Carlo in his kitchen
Classic Piedmont Cooking Classes and Tour
2012 Departure dates are:
April 21 – June 23 – September 22
This program is available for a minimum of 2 participnas
Suggested Program
- Day 1 – Sun. Arrival day Milan
- Arrival at Malpensa Airport in Milan. You will be met by an English- speaking guide and transferred by private coach to Hotel Villa San Carlo in Cortemilia. You will be greeted with an “Aperitivo” in our chef’s wine cellar. Dinner will be an exquisite Tasting Menu including 4 wines carefully selected to complement each course. Each evening mineral water and coffee are also included. Overnight at Villa San Carlo.
- Day 2 – Mon. Wine tasting class
- Colazione alla Piemontese. Breakfast Piedmont style before going out for a “truffle hunting” session with a famous local “trifulao,” (truffle hunter). Light lunch to savor the truffle found, dessert and a proper-paired wine, before heading out on the “Strada delle Nocciole.” (Hazelnut Road). Visit the quaint village of Bergolo and the medieval, well kept, castle of Prunetto with a guided visit accompanied by an English speaking guide. Return to Cortemilia in the afternoon for a wine class with Carlo. Dinner with paired wines.
- Day 3 – Tue. Cooking class
- Buffet breakfast. Cooking class at 10:00AM.
Menu 1: Antipasto: Celery with Tuma cheese and Hazelnuts
First Course: Potato and Spinaci Gnocchi with Fresh Tomato Sauce
Second Course: Rabbit Fillet with Taggiasche Olives and Pine Nuts
Dessert: Grandmother’s Pudding (“Bunet alla Nonna”)
The dishes prepared by the students will be tasted in the kitchen together with 1 wines selected to complement the menu. An afternoon excursion is planned to the wine-growing area of Barbaresco. You will visit the Ca Romè famous cellar where you will taste their best Barbaresco wines and see where it is aged. Dinner with three courses and two selected wines. Overnight at Villa San Carlo. - Day 4 – Wed. Acqui Terme
- Buffet breakfast Cooking class at 10:00AM.
Menu 2: Antipasto: Farmer’s salad
First Course: handmade ravioli
Second Course: veal fillet with Barolo wine sauce
Dessert: Hazelnuts cake
The dishes prepared by the students will be tasted in the kitchen together with 1 wines selected to complement the menu. An afternoon excursion is planned to Acqui Terme a renewed Spa town also known as La Bollente (literally the Boiling) for its hot water springs. You can choose to have a spa treatment between a “Chocolate beauty day” (please, call us for details) or “Cleopatra beauty day” or a “Mud bath and massage” or a “Stone massage.” Totally up to you. (Please note that spa services are not included in the package and must to be paid directly at the spa if purchased.) Time for strolling along its streets with excellent shopping opportunities or visit the very interesting medieval area. Return to our hotel where Carlo will prepare another banquet for us. - Day 5 – Thu. Cooking and tour of Monferrato area
- Buffet breakfast Cooking class at 10:00AM.
Menu 3: Antipasto: Farmer’s salad
First Course: handmade ravioli
Second Course: veal fillet with Barolo wine sauce
Dessert: hazelnuts cake
Afternoon visit of a Ca’ Bianca a family run cheese factory and producer of fine and excellent Moscato d’Asti. Participants will have chance to taste some of the best locally made cheeses and taste the wine. Piedmont is the Italian largest cheese producing region. Surrounded by the sheer peaks of the Alps Range, bordering France and Switzerland, Piedmont offers a very large selection of cheeses, its Robiola, Tuma, Toma, Castelmagno, Grana Padano, Gorgonzola are hard to forget. At the end of the day return to Villa San Carlo. - Day 6 – Fri. Torino city of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games
- This morning short ride to Torino for a visit of this “regal” city. Indeed, Torino was the first Italian capital an long time home of the Royal Family of “Savoia” that used to rule Italy for several generation. Torino is one of the most elegant European cities with interesting architecture and excellent shopping opportunity. It is, also, famous for its chocolate production. Its “Gianduiotto” a tender soft paste mode of first quality cocoa and hazelnuts (another local product). Walking guided tour with an English Speaking guide and free time in the afternoon for personal activities. Return to Hotel Villa San Carlo for dinner and overnight.
- Day 7 – Sat. Truffle market in Alba
- After breakfast departure for Alba to enjoy its weekly outdoor market that includes its fascinating truffle market. This unique and interesting happening is well worth the trip. Free time for lunch. Afternoon visit of the Grinzane Cavour castle that houses the Enoteca Regionale del Piemonte, the largest wine and Grappa library in Northern Italy. We will also visit a Torrone (nugat) maker artisan laboratory. Return to Cortemilia in the evening for the Farewell dinner, as always, paired with 4 wines. Buona notte!!
- Day 8 – Sun. Departure
- Transfer to Milano Malpensa for departure.
- 7 nights accommodations in sharing double room
- Breakfast & dinner daily
- 3 cooking classes
- 1 wine tasting class
- Field trips
- Excursions and field trips as per itinerary
- English speaking guide for the excursions as indicated in the itinerary
- Transportation throughout the tour
- Bilingual tour guide
- All local taxes and charges
- Milan Malpensa airport transfers on arrival & departure*
- All excursions and field trips as indicated in the itinerary
- €1849, per person, based on double occupancy.
- Single room add €200.
Gabriele’s Travels to Italy continually strives to improve tour itinerary and features. If improvements can be made or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary itinerary excursions and to substitute hotels and restaurants.
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
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NOT INCLUDED: Items of a personal nature, gratuity of any kind, air fare; wine with meals; optional tours, meals not specified in itinerary.
∗Transportation to and from the airport is provided by “Gabriele’s Travels to Italy” at a pre-announced time. Arrangements can be made for individuals whose arrival and departure cannot be worked into this schedule. An additional charge will result for individual transfers.
Prices contained in this proposal are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of printing and are subject to availability, confirmation and are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to cancel this tour due to lack of participants or for circumstances Beyond our control, in this case a full refund of all payments will be made.
PACKAGE PRICE:
Tour Booking code #CZ11/1
