Torino Food Tour

Food capital

Enjoying good food and drink is undoubtedly an important part of Turin (Torino) culture. With the informal atmosphere of the trattorias, the charm of the top restaurants and the exoticism of the ethnic eateries, your eyes, nose and taste buds are in for a incredible experience. Turin (Torino) is, in fact, one of the undisputed world capitals of taste: the city has always boasted a tradition of good food and wine and is famous for the unique ingredients that are used in its local dishes and the skill and creativity of its chefs, confectioners and chocolate makers. Several establishments have developed here over the years that pay close attention to quality and continuous improvement, in order to making eating and drinking a truly pleasurable experience. Thanks to initiatives such as Gourmet in & around Torino and ChocoPass you can sample many different dishes and delicacies at affordable prices. Go on, give in to temptation!

Getting to know Turin (Torino) also means trying out some of its numerous restaurants, where you will be able to sample regional dishes and explore innovative recipes by chefs who have made creativity the key to their success. Starters such as anchovies in green sauce and electric tomini, tasty first courses including agnolotti and tajarin pasta (which can be sprinkled with the fragrant and much sought-after white truffles in the autumn), second courses such as boiled meat, pot roast and mixed fried fish and the extremely original bagna caoda sauce, are the preamble to a selection of cheeses and desserts that no gourmet will be able to resist. Good food should be accompanied by fine wine, and there is no shortage of the latter in Piemonte, with 9 DOCG wines and more than 40 DOC wines. There are whites (Gavi, Arneis, Favorita, Moscato), superb reds (Dolcetto, Grignolino, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco and Barolo), and also sparkling wines, which, through Martini & Rossi, gave rise to the tradition of Asti Spumante. And don’t forget the Canavese district ad the Valleys of Lanzo, walking among the Wine Trails, with their well-known wines, appreciated in Italy and abroad, and the rich traditional flavours of the typical cuisine of the Olympic Mountains. In some restaurants and wine bars it is possible to take your unfinished bottle home with you. Many establishments participate in the Buta Stupa project (a Piedmontese expression meaning ‘uncorked bottle’) and will seal the bottle and put it in a paper bag so that you can finish it later, prolonging the pleasant memory of your stay in Turin (Torino). To find out more about the history of oenology you can visit the Martini Museum at the gates of the city. It is housed in the cellars of the 18th century villa that was home to the first Martini & Rossi factory.

If a good morning depends on a good breakfast, you will never have a bad day in Turin (Torino). An excellent espresso, cappuccino or Moroccan coffee, accompanied by fresh brioches, in one of the many bars and cafes in the city centre is certainly a moment to savour, and it soon becomes a habit. The famous Lavazza brand of coffee originates from Turin (Torino). It was produced in the old city centre, in a grocery shop that is now a modern café and restaurant, where you can sample the coffee in many different forms. Turin (Torino) is the city of historical cafes, where men of culture, politicians and noble ladies would meet in the 1800s. Today, they are still a part of Turinese custom and culture, a must for visitors who wish to taste the specialities of subalpine confectionery in an atmosphere of bygone days. The fine cuisine and outstanding wines of Turin (Torino) and Piedmont can also be enjoyed at home. The Chamber of Commerce of Turin (Torino) and Slow Food have created the Maestri del Gusto (Masters of Taste), a collection of valuable addresses that have been selected according to the specific characteristics of regional produce: you will find shops that sell Piedmontese specialities, pasta and cheese, butcher’s shops and gastronomic emporiums. There is also a mention for the new food and wine superstore, Eataly.