Winter soups, Tour Availability & 2024 dates! |
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Mid January and the depths of a grey winter. We’re thinking big, warming bowls of soup like wild mushroom or winter squash in front of the fire. If you don’t have a fireplace, light a bunch of candles! The light of a fire works like the sun, giving you necessary UV light to combat 2023 the winter blues! Click here for recipes.
We’re super excited to expand our tours to a full week in the Emilia-Romagna region next spring, 2024. Previously, we've only spent three days in Bologna but we love this region so much it's worth spending more time there. For those of you unfamiliar with this amazing food region, read on! It’s beautiful and has some of the most iconic foods and wines of Italy.
We’re in the midst of planning our fabulous tours for this year! Many of our tours are full but there are still a few spots open in May, June and September. Are you on the fence about what region in Italy to see first?! Are you still looking for vacation ideas this year?! Look no further than one of our small group tours! See below for availability.
Gina will be the guest chef again at Louvino in Louisville, March 7 & 8. More info to follow next month. Save the date!
Buon appetito!
Gina and Mary
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Come with us to Emilia-Romagna in 2024! |
Beginning in the spring of 2024, we are excited to add a new region to our culinary tours: the beautiful area of Emilia-Romagna in north-central Italy! Generally, an area that tourists just pass through on the way from the tourist hubs of Florence and Venice, Emilia-Romagna is one of our favorite places to visit. The rich food culture, delicious wines and historic architecture found in these two regions are worth a deeper dive and truly important if one is to understand Italy. The area is elegant, wealthy, and urbane, filled with open and friendly people.
For a more complete history of the region, dating back to Roman times, check out this Britannica link! Emilia Romagna
Originally separate regions, Emilia and Romagna became joined administratively in 1947. The people of these two regions, recognizing their cultural diversity, still think of themselves as either Emiliano or Romagnolo. The western part of the region, Emilia, is known for its amazing food culture. These people are true gourmands, and it is in Emilia that many of Italy’s most iconic foods are born. Italy’s most important DOP foods such as Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano Reggiano, Aceto Balsamico di Modena, and Mortadella di Bologna are from here. The pastas include tagliatelle or lasagna with Bolognese ragu, as well as the stuffed pastas tortelli, cappelletti and tortellini. The wines of the Lambrusco grape and are slightly frizzante and simple, yet perfect with the rich foods. The capital city of Bologna has leaning towers, medieval architecture, miles of loggias covering the sidewalks and the oldest university in Europe.
The eastern half, Romagna, was originally part of the Byzantine Roman Empire, evidenced in the amazing byzantine mosaics of Ravenna. Due to the geographical barrier of the Appenines and a shared coastline on the Adriatic, Romagna aligned itself with the Marche to the south, rather than to Florence and Tuscany. Rimini is famous for its beaches and nightlife and the ancient salt flats of Cervia are still in use today. The main grape is Sangiovese, not Lambrusco, and tradition says that the ancient birthplace of the sangiovese grapes may very well be here in Romagna. Beautiful vineyards, ancient artisan products like ceramics and hand-stamped fabrics, and modern upscale car production tie the old together with the new in Romagna.
Our week-long stay in this beautiful region will include 4 nights in the classic city of Bologna. Our four days will be filled with visits to see the production of prosciutto, parmigiano and aceto balsamico, a cooking class with a focus on fresh pasta, walking tours of the cities of Bologna and Parma and lots of amazing meals. The next three nights will be on a lovely wine estate in the heart of Romagna with visits to Faenza for ceramics, Gambettola for fabrics, a winery tour and tasting, and a day exploring the ancient mosaics in Ravenna.
Spring is the perfect time to visit the area with flowers and vineyards in bloom, warm sunny days and pleasant nights. Contact us for more information and to sign up! Mary
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This month's Italian saying:
"Tiene un piede in due scarpe"
He keeps one foot in two shoes (plays both sides of the field)
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Join one of our small group tours in 2023 |
We have lots of tours planned for this year many of which are full. These are the weeks that still have spots available:
May 25- June 1, 2023 (4 spots left)
Veneto - Amarone & Valpolicella wines, Verona, Lake Garda, Padua, Prosecco Road, Bardolino, Asolo
June 13- 20, 2023 (2 spots left)
Piedmont - Turin, the Alps, Barolo wines, quaint villages & ancient castles, Alba, Bra, cheeses, chocolates!
September 26- October 2, 2023 (4 spots left)
Puglia - Bari, Alberobello, Ostuni, Locorotundo, Gallipoli, Lecce
October 7-14, 2023 (2 spots left) and October 14-21, 2023 (4 spots left)
Tuscany - Siena, San Gimignano, Montepulciano, Montalcino, a villa in Tuscany on an olive estate, Brunello, Chianti Classico & Vino Nobile. The perfect tour for a first time traveler to Italy!
Join one of our groups, or form your own group of 10-12 and enjoy a week filled with delicious foods and regional wines. Our small group tours are perfect to be with like minded people to explore the culture and history of Italy through its foods and wines.
Call (972) 342-8308 or email Mary to get registered or with any questions.
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Gina Stipo and Mary Stipo Potter | Ecco La Cucina | 1-972-342-8308| Email | Website
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