Photo post: White Chestnut and Buckwheat Polenta in Piemonte

This past weekend was the White Chestnut and Buckwheat Polenta Fair of Pamparato.

This year, I was already occupied with fighting the crowds for chocolate at Cioccolatò (and completely giving up on the hot chocolate line to go to Turin's unarguably best chocolate shop: Guido Gobino's, for their amazing hot chocolate). While adding events to the Wine Pass Events page, I remembered that two years ago today (or yesterday), I drove through the mountains and forest on the edge of the Langhe wine zone to visit this local fair.

The scenery was familiar, and had me reminiscing about camping trips in Pennsylvania.

The setting was informal. Covered picnic tables were set up inside and out, and the chilly November air was warmed by the sunshine. 

There was an incredible light coming around the mountains and burning the morning mists away.

Here's the menu: Traditional buckwheat polenta with leeks, butter and sage, or tomato and sausage; white chestnuts in milk and honey, local wine, a generous hunk of Raschera cheese from Casotto Valley, and the famous cookies of Pamparato.

In the Municipal Building was a market with artisan wines, food products, and other handmade goods.

...outside of which a man was breathing fire. I distinctly remember a child screaming in half-fear, half-delight, "E' un drago!!" "He's a dragon!" 

And nearby Pamparato is the Sanctuary of Vicoforte, which has the world's largest elliptical dome ever built.