Torino's famous chocolate delicacies on display

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Slow Food® International

20/28 October 2012 only departure

Watch Carlo Zarri interview on Truffles

A tour available every two years to attend the SALONE DEL GUSTO -Slow Food
International convention in Turin, Italy. A worldwide collaborative of farmers, chefs, and culinary craftspeople meet every two years in late October to work toward the preservation of the essence of what we eat, where it comes from and how it is made. Here tour participants would be able to shake the hands of the farmer from Parma who raises the pigs that become the very special Parma hams, and the cheese maker who milks the cows and makes the real Parmesan cheese. The Slow Food philosophy embraces the need to preserve the integrity of food’s origin, its taste, and its honored preparation, founded upon the cultures and traditions of small, independent artisans who take great pride in the methods, manners and incredible products of their livelihood.
The goal is to build a sense of relationship, loyalty and community as food is eaten, from the moment of a seed’s planting or the birth of an animal, through its conversion as food to the point where it enters the mouth and the inspired taste of the consumer.
Our group will be strictky limited to 14 people.
We are now taking pre-booking reservations, since this event receives worldwide attention, and hotels will be in high demand.

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Typical Itinerary

Day 1 Oct. 20/Saturday – Arrival day

Arrival at Milano Malpensa airport. Transfer by private coach to Hotel Villa San Carlo in Cortemilia, a well-known wine town near Turin. Welcome drink and a brief look at Carlo’s wine cellar. Gourmet dinner with a Grand Tasting Menu paired with four wines. Caffé, after-dinner drink and “buona notte.”

Day 2 Oct. 21/Sunday – Relaxing day/Truffle hunting/Cooking class

Colazione alla Piemontese. Breakfast Piedmont style before a truffle-hunting outing with a famous local “trifulao,” (truffle hunter). Light lunch to savor the truffles found, dessert and a properly paired wine, before heading out on the Strada delle Nocciole (Hazelnut Road). Visit the quaint village of Bergolo and the well preserved medieval castle of Prunetto with a visit accompanied by an English-speaking guide. Return to Cortemilia in the afternoon for a cooking class. Carlo is an accomplished chef who, in this class, will demonstrate how to quickly prepare a delicious Italian meal. We will participate in preparing our evening dinner.

Day 3 Oct. 22/Monday – Wine tasting tour/Roero-Arneis-Pollenzo

After breakfast, we will take a guided private tour of the Roero district, an area with its own DOC (Denomination of Controlled Origin) that produces some excellent red wines with a 95% base of Nebbiolo grapes. Visit of a winery, famous for its white wines Arneis and Favorita, and tasting of locally made Barbera. The winery owner will guide our tasting. Return to Cortemilia in the evening for a delicious dinner, wines, caffé, after-dinner drink and “buona notte.”

Day 4 Oct. 23/Tuesday – Acqui Terme/Wine and Spa

Today we will visit another famous winery with tasting of their production located in Acqui Terme, a revitalizing Spa town. We will drive along the panoramic cheese road with a stop at Roccaverano for a wine and cheese tasting. At the spa, you can choose between a “Chocolate beauty day” (please, call us for details) or “Cleopatra beauty day” or a “Mud bath and massage” or a “Stone massage.” (Spa service are bot inluded in th package price.) The choice is totally up to you. 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 one of his favorite dishes. Buona notte!
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Day 5 Oct. 24/Wednesday – Torino – city of the 2006 Winter Olympic Games

Morning ride to Turin, home of the Winter Olympic Games in 2006. Turin is a very elegant and sophisticated town, Italy’s former capital city, once seat of its Royal Family. The city has preserved intact its elegant “palazzos” and other attractions from that era. Beautiful shops and miles of “portici” (arcades) make Turin an ideal place for shopping and outdoor meetings before lunch or dinner. Its “Gianduiotto” a tender soft paste made of first quality cocoa and hazelnuts (another local product) are not to be missed. 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 6 Oct. 25/Thursday – Salone del Gusto Opening Day

Transfer to Torino exposition area for the Salone del Gusto opening day. Full-day at the convention. Return to Villa San Carlo for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 Oct. 26/Friday – Salone del Gusto (optional 2nd day at the Salone)

Short trip to the outskirts of Turin to visit the Venaria Reale, the former royal country residence that was modeled after the French Royal residence of Versailles. The residence and gardens were recently restored to their original beauty and splendor. On the return, a stop at Eatitaly, a one-of-a-kind Italian culinary experience. Return to Villa San Carlo for dinner and overnight.
Please note, that those who would spend another day at the Salone del Gusto will be accompanied at the convention and picked up on the return.

Day 8 Oct. 27/Saturday – 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 artisan laboratory. Return to Cortemilia in the evening for the Farewell dinner, as always, paired with four wines. Buona notte!

Day 9 Oct. 28/Sunday – Departure

Early transfer to Milano Malpensa airport for departure.*

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• 8 nights accommodations based on double occupancy
• Breakfast daily
• Dinner daily with paired wines
• Wine tasting as indicated in the itinerary
• 1 cooking class
• Wine tasting as per itinerary
• Truffle hunting
• Wine taster diploma
• Transportation as per itinerary
• Airport transfers at pre-arranged time*
  Please, talk to Gabriele before you make your air arrangements.

PACKAGE PRICE:

€2700, per person, based on double occupancy. Single room €2950; .

NOT INCLUDED: Items of a personal nature, gratuity of any kind, 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.
Gabriele’s Travels to Italy continually strive to improve tour itinerary and features. If improvement 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. Final documents and paperwork, sent out about three weeks prior to departure date, will include an updated itinerary.
We reserve the right to cancel this tour due to lack of participants or for circumstances eyond our control. In this case, a full refund of all payments will be made. Tour booking codeGT09/10

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: 1-507/287-8733
or email: info@travelingtoitaly.com