This morning was one of electives, almost the only decision we've had to make on this tour. The choices were to go for a guided walk through vineyards, a wine tasting at the winery we've been staying in or to observe sausage making at a traditional Piemontese butcher. We chose the last. Sadly the butcher who was to show us had been very ill and died this week so one of his friends, the macelleria da Massino stepped in. It was a short and informative lesson during which he made a traditional sausage with beef rump and pork belly. He added a moderate amount of Arneis, a larger amount of water and then the spices - salt, pepper, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, mace, coriander and some parmagiano reggiano. He stuffed them into washed lamb intestine. The end result was very impressive.
With a bit of free time following this demonstration, we strolled around the old part of Bra. Of particular interest was an old coffee house called café Converso.
Following this excursion we went to Serralunga d'Alba to a Michelin star restaurant called Guido in a wonderful building which had been owned by Countess Rosa, wife of King Victor Emmanuel II but never recognised as queen because she was a commoner. The estate is a working winery, hotel and restaurant. The building is called Villa Reale Tenuta Di Fontanafredda.
Our afternoon was spent at Castello della Manta where the hall and chapel both have marvellous 15th century frescoes
Photos from Google images.
We arrived at our new hotel, Palazzo Lovera, were greeted by the owners and immediately shown to our rooms by several small girls who were given the task of making sure we arrived safely in the correct place.
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Seems you may have disproved Bismarck's theory that, like laws, it's better not to see sausages made.
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