The cost includes:
Transportation as per the itinerary
6-night accommodation sharing a multiple room in Florence in a 3-star hotel
6 breakfasts
5 dinners at the hotel restaurant
Farewell dinner
Lunch at the vineyard
Wine tastings at the vineyard
Guided tour of Florence
Activities:
Cost does not include:
ITINERARY (Some parts of the itinerary may involve bullet train or boat travel)
Day 1 - Florence
Meet and greet at the airport of Florence by our staff and transfer to the hotel downtown. Check-in
In the afternoon, you will enter a walking guided tour of the town. Dinner
Day 2 - Workshops: lectures and tastings
Italian regional Cuisine (morning)
Discover the gastronomic traditions of Italian regions through a journey of local products and habits. Italian gastronomy is comprised of incredibly rich and diverse local cuisine. This lecture will give an introduction to the geography of Italian food, including cultural and environmental influences, seasonality, and the history and production methods of traditional culinary masterpieces from the north, center and south of Italy.
Extra virgin olive oil (afternoon)
This lecture will cover an overview of the history, production and cultural relevance of olive oil in the Mediterranean. It will also cover applications of olive oil in Italian cuisine from the ancient Romans to the present day, including traditional and contemporary extraction methods. Nutritional facts and properties will be an important part of the discussion.
Dinner
Day 3 - Workshops: lectures and tastings
DOP, IGP and Slow Food Presidi (morning)
This lecture will cover Italian and European labelling as a recognition of quality standards in Italian food products. There will be an overview of different approaches, rules and cultural backgrounds of Italian standards of quality. Participants will taste a selection of DOP, IGP and Slow Food Presidi traditional products, which can include: Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, Mozzarella di Bufala Campana DOP, Ciauscolo Marchigiano IGP, Prosciutto di Parma DOP, Finocchiona IGP, 11 Mortadella Bologna IGP and Mortadellina di Prato IGP & Presidio Slow Food, Pezzente della Montagna Materana.
Pairing Food & Wine (afternoon)
This lecture features an introduction to the classic and modern methodologies of pairing food and wine, with a special focus on the Italian cultural approach to wine pairing. Students will taste and experiment pairing various food and wines.
Day 4 – Visit a vineyard
Full-day in the Chiantishire visiting a vineyard the group will reach by private coach.
After a walk in the lush Renaissance gardens of the property, you will cross the secrets of the underground cellars until you reach the warmth of the osteria where a family style complete lunch with a traditional menu of the Tuscan countryside will be paired with 6 wines produced in the property.
Back to Florence in the afternoon and time on own. Dinner
Day 5 – Fresh food market tour + Workshop
Fresh food market tour (morning)
In the morning, you will be accompanied by a chef to visit three different fresh food markets.
The secret of Italian cuisine is in the quality of ingredients, and then right place to be to create a great dish is one of Florence’s markets. Experience seasonal, fresh daily produce and local specialties and learn how to recognize the freshest fish, vegetables and fruits, or the traditional meat cuts. Get lost in the incredible variety of cheese and salumi, breads and wines and live like a local picking up the best produce available. Tour will include a tasting of typical and seasonal products from local vendors.
Italian Culture through Festival and Feasting (afternoon)
This lecture will provide participants with an overview of the main festivities in Italy, both religious and social within public and in private spheres, such as national holidays or family events. Participants will learn the history of specific festivities, their regional or national importance, and their role in local traditions, rituals, cuisine and customs. A packed lunch will be given. Dinner at the hotel
Day 6 – Cooking class: Traditional Tuscan Cuisine
Being in Italy, you cannot miss a cooking class and being in Tuscany, the theme will be the Traditional Tuscan Cuisine. Participants will learn about the history and main characteristics of Tuscan cuisine, one of the most famous in the world. They will also explore the development of Tuscan cuisine from the Renaissance period to the present. The lecture portion will cover an overview of Tuscan culinary masterpieces, and followed by a cooking class on typical Tuscan dishes.
Remaining part of the day on your own for the last visits and some shopping.
The farewell dinner will be reserved in a very typical trattoria where you will taste the famous Florentine steak
Day 7 - Departure
Check-out and departure
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