When you think of Alba in the Piedmont region of Italy, the first thing that usually comes to mind is white truffles. But at Piazza Duomo, the three-Michelin-starred restaurant led by Chef Enrico Crippa, the real star of the show is actually the "terra" - the land.
The restaurant is famously owned by the Ceretto family (the renowned winemakers). This means Piazza Duomo has access to incredible resources, including their own greenhouse and organic/biodynamic gardens. They even have their own dedicated white truffle store right in the town center.
The food closely reflects the seasonal bounty of the region, and the tasting menu follows accordingly.
But First, the Truffles . . .
Of course, during truffle season, truffles are everywhere! Upon walking in, we were greeted with a glass dome showcasing several INSANELY large white truffles.
Soon after we sat down, a man dressed in a suit walked in with a box full of HUGE white truffles.
Oh the aroma as soon as he opened the box! It was intoxicating. Honestly, after a few minutes your nose actually starts to get used to the smell. It becomes harder to differentiate which truffles "smells the best." Thankful one of our friends, who seems to have an incredible sense of smell, had a pretty strong opinion of which one she thought smelled the best. We later found out the one she chose had just been found that morning.
So it was super fresh. And it was huge. And yes, it was EXPENSIVE (14 EURO per gram). But this was probably a once-in-lifetime experience, so we decided to go for it. We'd be enjoying this huge white truffle over every course of our tasting menu.
The Welcome
The meal started with a series of small bites that reminded me of Korean "banchan." It was like a traditional Piedmontese antipasto spread, but elevated. We had a rich ragu topped with truffle, pumpkin, cauliflower, and a cheese dish with a vibrant spinach sauce (yum!). We also tasted a smooth whipped potato and a tiny, delicate salad.
Finally, a Deep Fried Raviolo, which was perfectly crispy and a great way to kick off the snacks.
Salad 21... 31... 41... 51...
This is perhaps Chef Crippa’s most famous dish. The name refers to the number of ingredients, which varies by season—our version had about 98 different ingredients sourced directly from their farm! The server told us to eat it with tweezers, one leaf at a time. It starts off very bitter and punchy. As we worked our way to the bottom, we found a bed of purple clovers and a delicious, savory kombu dashi broth that tied everything together.
Check out the video at the end of this post to see us eating this super interesting salad, leaf by leaf!
The Sea
This course featured soft and sweet cabbage (it reminded me a lot of Napa cabbage) served with scallops and, of course, a generous shaving of white truffles.
June 18, 1815, Mont-Saint-Jean
Interestingly, this interpretation of a deconstructed Beef Wellington arrived quite early in the meal. We weren't expecting beef + foie gras this early! The knife-work on the mushrooms was incredibly delicate. The overall dish was heavy and decadent, but surprisingly, they paired it with a white wine. This act did "lighten" the course, putting it more in line with the courses that came before and after it.
The Garden
Next was "The Garden," featuring a beautiful long-stem artichoke served with a silky cream sauce.
The Soil
"The Soil" was one of the highlights of the night. A "velvet" potato puree that felt more like a thick, luxurious soup, this dish also came topped with generous amounts of white truffles.
Bryan actually said it was better than the famous Joel Robuchon mashed potatoes, which is saying a lot!
The Mill
You can't go to Piedmont without having risotto. This one was quite thick and cheesy, cooked perfectly al dente.
The Extras: Piedmont Classics
Since we were in Alba, we couldn't resist ordering a few extras, all of which are optional and demonstrate Piazza Duomo's interpretation of certain classic Piemontese dishes.
And with white Alba truffles . . .
The Mountain
We still had wine left, so the chef sent out a special treat for us to go with our truffles: a Foie Gras “Bonbon.” We paired this course with a glass of the Ceretto Barolo Cannubi, which was just stunning.
2005-2025 Evolution Milk
For dessert, we had the "Evolution Milk." It was a "snow" gelato sitting on top of rice pudding, and yes—we even put truffle on this! It was easily one of my favorite things I’ve eaten all year. We finished with a "Latte+," a small drink of milk spiked with a bit of alcohol.
Migardises (Petit Fours)
And then finally, we were near the end!
So many different choices! Beautiful delicate black sesame crackers, "lollipops" where you could eat the stick, delicate tuille, chocolate covered espresso beans, and some nice fresh oranges.
This almond cake was delicious as well.
We each got our own little jar of slightly boozy milk.
Video - Piazza Duomo Highlights
General Thoughts: Piazza Duomo Alba
Piazza Duomo is definitely a "splurge" meal. The tasting menu was €290, and the white truffles were sold at market price (€14 per gram).
If you are a wine lover, their "Best of Our Cellar" pairing (€595) is a deep dive into some of the most iconic bottles in the world, including their own Ceretto Barbaresco. Here’s what we had:
- Benanti Etna Superiore Pietra Marina 2020
- Gaja Gaja & Rey 2020
- Profetas e Villões Crosta Calcaria dos Profetas 2023
- Coche-Dury Auxey-Duresses 2012
- Ceretto Barbaresco Asili 2006
- Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino 2019
- Bassermann-Jordan Riesling Beerenauslese Jesuitengarten 2013
It was an unforgettable experience. The focus on the vegetables from their own garden makes the meal feel lighter and more modern than many other three-star type places, even with the indulgence of the truffles and beef.
The meal did take a loooooong time. I think we were there for nearly five hours. By the time the meal was over, it was almost time for dinner (not that we had room!). To me, 5 hours is a bit too long. But perhaps it was partly our fault for ordering so many "extra" courses!
All in all, certainly a memorable and fun experience. I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to share such a special meal with such close friends.
Piazza Duomo Alba Italy
Piazza Risorgimento
4 - 12051 Alba (CN)
