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Food Lovers’ Adventure in Italy’s Gastronomic Paradise, Emilia-Romagna Spring & Summer
Experience Emilia-Romagna’s world renowned Parmesan cheese, traditional balsamic vinegar, silk-like pasta and prosciutto di Parma, and real Italian life first hand with a local Bologna family. Cook simple, traditional dishes with a pasta expert on her farm and a friendly, small town restaurant owner, famous for his scrumptious herb dishes like pasta with arugula and prosciutto. Walk with your host family mother in Bologna’s famous central market to learn about regional foods and shop for ingredients for your cooking class with her.
With the fun loving father, you see how they make parmesan cheese from start to finish. At a prosciutto factory and a traditional balsamic vinegar producer’s cellars, you see how they make and age these foods. Fascinating! The prosciutto melts in your mouth. The 25 year old traditional balsamic vinegar feels like liquid velvet in your throat.
Included:
- 5 nights in lovely 4 star hotel (breakfast included)
- Italian cooking lessons as indicated in the program
- private transport and assistance on arrival and at departure
- local tour director English speaking throughout
- meals as written in the program with selected regional wines, mineral water and coffee
- all excursions, visits and tastings specified in the program
5 Night Itinerary
Sunday
Meeting at Bologna airport or train station. Private transfer to your four star hotel in the heart of Bologna.
Drive to the small and charming hill town, Dozza. Wander through its medieval streets famous for its colorful murals on many walls and doorways.
Sit down for a deliciously authentic meal at a Dozza restaurant. Sit and sip a glass of Sangiovese wine as you make your way through antipasto, scrumptious stuffed pasta, grilled meats and dessert.
Monday
Drive into the hills of Romagna to walk in a privately owned, aromatic herb garden with more than 40 different kinds of plants. The joyful owner explains how she uses the herbs in cooking. For lunch she prepares delicious samplings of her products.
Drive to a family-owned factory where they hand stamp aprons, tablecloths and other table linens with traditional decorations of Romagna.
In the late afternoon enjoy a demonstration cooking lesson with an outgoing owner and chef in his restaurant. Well known for his expertise in cooking with herbs, he shows you how to cook wonderful dishes with local herbs. Aperitif in the very pretty garden of the restaurant while waiting for your dinner.
Tuesday
Drive to Ravenna to walk with a local guide and learn about its world famous Byzantine mosaics and architecture. Light lunch in Ravenna’s centre at a historic osteria serving tasty local food and good wines.
Drive to the beautiful countryside for a three hour hands-on cooking lesson with a lady who is a great Italian family chef and an expert on hand made pasta. Learn to make many traditional pastas of Emilia-Romagna. Dinner of our creations at her 150 year old farmhouse set among olive trees.
Wednesday
In the early morning, head to the Parma area, home of the legendary Parmigiano Reggiano, to visit a traditional cheese factory. After watching the men go through all the fascinating steps in making the cheese and visiting the incredible storage rooms, you nibble on fresh and aged parmesan right in the factory.
Drive to Modena, home of balsamic vinegar. In the cellars see how this signature product is made and sample 12 and 25 year old balsamic vinegar.
Dine in a fabulous restaurant near Modena on beautifully presented dishes featuring parmesan and balsamic vinegar.
Back to Bologna after a long but memorable day. Dinner free.
Thursday
In the morning walk in Bologna’s central market, a warren of ancient narrow streets lined with colorful, irresistible Italian food shops, stands and delis, wonderful to the eye and to the taste. Buy the ingredients for our afternoon cooking lesson.
Leisure time for shopping or exploring. Light lunch on your own.
After lunch guided tour of Bologna with an English speaking guide.
In the late afternoon enjoy a hands-on cooking lesson at a private home with an excellent Italian family cook to learn traditional dishes of the region. Dine on your dishes with the friendly family around their table.
Friday
Reluctant departure to Bologna airport or train station after breakfast at the hotel.
