Every autumn, the city of Alba in the Piedmont region of Italy attracts gourmands from all over the world to indulge in the captivating flavours of white truffles – not only to satisfy gustatory desires, but also to experience the fun of following truffle hunters on their quest for these elusive delicacies.

Alba, located in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy, is not only known for its white truffles but also for its rich autumnal produce such as hazelnuts and fine wines. Although white truffles are no longer exclusive to Alba, the annual ritual of tasting the freshly unearthed aroma before winter sets in is a global gourmet event. However, due to climate change, it seems that the peak of white truffle season is slowly moving from the end of October to November. It is almost unthinkable that even in January of the following year, one can still witness the allure of white truffles, which is generally unheard of in the past.

What used to be an old cable car station at an altitude of 2,275m on the summit of Kronplatz in the Dolomite Mountains became AlpiNN, a restaurant standing next to Lumen, a museum dedicated to mountain photography. The restaurant was designed by Martino Gamper, a designer of international fame, to become a convivial space where he combined naturalness of the mountains with clean, modern lines.

The most exciting restaurants in the world often require effort to reach. To visit Iris, one must fly to Bergen, Norway, then drive or take a two-hour boat ride before boarding a ferry.