October and November are tartufo (truffle) season in Piemonte in northwest Italia. I was studying Italian in Torino in early October last year and joined a few classmates one weekend. We took a train from Torino to Alba, famous for its truffle festivals.

After strolling past wine shops, coffee shops, and cafes on Alba’s narrow streets, we entered the tartufo festival full of exhibits featuring truffles, wines, and foods made with truffles and other ingredients such as cheeses, olive oils, salts, salsas, and pastas.