Fritto misto alla piemontese

Hailing from Piedmont, fritto misto alla piemontese is a rich, traditional gourmet specialty that consists of a wide range of ingredients (both sweet and savory), which have been dipped in eggs and then breaded before being deep-fried until nicely colored and crispy. Typical food items used in this dish include meat and offal, chicken croquettes, porcini mushrooms, semolina fritters, amaretti di Monbaruzzo, and various types of vegetables and fruits such as apples, pears, zucchini, eggplants, and artichokes. Associated with the time of animal slaughter in the area, this specialty is believed to have been created as a flavorful way to use every single part of the slaughtered animals. This fried dish is typically enjoyed as an appetizer but it can also be eaten as a second course, and it is usually washed down with a glass of fine red or sparkling white Piedmont wine.