My upcoming stay at the Mandarin Oriental Milano in spring has me very excited to return to this city. One of the few Mandarin exclusive offerings. Autumn Adventure: Truffle hunting in Langhe, a hilly region in Piedmont, Italy, has a long history that dates to ancient times. The Langhe region is renowned for producing the prized white truffle (Tuber magnatum), which is one of the most expensive and sought-after culinary delicacies in the world.

A hint of my first foray to Milan, I carried a small pocket film camera up the winding stairs to the roof top of the majestic Gothic masterpiece Duomo, the gargoyle photos are still on my office walls. The fifth largest church in the world is still a primary attraction of the city. Its completion took 400 years! The Duomo is home to an impressive array of statues—over 3,400 in total, making it the cathedral with the highest number of statues in the world.

Surrounded by the magnificent snowcapped mountains of the Alps, Alba is hilly and slightly mountainous and the best way to get here is a scenic 2-hour drive from Milan. Meet the truffle master and a renowned truffle hunting dog, an expert in the woods! Pull up your wellies and hike through leaf carpet grounds, surrounded by the sounds and scents of the fall forest, the perfect setting of rust and gold crunchy leaves.

Autumn outings rewarded by a handful of white truffles. Chefs all over the region celebrate the white tuber. What is your favorite dish to enjoy the precious tuber? One of my favorites is a delicate Ravioli al Uovo, with browned sage butter. What favorite wine to enjoy, a glass of Antoniolo ‘San Francesco’ Riserva, Gattinara, Alto Piedmont, or a sweet sherry, or a Barbaresco, an aged Chardonnay?

From October to December, the international white Truffle Fair of Alba is a time of celebration. Black truffles are found in Central Italy, especially Umbria and Piedmont. .

Only one of the many offerings of Mandarin Milano! Highly Recommend !