Wednesday 29 October 2008

Food Glorious Food!

On Sunday I went to the Salone del Gusto at Turin, a huge exhibition devoted to the very best worldwide in food and run by the admirable Slow Food organisation. Its was absolutely mobbed but great fun with all sorts of free tastings and opportunities to get stuck in for nowt. Dominated by Italians of course but there was also a lot of representation from Africa and China. You'd need at least two days to do the lot. Can you believe that I did NOT visit either the beer hall or the wine tasting centre? I think I may be going certifiably mad.
This, remarkably, is the scene by the British Pig Association stand where they were flogging bacon and sausage sandwishes at €3 a pop. It was bonkers and heaving. Couldn't get near.
The event itself was held in the old Fiat factory at Lingotto. This is a view from the inside looking up. On the top of the building is a fully-banked test driving circuit, but most of you lot probably knew that anyway.
In the evening and back at home I had to go out for dinner and worked my way through five courses and a shedload of decent Cab Franc, Raboso and Barbera. On Monday morning I bit the bullet and went for a comprehensive blood test at the local hospital. That should have caused an interesting reaction ("Mamma mia! Come here and have a look at this sod!") in the analysis lab the next day. I get the results tomorrow. Well, it's been fun, what I can remember.

8 comments:

Toby Savage said...

That 'fully banked test track' is where they filmed a scene from The Italian Job. Everybody knows it. The Fair looks a good shout. Nothing like that here in Leicester, surprisingly. You want to stay clear of Hospitals. They do you no good at all. Where do we send the flowers?

Peter Ashley said...

Those fishes Ron! Like a Cornish Star Gazy Pie gone bonkers.

Ashley Enfants have stayed in the hotel under the test track, and brought back a stunning mug with the original Fiat logo embossed on it. Didn't get me one. Bastards.

Affer said...

Hmm...if we reckon the average body contains 5 litres of blood, we'll probably get 6 good bottles out of you - maybe 7 at a squeeze. Reckoning you are 16% ABV, and that you are well-matured and from a vintage year, you should sell to medical science for, err, £180?

Fred Fibonacci said...

That looks like a very good do. The food thingy; not the blood test. Will it pass? Can it take a re-sit? The world waits.

Thud said...

farewell...it was nice almost knowing you!

alastair fox said...

I've drunk @ Bar Lux by the weir on the Po which also featured in the IJ. Always struck me as a superb name for a boozer. You shld open one on Queens Road Toby.

Vinogirl said...

The fish are a work of art!

Jon Dudley said...

Great fishes Ron...they remind me of the way they pack the Cornish Pilchard barrels - or used to. What an imaginative spot for such an event too.