Coffee and Gelato Experience Tour

coffee

This tour will allow you to discover hands on how to make the perfect espresso, cappuccino and caffe' latte. Participants will be visiting one of the most famous coffee maker in the province of Bologna and Modena, where they will take a one hour Italian coffee-making experience with a local trained barista. Following the coffee experience we will be visiting the Ice Cream museum in Anzola Emilia at the Carpigiani factory. Here you will be taking a guided tour with gelato sampling at the museum where you will learn the basic of gelato making.
This tour also include a visit to a balsamic vinegar maker.

Time: Leaving at 9.30 am and returning at 4 pm. Tuesday to Saturday, excluding Italian national holidays. Min. 2 adults.  This is a private tour just for your group.

What is included:

Transport from Modena train station or Modena Hotel is standard. We can also pick you from Bologna however this is an extra, please see booking calendar for pricing.

  • 1 hour hands on barista course in Vignola (Modena)
  • Visit to Carpigiani Gelato museum in Anzola (Bologna)
  • English-speaking driver and guide.
  • Free visit to Balsamic vinegar maker. (Modena)
  • Free Gourmet gift.

Bologna: Review of Trattoria Anna Maria

The Trattoria Anna Maria is a restaurant located in the historical heart of Bologna. The cozy and homely atmosphere definitely remind the customer of the history of the establishment, opened in 1985, and that of Bologna and of the Bolognese cooking tradition.
The trattoria is furnished simply, so that the customers will be able to enjoy the high-quality and handmade dishes of the Emilian tradition of the city and they’ll be able to do so in a setting that welcomes interaction and merrymaking between the people seated at the table, as is typical during an Italian meal!

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Tortellini in brodo di cappone

The Trattoria Anna Maria prides itself in its selection of local dishes, perfectly in line with what a tourist might be looking for when choosing to sample traditional cuisine. For example, among the first courses served here we cannot fail to mention tortellini, tagliatelle, tortelloni with filling and lasagne, all made with ragù, the traditional meat sauce that accompanies most of the pasta-based dishes of Emilia-Romagna. Among the second courses offered by the trattoria, we have game, such as rabbit (which is a delicacy and a very savory dish that is highly recommended!), guinea-fowl and capon dishes, and again duck or various cuts of pork prepared according to recipes handed down through the generations.
The dishes I’ve ordered have all been presented somewhat simply, but that only contributes in avoiding distractions for the customer, who can then focus on the true tastes of Bolognese dishes.
As the first course of my meal, I had tortellini with capon broth, different than regular chicken-stock broth as it’s more savory and genuine, according to the traditional recipe of grandmothers who prepared this type of dish for the Sunday lunch. The portion was generous and the tortellini were fairly good.
Despite being famous for the first courses of meat-filled pasta, the meat-based dishes of the trattoria were especially well prepared and surprised me for their high quality. I ordered a roast of pork shin-bone, accompanied by a small portion of baked potatoes that was excellent.
I’ve also ordered two typical desserts, a “zuppa inglese” and a tiramisu, both very good and served in generous portions.
The prices for the first and second courses are medium-high, ranging between the 11 and 15 euros per dish. Considering the central position of the restaurant, this is a good price, and the quality to price ratio is very good.

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Roasted pork shin
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Tiramisu and zuppa inglese

Modena Trattoria Aldina, a Review

The Trattoria Aldina is a restaurant that offers traditional Emilian dishes, and it’s located in Modena inside a building that houses other businesses, so it’s actually quite easy to miss the entrance. But the restaurant, its address being Via Luigi Albinelli 40, is off the beaten path going towards the city center and as such it’s frequented largely by locals, which is all the more reason to dine here, surrounded by friendly staff and true, homemade local dishes. The atmosphere in here makes it so that it feels like you’re about to have a hearty Sunday meal at an aunt or a grandma’s house, and since the restaurant is on the first floor, the overall appearance of the place is that of a real Italian house. Booking is not possible unless you plan on dining here with a group of people, but it’s fairly easy to be seated - you might have to wait just a little while at most.
The pasta-based dishes are excellent and 8 euros for a dish of tortellini in broth is truly a deal! The quality of the courses offered is amazing, especially when compared to the affordable prices. The ratio between quality and price is outstanding since the dishes of homemade fresh pasta with or without filling (tagliatelle, tortellini, tortelli, lasagne and more) cost only 7/8 euros.

The dishes I decided to order and try are as follows, but the choice spans across most of the traditional dishes and courses of a typical Emilian meal, and it ranges from different kinds of pasta, filled pasta (with diverse and seasonal fillings to satisfy every palate), second courses of meats, including veal, and a choice of side dishes (baked vegetables, mashed potatoes and so on) and cheeses.

I ordered a classic dish of tortellini in broth, a staple in the Emilian tradition, especially here in Modena, that proved to be excellent and affordable; as a second course, I strayed from the usual that would have customers order more traditional dishes such as pork shin-bone or tagliata, to order a horse meat tartare that was fairly good. As for what concerns the desserts, I tried both the excellent zuppa inglese (a trifle made with layered custard, chocolate cream, and sponge cake dipped in Alchermes) and the panna cotta with a red berries syrup that was quite good – the desserts available might change from day to day but the pillars of Italian cuisine are usually always on the menu, including tiramisu, mascarpone and more.

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Great tortellini in brodo at Aldina's - only 8 euros.
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Panna cotta - Zuppa inlgese - Tartare di cavallo - Tortellini

5 Restaurants in Salento for Your Palates only

Written by Paola Fiocchi, Director, Passepartout Homes (www.passepartout-homes.com)

Having visited the region of Salento in Puglia for the past 8 years, I can pretty easily assure you, you won’t have a bad gastronomic experience in the heel of Italy.

Wherever you will end up eating, you will be greeted by welcoming hosts and mouth-watering dishes, made with simple ingredients. From starred restaurants to shacks on the beach, Salento knows a thing or two about good, honest food and wine.

crystal clear water of Salento
Salento in Puglia offers sun, crystal clears waters and excellent gastronomy.

Puglia provides most of what Italy consumes. Most of the grains for pasta, fish, olive oil and wine come from here. The region is covered by vast areas of ancient olive trees so it will come as no surprise that Puglia also produces over 70% of Italy’s olive oil (and 15 percent of the world’s olive oil). The region is also producer of 25 DOC wines most of which come from the Salento area.

Some of the region “signature” dishes include “orecchiette” (or “small ears”) because of their resemblance to small ears. Enjoy orecchiette with fresh tomato sauce, basil and strong ricotta cheese. Orecchiette with “cime di rapa” (sort of broccoli) are also a region’s favourite.

For breakfast head to the your local bar where locals enjoy a cup of freshly brewed espresso coffee and warm “pasticciotto” standing at the counter. The best pasticciotti can be eaten in Galatina where Pasticceria Abalone has been creating these pastries since 1745.

You will not get hungry during the day as there are plenty of snacks and appetisers available, including “frittini” , a mix of fried appetisers, “friselle”, a snack made of crunchy dry bread best served dipped in water and topped with fresh tomatoes, basil and extra virgin olive oil and “pucce, a sandwich made of pizza dough and stuffed with cured meat, cheese or vegetables; not to mention the round shaped “tarallini” crackers available in different flavours, excellent with a glass of cold rosé wine on the beach.

Here are my top 5 recommended places to eat in Salento. Spoil alert, expect the lovely aroma of freshly prepared meals and the warm welcome of their owners.

L’Altro Baffo in Otranto, where Chef Cristina Conte will serve you traditional Apulia dishes interpreted in a contemporary key, where tradition meets innovation. Expect freshly made pasta, fresh fish and seasonal ingredients. Our favourite dish is “chitarrine ai “ricci di mare” “, fresh pasta with sea-urchins, for those of you with really fine palates! A family run business located in one of the most scenic spots of Otranto under the shadow of the Aragonese Castle. Reservation highly advisable.

Lo Scalo in Alessano, a historic seafront restaurant built along the rocky coastal route between Tricase and Leuca. Seafood dishes will be prepared according to the catch of the day and served in an enchanting setting by the water. As dessert, excellent is “pasticciotto” with lemon custard. Reservation highly advisable.

Agriturismo Le Site in Corigliano d’Otranto, where most of the ingredients used in the kitchen are cultivated in the Agriturismo’s own fields. Excellent meat and an abundance of vegetables are served by this family run enterprise. Le Site also produces its very own olive oil as well as home-made jam and liquors, available for purchase at the restaurant. Le Site also offers a number of guests rooms for those looking for a lodging.

Cantine Menhir Salento located outside Otranto is a producer of some of the best wines of Salento, including Negroamaro or Primitivo. Here you can also reserve a table at their “Osteria Origano” where excellent traditional Apulia dishes are served. In summer you can dine al-fresco in their Mediterranean garden and may be entertained by live music.

La Porta Antica in Sternatia is a traditional trattoria where excellent pizza, meat and fish dishes can be savoured. Their speciality are the “antipasti” which I highly recommend to try in abundance. Portions are very generous! It is very popular with locals and during the weekend and summer months it can be very crowded. reservations recommended.

Review Emilia Delizia and Win

Thank you for being part of our family and try one of tour, we really appreciate your custom. We hope you enjoyed us as much as we enjoyed to be with you. Now we would like to offer you the possibility to WIN an EXCLUSIVE bottle of CARLOTTA SPECIAL RESERVE traditional balsamic vinegar worth more than $250. 

We suggest to write on TripAdvisor but it does not have to be. You can write it on your blog (please give us a link), on Facebook, Twitter. Just let us know where you have posted it to and we will enter you in the competition.

review

carlotta balsamic vinegar
Win this 25 years old traditional balsamic vinegar.

All you have do to is to write a honest review about the experience you had with Emilia Delizia and you will automatically enter a draw and you will have a chance to win the balsamic vinegar that will be shipped to you directly at home.

 

Why Carlotta traditional Balsamic vinegar is so Special?

Not all balsamic vinegars are created equal. Carlotta special reserve is a 25 years old traditional balsamic vinegar made at Acetaia Di Giorgio in Modena. It is tradition to start a new batch of vinegar when a baby girl is born, so it did Giorgio when Carlotta was born. In the past the batch would become the girl dowry and she bring it to the new family. Carlotta Special reserve is aged in barrels of different woods such as cherry, mulberry, ash, juniper and the produce won several prizes with the Carlotta balsamic vinegar. It is a truly unique product that will not fail to impress your guest at your next dinner party. 

carlotta

 

 

Cooking Lessons in Florence With Market Tours

As you have already gathered from Emiliadelizia.com, cooking and cuisine are one of the pillars of Italian culture. So what better way to live and experience the country and the city of Florence than to dive into its culinary secrets? This is what we’re offering to you: a complete tour for your taste buds and a training ground for your hidden cooking abilities with a professional and intriguing cooking lesson that can be booked through our website.

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Pasta making lessons in Florence

 

The experience you can book includes:

  • A hands-on cooking lesson of 3 hours for 2 people
  • A complete menu (wine and coffee included) or a monograph on pasta, pizza, desserts or seafood in the Italian cuisine 
  • Pamphlets in Italian and English
  • A certificate of attendance

If you decide to further make your way into the realms of Italian tradition, there’s the possibility to add an optional market tour with the chef to purchase the ingredients needed before the lesson takes place. This would be a great way to understand and explore tastes, products and options for the optimal cooking situation you’re about to experience with “Condon Bleu”’s cooking school’s professionals. Not only that, because exploring the markets of Florence will prove to be more than a culinary tour, but also a cultural visit among locals, to live the city from a different point of view.
Located in the hearth or Florence, the cooking school is inside a prestigious XVI cetury palace and offers a range of cooking lessons and courses geared towards all kinds of visitors, from locals to tourists looking for an extra way to experience what the city has to offer. And what a way do these cooking lessons offer! Creativity, professionalism and expertise are the motto of the school and the chefs and highly trained staff will ensure you’ll learn the secrets of Italian and Florentine cuisine.

Food Market tour in Florence.

We’ve also mentioned an optional market tour, and our suggestion is to take up on this chance and participate in this adventure among the streets and squares of Florence. Markets in Florence still have even today the same atmosphere of old times, which is definitely worth experiencing, to live up close the vitality and glee of Italian markets, with colors, smells and tastes and a wide range of different people meeting and shopping together.
There are many different markets taking place in Florence, throughout the week, like the Mercato di San Lorenzo, in the square and streets surrounding the Basilica of San Lorenzo in the city’s historical center. In Via dell’Ariento, the market hosts a wide selection of groceries and is the city’s most important market. Other notable examples of interesting markets of Florence are that of Sant’Ambrogio and the one taking place in the Parco delle Cascine.

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Learn real Italian cooking in Florence

So, go the extra mile when in Florence and experience the city’s culinary traditions with this extraordinary offer, and learn more about typical Italian cuisine through this cooking lesson. Please enquiry for pricing.

 

How to Eat Like a Local in Venice try Al Bacareto and Al Prosecco

Venice is a unique and picturesque city, with many things to see and experience. If you’re going to visit Venice, you might have looked around online for suggestions on how to truly live the city, and what better way to do as much if not by eating like a local? In Italy, food plays a relevant part in everybody’s everyday life, and this is true for Venice as well. In this article, we’re going to talk about a little something that is typical of Venice, and one of the best ways to experience food and drinks like a local: the bacaro.
The bacaro is a typical venetian pub, which offers aperitifs, drinks, snacks and wines for a very reasonable price. They’re scattered all around Venice and both locals and tourists hang out in the multitude of bacari that dot the city. The term “bacaro” comes from the Latin name of “Bacchus”, the god of wine and harvest. Originally little warehouses the wine makers used to store the barrels of wine, now the bacari are establishments halfway between a tavern and a pub, perfect for a break between sightseeing and to enjoy a quick lunch, snack or evening cocktail.
But the choice when it comes to bacaro is wide, and while you can go wherever you prefer, literally entering the first one you come across, here is a list of the best known ones.

 

Eat like a local in venice
Where to eat in Venice like a Local - source

 

Al Bacareto

An historical place, located between Campo Santo Stefano and Palazzo Grassi. Here you can also enjoy first courses typical of Venetian cuisine (for a slightly higher price than normal bacaro snacks and drinks), or you can simply drink a ombra (literally “shadow” – white wine on tap) along with some cicchetti. The cicchetti are a tradition in Venice and the term refers to the quick snacks and dishes that can be eaten along with alcoholic drinks. Cicchetti include bruschetta or crouton with toppings but also meatballs, fried fish and more.

Al Prosecco Bacaro

Located in Campo San Giacomo dall’Orio, which is not your typical tourist destination inside the city, this bacaro managed to maintain a local atmosphere, perfect if you want to know what a bacaro frequented by locals feels like. With a wide selection of wines, tasty cicchetti and cheeses, the Bacaro Al Prosecco offers a great experience for anyone. If you’re around on Saturdays, oysters and fresh, raw fish is available as well.

Bacaro ‘do Mori’

Ever since the 1462, this bacaro has become a legend in Venice, counting Casanova among its clients through the years. Perfect to experience a light lunch surrounded by its historical atmosphere.

The bacari you can visit are many more than just these three, and each one is unique in its own way. Experiment different snacks and wines and live and eat your way into the city’s earth like a local. We offer a food tour in Venice where you can try all these specialites and cookery lessons to learn how to make them.

Bologna Foodie’s Vacation With Accommodation, Tour and Cooking Classes

Are you an Italian food connoisseur? Do you love parmesan cheese specialties and mouth watering ham? If you do then Bologna is simply the perfect place for you. Known for its scrumptious entrees and tantalizing dishes, Bologna promises a culinary experience of a lifetime. If you consider yourself a foodie, this unique tour features a self catering apartment stay in the central part of town. As part of your package, you will receive 1 pasta cookery lesson and an elegant 3 food gourmet tour. The lavish apartment has spacious rooms, and is perfect for those interested in expanding their culinary horizons and delights. There are also concierge services and convenient airport pick-up and drop off.

bologna food tour
Bologna food experiences - source

The Bologna Holiday Food Package.

The tour features a modern and contemporary apartment surrounded by a myriad of amenities. Explore the wonders of Bologna by visiting local eateries, restaurants, and cafes. Bologna is synonymous with world class cuisine, including mortadella, tagliatelle, fresh pastas, and delicious ham and salami platters. There are several delicatessens adjacent to your luxurious apartment as well. The second day of the food tour takes you on a trip to the local culinary arts school. You will have a chance to meet our professional chef who continues to receive stellar reviews from customers and critics alike. The chef will accompany you to the local markets to purchase fresh ingredients and everything you need for the cooking lessons.

The Cooking Class plus the Market  Tour

Once all the particulars are taken care of, you will head to the chef’s kitchen for the lesson and meal preparation. This includes traditional Bolognese classics, such as fresh egg pastas and tantalizing sauces. The third day of tour includes the famous gourmet tour, which includes the local parmesan far and cheese production venue. You will love sampling local favorites, including Parma ham and Balsamic vinegar. The guided tour features an English speaker for your convenience. The 3 night tour and stay costs is indicated below and it is per person. This is inclusive of guide services, transportation, and cookery lessons. If you love Italian cuisine, the Bolognese tour will truly achieve your desired results. Since these tours are based on availability, it is advised to book your reservations now.

 

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Exploring Tuscany With a Personal Tourist Guide

I started working as a tour guide in Tuscany in 1987, when I was 23. I’m now almost 51. I started with German guests. As a tour guide I travelled almost everywhere through Europe (France, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece) and also to Canada (Ontario and Québec) and to New York. In 2002 I specialized as a licensed tour guide for Lucca, a medieval town in Tuscany. I am also a graduated translator and interpreter and I’m about to get my second deegree in ?Mediator in Foreign Languages and Cultures’ at the University of Siena. I speak fluently following languages, beside Italian as a mother tongue: German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese. I speak also Swedish at a A2 level and I’m dealing also with Russian (A1 level) and Chinese at the moment!

If you are are looking to visit Tuscany or any other area in Italy with an experienced local guide please keep reading below. This can truly enhance your vacations! 

This tour is guided by: Massimo

I started working as a tour guide in Tuscany in 1987, when I was 23. I'm now almost 51. I started with German guests. As a tour guide I travelled almost everywhere through Europe (France, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece) and also to Canada (Ontario and Québec) and to New York. In 2002 I specialized as a licensed tour guide for Lucca, a medieval town in Tuscany. I am also a graduated translator and interpreter and I'm about to get my second deegree in Mediator in Foreign Languages and Cultures' at the University of Siena. I speak fluently following languages, beside Italian as a mother tongue: German, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese. I speak also Swedish at a A2 level and I'm dealing also with Russian (A1 level) and Chinese at the moment!

Meeting the clients.

I will meet my guests either in Montecatini Terme, a very well-known spa resort in northern Tuscany, where I am at home, or in other towns like Florence, Siena, Pisa, Arezzo, etc. but also outside my region, all over Italy, and show them the beauties of my country.

In which area in Tuscany are you specialised?

I'm of course specialized for Tuscany (my 'highlights' are Lucca, Florence, Siena, Pisa, Pistoia and Arezzo), but I can also guide my guests through other regions like Lombardy (Milan, etc.), Emilia Romagna (Bologna, etc.), Umbria (Assisi, etc.). We will do a guided tour in town, where we can organize a lunch break in a typical restaurant, then also hire a car or minivan to travel through the countryside and see something else of our marvellous landscape.

What the clients can see? 

We can also visit some typical farms producing wine and olive oil, cheese, ham and other alimentary products, we can also taste and do shopping in town or in wholesale factories where they produce and sell typical handmade products such as leather shoes, bags, marble or alabaster souvenirs, etc. It will last up to about 8 hours with some breaks for a coffee or so.

The costs of my tours depend on how we will organize them, i.e. if I have to move to my guests hotel/house and live there with them for the whole period or just meet them each morning at their premises.

tourswithmassimo
Explore Tuscany with Private guide Massimo

 

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