|
A plush décor inside with purple velvety curtains,
gilted mirrors, and ornate chandeliers take you back into the local history.
Seated on an exclusively reserved seat, in front of the window facing
the palazzo, Count Camillo di Cavour, the architect of Italian unification,
used to hold court and kept an eye on who was going in and out of Parliament.
It was in 1861 that the Italy was unified with Torino
as the capital. The announcement was made from Palazzo Carignano. Torino
remained the capital for 4 years till it was changed to Florence for another
5 years before taking it to the present location in Rome.
Therefore, it was only appropriate that 1861 Italy
Food Point Association, a new concept created by Federexport Piemonte
for the international gourmands was inaugurated on January 29 this year
at a press conference at this Grand Dame of a restaurant, where the basics
of the programme were unveiled to the print and TV media.
Sergio Vallero, President of the Province of Torino was
present to inaugurate the conference. President of Federexport Piemonte
talked about the concept of Italy Food Point as not just Made in Italy
programme but sharing of all the nation had learnt since 1861 in enogastronomy-concept.
Paolo Gaspardone, President of Gaspardone Associati is also a part of
the programme to be taken to several countries including Brazil, Russia,
India and China. Several member organisations have signed up for the promotion.
The event was preceded by a warm welcome from the traditionally
clad soldiers and two young and pretty signorinas who escorted the guests
to the chamber where the ceremony was conducted, followed by a sumptuous
lunch that gave a glimpse of the traditional food of this part of the
world.
Food and Wine Match
 |
| Giuseppe Monforte holds fort while Paulo Gaspardone(l) and Sergio
Vallero (r) look on at the launch |
Lunch in the restaurant was a perfect demonstration of
enogastronomy- of how food and wine match is not only possible and important;
it can add synergy to the food tremendously. The Livia Fontana 2003 was
a Langhe red wine from Castignone Faletto, one of the 11 villages of Barolo,
which was the protagonist. A child of the warm vintage, it had matured
to a delicious wine that was powerful yet elegant, tannic yet balanced
acidity and fruit, which could handle a wide spectrum of food including
chicken and some fish.
The restaurant is not exactly cheap. At € 75 a
head (+ taxes at 15%) and €7 a piece towards the traditional coperto
e pane does not make it an ideal place for pizza gourmets but the
quality and the type of food certainly makes it an ideal choice for a
visitor to Piemonte.
Page
1 2
|