of them, among the warmest and most welcoming we have encountered in all of our Italian travels.

And one more:

6. The driving is just about the easiest one could imagine. Great roads, always well posted. A snap to drive into and out of Turin.

7. In one word: EATITALY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Which has 3 syllables, by the way!

Welcome back!! I was also wondering how the trip in Alba was going. Can't wait to see your trip report. Would love to hear about your experience at Villa Favorita. And of course the restaurants... and the wine!

Drbb

Great to hear from you so quickly. You must be jet lagged. I certainly appreciate your taking time to come out of that jetlag fog to post for us. Looking forward to Eataly and to everything else you can tell us. I'm booking hotels for a trip with three stops--Lake Como, Alba, Nice. Will wait to hear about your time in Piemonte before booking. Glad to have you back and posting--but sorry your trip is over. So happy you had a great time. Can't wait to hear more.

Julie when are you leaving? Will you have a car the entire time? I put a few thoughts here (as you can see from the time of my post, I am still a little frazzled but will begin the report soon)


http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...n-piedmont.cfm

Eks, we don't leave until Sept. 29. I've planned 4 days on Lake Como where we've stayed before (staying in Varenna at Albergo du Lac, if I can get a room) the 5 days in Alba area--or 1-2 Turin, and 3-4 Alba, depending upon your answers to my questions which I posted on the Purple Neon thread where you've posted other info--and then 4 in Nice. Since we'll be in Alba area pretty well in the thick of truffle season, I figure I'd best book asap. We will have a car the whole time.

Would you rather I continue to ask questions on the other (Purplse Neon) thread or ask them here and risk the possibility that you'll have to answer some things twice?

Don't know if I already asked, but did you go to La Morra, between Alba and Bra? I've noted several good looking B&Bs there but found a Trip Advisor review that was high on one place but pretty low on La Morra. Did you note it as a town? Thanks--wherever you choose to answer my questions. Nice to have a "local" expert.

Oops. I mispoke, I just got up. La Morra is near Monforte d'Alba, not Bra.

Julie: Let's ask the questions on the other thread--the trip report thread. I did visit La Morra--I have to go for root canal (!!) now and will do my best to answer all questions when I get home later today...

Briefly, La Morra may not be as achingly picturesque as a few of the other towns (Neive is one) but it would be a great base. I will give a more detailed answer on the other thread, so ask away there!!

Just a slight correction:

The three-syllable word is spelled "EATALY"

http://www.eataly.it/welcome_eng.lasso

Thank you for that correction, Zeppole. I was pronouncing it Eat-It-a-ly at first! No wonder I was stumbling over the word!

However it is spelled, or pronounced, it is a wondrous place! Marvelous! I think it is the most impressive food store I have ever visited. Now THAT would be a great thread!