Food Lovers' Adventure Tour in
Italy's Gastronomic Paradise: The Countryside Around Bologna
Cooking Tour Itinerary 6 nights
Food Market in Bologna, Italy
Tour at a Glance: Brief Tour Description, Dates, Prices
Cooking Tour Itinerary 4 night tour
Cooking Tour Dates & Prices
To Reserve
Terms & Conditions
Sunday
Transfer to your hotel.
(Feb, May, June, Nov, Dec)
Drive to Dozza, a small and charming medieval hill town.
Welcome dinner at a restaurant in the hills, filled with local families, enjoying traditional dishes of the area.
Monday
Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Sept, Oct
Morning excursion to a herb garden in the Romagna countryside where the owner will show her garden and explain the use of all the herbs. Light lunch at her house.
Visit a small factory where they make traditional stamped table cloths and table linens of the area.
Italian cooking lesson and dinner at a restaurant with a special menu of dishes featuring local herbs with owner and chef.
Nov
Morning excursion in the Romogna countryside for truffle hunting with "Lagotto" breed of special truffle dogs.
After truffle hunting, drive to Castel del Rio, capital of "marroni" (chestnuts). They are special fruits, very genuine and good, that can be eaten roasted, boiled or used in the preparation of some special dishes. The chestnut coming from the area of Castel del Rio has obtained -for its special characteristics- the IGP certification (geographical protect indication) that assures the quality and the genuineness of this wonderful autumn product.
Lunch at a trattoria in the area.
In the late afternoon cooking lesson. Dinner of your creations.
Dec
Morning excursion in the Romagna countryside for truffle hunting with “Lagotto“ breed dogs, the special truffle dogs.
Then drive to visit a local winery, where they produce a very good Sangiovese red wine, the most important wine of the area. Tasting of three wines and light lunch at the winery.
In the late afternoon drive for a cooking lesson on regional dishes. Dinner of your creations.
Tuesday
May, June, July, Nov, Dec
Visit the central market area stuffed with colourful, irresistible Italian food shops, stands and delis. Free time for shopping or strolling in Bologna centre. Light lunch in Bologna's centre. Afternoon guided tour of Bologna, Italy.
Late afternoon cooking lesson on some of the regional specialities.
Dinner of your creations.
Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct
Early morning departure to visit a family factory where we will watch the men go through all the stages to make Parmigiano Reggiano, learn all about parmesan and have a cheese tasting. Arrive before 9:00 to see the whole process.
Transfer to Modena, Italy, to visit a family producer of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena with the owner, see where and how balsamic vinegar is made and taste 25 year old traditional balsamic vinegar.
Lunch in a nearby restaurant, plates featuring parmesan and balsamic vinegar.
Afternoon free. Dinner on your own.
Wednesday
Feb, May, June, July, Nov, Dec
Early morning departure to visit a family factory where you watch the men go through all the stages to make Parmigiano Reggiano, learn all about parmesan and have a cheese tasting. Arrive before 9:00 to see the whole process.
Transfer to Modena, Italy, to visit a family producer of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena with the owner, see where and how balsamic vinegar is made and taste 25 year old traditional balsamic vinegar.
Lunch in a nearby restaurant, where you enjoy plates featuring parmesan and balsamic vinegar.
Afternoon free. Dinner on your own.
Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct
In the morning drive to a private luxury Spa to be pampered with a wonderfully relaxing massage and hydro-massage. Light lunch at the Spa restaurant.
After lunch, drive to Brisighella to taste one of the best extra virgin olive oils in Italy.
In the afternoon, drive to the countryside for a 3 hour hands on cooking lesson with a family chef, an expert on hand made pasta. Learn how to make the best tagliatelle with ragu alla bolognese, cappelletti in broth, tortelli with ricotta and herb filling. Dinner at her 150 year old farmhouse among the olive trees.
Thursday
Feb, May, June, July, Dec
Drive to a private luxury spa and get pampered with a relaxing massage and hydromassage.
After lunch leave for Faenza, Italy, to visit a ceramic laboratory and shop.
Drive to the countryside for a 3 hour hands on cooking lesson with a great family chef who is an expert on hand made pasta. You learn how to make the best tagliatelle with ragu alla bolognese, cappelletti in broth, tortelli with ricotta and herb filling. Dinner at her 150 year old farmhouse among the olive trees.
Nov
In the morning drive to Faenza, famous worldwide for its ceramics; we will visit an artisan ceramic workshop and showroom. The artist/owner will illustrate how the ceramics are decorated.
Then drive to an extra virgin olive oil mill to see how the extra virgin olive oil is produced and we will taste the new extra virgin olive oil.
Light lunch at a pretty family owned trattoria in the center of little village in the hills.
In the late afternoon drive to the beautiful countryside for a 3 hours hands-on cooking lesson with a lady who is at once a great family chef and an expert on hand made pasta. You will learn to make the traditional pasta of Emilia-Romagna: tagliatelle with ragu alla bolognese, tortellini in broth and tortelli with ricotta and herbs filling. Dinner of our creations at her 150 years old farmhouse among the olive trees.
Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct
Drive to Bologna, visit the central market area stuffed with colourful, irresistible Italian food shops, stands and delis. Free time for shopping or just strolling in Bologna centre. Light lunch on your own in Bologna's centre. Afternoon guided tour of Bologna, Italy.
Late afternoon cooking lesson on some of the regional specialities.
Dinner of your creations.
Friday
All dates except Nov
Leave for Ravenna, Italy, famous for its Byzantine mosaics and architecture. Walking tour with a local guide to see marvellous mosaics. Free time to stroll, admire the fabulous art and shop at mosaic and other stores. Lunch in Ravenna at a famous enoteca. Return to the hotel.
Mar, Apr, Sep, Oct
After lunch leave for Faenza, Italy, to visit a ceramic laboratory. Return to the hotel to prepare yourself for Gala dinner at San Domenico Restaurant in Imola.
Nov, Dec
In the morning leave for Ferrara, famous for its beautiful palaces. The presence of Este family -one of the most cultured courts in Europe- in the city, makes Ferrara a marvellous city full of beautiful palaces rich of decorations. The most famous monument is Castello Estense, that dates from the 14th century. Also the university, founded in 1391, is very important since it is one of the oldest in Italy.
Lunch in Ferrara, then back to the hotel.
All dates
Leave 7:30 Gala dinner at San Domenico Restaurant in Imola, cited in many Italian restaurant guides as one of the best in Italy. Aperitif in the cellars housing 20,000 bottles, including bottles from Napoleon's time.
Saturday
Departure after breakfast at the hotel.
Note: Itinerary is subject to minor changes. We will do our best to keep changes to a minimum.
2008 Dates:
March 23-29
June 1-7
July 13-19
Sept 7-13
Nov 2-8 (special truffle, extra virgin olive oil and chestnuts tour)
Nov 30-Dec 6
or dates by request
2009 Dates:
March 22-28
2008 Cooking Tour Prices:
Prices are in Euros and are subject to currency exchange fluctuation.
2545 Euros (approx $3740 US; $3765 CAD) per person, for 2-10 people, double occupancy, land only.
Staying at the hotel in Rilo Terme: single supplement: 100 Euros
Staying at the hotel in Bologna: single supplement: 200 Euros
Includes:
- 6 nights accommodation with private bath
- 3 cooking lessons
- all meals
- all excursions in itinerary
- local wine with meals
- very attentive guide/tour director
- private transport throughout
- transfers to/from Bologna, Italy
Tour at a Glance: Brief Tour Description, Dates, Prices
Why
Travel in Italy With Us
To Reserve: Contact Margaret Cowan at margaret@italycookingschools.com or call 1-800-557-0370 or 604-681-4074 or fax 604-681-4909 (Pacific time).
