For foodies in the know, Turin is one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. The closest big city to the birthplace of the Slow Food movement, and the home to countless major food festivals like Terra Madre and Cioccolatò, Turin takes it food seriously. Until recently it’s been difficult for visitors to navigate the city’s culinary history, but that has changed with the introduction of several great food tours in Turin.
I was recently invited by Slow Travel to join their new Guided Food Tour with Chocolate & Wine Tasting. Having lived in Turin twenty years ago I thought I had pretty good handle on the city’s food scene, but this tour taught me a lot about the connection between Turin’s history and its iconic dishes, and it also introduced me to several foods, wines, landmarks and vendors that hadn’t already been on my radar.
Below, I’m going to give you a rundown of the places we stopped on our food tour in Turin, some of the dishes we sampled, and why I think it’s the perfect way to spend an afternoon on your next trip to Turin.
Disclosure: I was invited on the tour as a guest of Slow Food Turin, but there was no requirement or incentive for me to leave a review or write a blog post.
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Turin Food Tour Meeting Point
Our tour met in Piazza San Carlo, one of the prettiest piazzas in the city (and centrally located within easy walking distance of the Porta Nuova train station and Piazza Castello). Besides me, the tour had three other participants: an American man shopping for property near the vineyards that surround Turin) and an American couple who was in town for a few days. Our guide was Fabio, a passionate epicurean who had graduated from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in nearby Bra (which, by the way, is one of my favorite day trips from Turin).
First Stop: Chocolate Tasting
Slow Travel let me know that the tours aren’t always the same, but from what I can tell you’re likely to start your Turin food tour with something sweet. For our group that was a stop at an artisanal chocolate shop. Although I’d lived in Turin shortly after graduating from university, and have visited numerous times since, this was my first time hearing about this particular shop. We sampled seven different chocolates, ranging from milk chocolates to dark chocolates to gianduja, which is a Torinese specialty dating back to the Napoleonic era.
If your group doesn’t stop a chocolate shop you might instead visit one of the city’s historic cafes, where a special local drink combining coffee, chocolate and cream is on the menu.
Second Stop: Gelato
Keeping with the sweet theme we then headed to a nearby gelateria. This was a gelato shop that I was very familiar with already, and I already knew my favorite flavors, but thanks to Fabio my order completely changed. You see, even though I’d probably been to this gelatera twenty times before, I didn’t know that they were famous for inventing a particular ice cream concoction. So of course, that’s what we all had to order! I won’t spoil the surprise – you’ll have to take the tour to find out which gelateria in Turin created an ice cream delight that is now enjoyed all around the world. 😉
Turin City Walk
Our next food stop was about a twenty-minute walk away, and en route Fabio took the time to tell us more about the city’s history and to stop at sights (some of culinary significance, others just iconic Turin landmarks). I couldn’t believe that I’d never visited the original headquarters of Carpano, the company that invented sweet vermouth in the 1700s. The building had a beautiful courtyard and a small monument to its spirited history.
Stop Three: Wine, Cheese, Bread & Meat
It was at our third stop that the real feasting began! At a local wine bar we were greeted by the owner, who had prepared different wines and tasting platters for our group. We started with a local white wine that was served with soft cheese and a variety of breads (not shown, but I promise they include grissini, which were invented in Turin!).
We then opened a bottle of red wine, which was served with a platter of local meats. Because I am a vegetarian the guide organized a plate of cheese for me instead, which was perfect as I love the sweet blue cheeses that are typical of Piedmont. Our group got along really well and Fabio had all of the answers to our questions about the wine, food and city. We ended up sitting and chatting for almost half an hour after the tour had “officially” ended.
Is a Turin Food Tour Worth It?
Absolutely! This Guided Food Tour with Chocolate & Wine Tasting was a great way to spend a few hours in Turin. As I’ve mentioned, even though I know the city well, there were still a number of surprises to be found throughout the tour and a lot of information that I never would have known had it not been for Fabio’s guidance. If this has piqued your interest, you check when the tour is running right here:
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Slow Travel also runs other food tours in Turin, including a Wine Tasting with Food Pairings and a Turin Chocolate Experience. 🍫
Still debating on whether or not to visit Turin? I have a new article covering ten reasons you can’t miss Turin, as well as a two- or three-day Turin itinerary for travelers thinking of spending a long weekend in my favorite Northern Italian city.
Planning a trip to Italy? Pin this post for later!
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