Hunting for Truffles in Italy at Trattoria All’Angelo Near Vicenza, Italy

I’ll admit it: when I signed up for a truffle hunt in the hills above Vicenza, I figured the truffles would be the whole point. What I didn’t expect was to spend the day thinking about a couple who gave up a very comfortable life to build something from scratch on the side of a mountain. Have you ever met people who make you quietly reconsider your own choices? That was Mauro and Bari for me.

Mauro spent more than a decade as an Executive Chef at the Ritz-Carlton in Canada before he and Bari packed up their two kids and moved to Italy to open Trattoria All’Angelo in Valli del Pasubio. Bari was honest with me about how hard those early days were. She barely spoke the language and had no idea if any of it would work. But it was their dream, and you feel that the moment you walk in. As a slow solo traveler, I’ve learned to read a place quickly, and this one tells you almost instantly that you’re welcome to stay a while.

Meeting Nellie, Boss & the Truffle Whisperer

We met at a tiny bar nestled at the foot of Monte Summano—our launch point for the day. The group, made up mostly of folks from the Vicenza military community, buzzed with curiosity.

My husband and mother-in-law joined me for the experience, and like everyone else, we were eager to get started.

Mauro, our organizer, introduced us to Silvano, a seasoned truffle hunter with a quiet, earthy presence. But let’s be honest—it was the dogs that stole the show. Nellie, the older of the two, was calm and deliberate, while her trainee, Boss, had a spark of youthful chaos. Watching them work was half the joy of the day.

Silvano explained that keeping a low profile was important in this competitive world, and his dogs’ unassuming appearance was intentional. With a quick round of handshakes and tail wags, we were off.

Hiking Through History with Trattoria All’Angelo

The hike itself was beautiful. As we walked through quiet forests and across moss-covered trails, the remnants of WWI trenches appeared around us. A massive summit cross loomed in the distance, reminding us that these hills hold stories far older than our own.

Mauro, translated as Silvano, shared the details of truffle hunting—a dance between environment and instinct.

Of the 180+ types of truffles in the world, only about 13 have commercial value. Among them, black and white truffles reign supreme. Growing one takes a perfect storm of temperature, rainfall, soil, and patience. It’s no wonder they’re so prized.

When Nellie suddenly froze and began pawing the earth, the entire group leaned in. Silvano knelt beside her, gently unearthed the truffle, and held it up. The smell hit us immediately—deep, musky, and earthy. We erupted into cheers. Her find was massive. Boss, meanwhile, watched and learned.

Silvano also let us in on a secret: if you see a small red fly hovering near the ground, it might be guarding a truffle.

Cooking with Mauro and Bari at Trattoria All’Angelo

We made our way to Trattoria All’Angelo, tucked away on the side of the mountain. It looked like something out of a movie—a rustic building with ivy creeping up the walls, a garden out back, and big wooden tables just begging to be gathered around.

Mauro, who spent over a decade as an Executive Chef at the Ritz-Carlton in Canada, led us through a three-course menu that let our newly found truffles shine. The lineup:

• Roasted Boneless Quail with Potato, Truffle Salad, and Grape Sauce
• Homemade Tagliolini Pasta with Black Truffles and Wild Mushrooms
• Breaded Chicken Scaloppini and a Truffle-Stuffed Ham and Cheese Dish
• Bittersweet Chocolate Lava Cake with White Chocolate Sauce

Each dish was paired with a Soave Classico DOC and a bold Tai Rosso from the Colli Berici.

Over bites of truffle-laced pasta and sips of wine, I chatted with Bari, who runs the front of house. She shared how she and Mauro met in Florida and eventually moved to Italy with their two kids. “It was hard,” she told me. “I barely spoke the language, and I didn’t know if it would work—but it was our dream.”

A Place Where Everyone Feels at Home

If you’re a solo female traveler looking for a unique, welcoming, and hands-on experience in northern Italy, Trattoria All’Angelo should be on your radar. It’s more than a restaurant—it’s a cozy, mountainside hub of creativity and connection.

While truffle hunting might be the headliner, Mauro and Bari host a rotating calendar of experiences that go far beyond fungi.

Think foraging walks, garden-to-table cooking classes, vegetable-forward dinners, fermentation workshops, and even cookie decorating and pasta-making with locals. It’s the kind of place where showing up solo doesn’t feel awkward—it feels intentional. You’ll be greeted with warmth, seated with others, and quickly swept into conversations and laughter that make you forget you came alone.

They usually post their upcoming events and classes on Instagram or their website, but the easiest way to book or inquire is often just by messaging them directly on WhatsApp. Bari is incredibly responsive, and she’s fluent in English, which makes coordinating effortless—even if you’re not fluent in Italian.

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Many of the ingredients are grown on-site, and they sell homemade jams, spreads, and other products crafted with the same love that goes into every meal.

Mauro and Bari welcome Italians and Americans alike, with classes typically split 50/50 between local and expat families. Repeat visitors are greeted like old friends.