<a target="_blank" href="http://www.lapiola-alba.it/en">La Piola</a>

Piazza Risorgimento, 4

Alba, Italy

Tel. +39 0173 442800

Food:

Fried zucchini blossoms; tomato sauce

Red pepper agnolotti; tuna, anchovy sauce 

Wines:

<table>
 <tbody><tr>
 <td>
 <a target="_blank" href="http://vinousmedia.com/wines?utf8=%E2%9C%93&amp;q=NV+B%C3%A9r%C3%A8che+Les+Beaux+Regards">NV (2010)&nbsp;&nbsp; Bérèche et
 Fils Les Beaux Regards</a> &nbsp; &nbsp;
 </td>
 <td>
 93
 </td>
 </tr>
 <tr>
 <td>
 <a target="_blank" href="http://vinousmedia.com/wines?utf8=%E2%9C%93&amp;q=2008+++Giovanni+Rosso+Barolo+Cerretta">2008&nbsp;&nbsp; Giovanni Rosso
 Barolo Cerretta</a>
 </td>
 <td>
 ?</td></tr></tbody></table>

This fabulous lunch at La Piola was a refreshing break from a
full day of tastings.&nbsp;The Ceretto family operates two restaurants in Alba, both in
essentially the same space.&nbsp;Located on the ground level of a historic building in the old
city center, La Piola specializes in mostly traditional dishes served in an informal
setting. Piazza Duomo occupies the upstairs level and is the showcase for
Enrico Crippa’s innovative, award winning cuisine.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1407436160086-PiolaZucchini.jpg"> 

Fried zucchini
blossoms; tomato sauce

The menu at La Piola is rich in the classics, but with some
twists that are quite welcome for visitors who want a break from Piedmont’s
typical fare. Ceretto wines are featured heavily, with the rest of the list
coming from Ceretto’s retail online wine partner. While the strategy of this
kind of vertical integration is appealing from a financial perspective, the
reality is that the list at La Piola lacks imagination. Given the high quality
of the food, La Piola would be far better off showcasing the best wines of the
region, but that does not appear to be the aim. Regardless, diners can order
from Piazza Duomo’s comprehensive wine list, which is what I suggest. Service
on the day I visited was exceptional and welcoming, something that is not
always the case in Piedmont.

<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1407436142676-PiolaPastaCover.jpg"> Red pepper agnolotti;
tuna, anchovy sauce 

The fried zucchini flowers are fabulous and a perfect way to
start this lunch. Alba boasts a fabulous vegetable market that is one of
Italy’s best. When zucchini flowers are available, I never miss them. Red
peppers stuffed with tuna and anchovies are a staple of the Piedmontese
kitchen. At La Piola, the traditional agnolotti are the vehicle for expressing
those super-classic flavors in a more modern, deconstructed style. My agnolotti
are perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. In a word: superb.<img alt="" src="https://allgrapes.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads%2F1407436127646-PiolaBereche+ALTERNATIVE.png"> 

Bérèche’s NV (2010)
Les Beaux Regards

I have long been a fan of Bérèche. These gorgeous, artisan
Champagnes are very hard to find in the US, so I rarely pass up a chance to drink
them when I am in Europe. The NV (2010) Beaux
Regards, 100% Chardonnay, bristles with energy, tension and varietal nuance.
Gorgeous on its own, it is even better with our food, as the bright, chiseled
acidity cuts through the richness of the flavors. Davide Rosso’s 2008 Barolo Cerretta comes across as wilted
and lacking depth, both telltale signs of a wine that has not been stored
properly at some point during its life.

Readers spending time in Alba should give La Piola a try. While
a bit more expensive than most restaurants in its category, La Piola is
terrific and well worth a visit.

-- Antonio Galloni

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