Culinary Week in Turin – Turin, Italy
Dates: This experiences is offered year round.
Price: $4799 USD for a 10 Day Tour
“Today, Turin and Piedmont, its region, are hometown to many world renown companies and events like Lavazza, Nutella, the Slow Food Movement, Martini & Rossi (Asti Spumante), Juventus and FIAT. Moreover, Piedmont is the real Wine Country of Italy, producing the largest amount o DOC and DOCG wines! Italian fashion, sport, cinema and national TV were also born here and thanks to the variety of events organized all year long, Turin will be the European Sport Capital in 2015 and it’s also running as city candidate for the European Capital of Culture in 2019.” – Turin Educational Consortium
· Immerse yourself into the culture of where the Slow Food Movement originated
· Think full-bodied wines, truffles, hazelnuts, risotto, potato gnocchi and cured meats
· Chefs and home cooks alike will enjoy this fantastic look inside Northern Italy’s culinary and historic delights
· Guided tours along with cooking classes at the Turin Educational Consortium
· Learn and practice the art of cooking authentic Italian food from experienced international food professionals, who aptly convey the nuances of their motherland’s gastronomy
What’s Included:
10 nights hotel accommodations, including daily breakfast, airport transfers to and from Turin Airport, meals and unique gastronomic dining experiences, professional and cultural visits, all guided tours and entrance fees, 2 cooking classes, taxes, tips, 10 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 8 Dinners including wines and beverages
*Must arrive in Turin Airport. The Travel Roots team can assist you with organizing your international flights.
Think full-bodied wines, truffles, hazelnuts, risotto, potato gnocchi and cured meats. Chefs and home cooks alike will enjoy this fantastic look inside Northern Italy’s culinary and historic delights.
Guided tours along with cooking classes at the TEC offer more than just information and kitchen skills; you will learn and practice the art of cooking authentic Italian food from experienced international food professionals, who aptly convey the nuances of their motherland’s gastronomy.
Artisans and experts will also offer historical insight and access to regional cuisine, famous restaurants, acclaimed chefs and culturally flavored food knowledge – at the source. Thoughts of Piedmont inspire images of rich cuisine, evolving for thousands of years and noble in its traditions. Learning from Italy’s great chefs and locals, you’ll be exposed to traditional practices and classical preparations that keep cultural influences intact on the plate.
Day 1 Saturday
9 AM -12PM, ARRIVAL AND TRANSPORTATION: the TEC team in Turin will arrange for group transportation to the hotel. Depending on when the majority of guests arrive, TEC will arrange for one round of transportation to satisfy the majority of the travelers.
Check-in at Hotel Dock Milano http://www.hoteldockmilano.it located in the city center
1:30 PM LUNCH: After all guests are checked in and settled, the group will have lunch together at El crinet http://www.elcrinet.net/ , a typical trattoria within a walking distance from the hotel!
4 PM CITY TOUR: The group will meet in front of the hotel and commence a walking tour of the historical heart of Turin. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes.
6:30 PM REST: The group will return to the hotel for a short rest before dinner.
7:30 PM DINNER: Group will meet in front of hotel to walk (18min.) or take the subway (12min.) to dinner at La Pergola Rosa http://www.lapergolarosa.it/
DAY 2 Sunday
FREE MORNING AND LUNCH ON YOUR OWN: many coffee shops serve aperitivo from 11AM to about 1PM, if you feel like eating a full meal, you can try:
L’Oca Fola http://www.ocafola.it/ ,
Primo Senso http://www.primosenso.it/index.aspx?m=64&f=4&IDNews=11 or
Taverna Delle Rose in Via Massena 24, conveniently located near the Subway stop.
3:30 PM: Group will convene in front of the hotel for transport to Eataly for shopping and a presentation on Slow Food. We’ll take the subway at the nearby Piazza XVII Dicembre stop and after 5 stop we’ll get off and shortly reach Eataly near the Lingotto.
DINNER: Dinner at Eataly.
AFTER DINNER: Group will return to the hotel by cabs or subway, or choose to visit Turin’s wine bars or cocktail clubs. We suggest you take the subway back and get off at the Porta Nuova station, right in front you can try the amazing gelatos of Talmone or one of the many fashionable Irish and English pubs on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II. Going on down Via Roma, you’ll end up in Piazza San Carlo with some of the historical cafés where you can savor a meditation wine glass (Gattinara), a sweet Moscato or a bicerin, the staple coffee of Turin.
DAY 3 Monday
9 AM MARKET TOUR: Group will meet in lobby and we’ll walk together to the Porta Palazzo Market. It is an 18min walk through Via Garibaldi, a pedestrian street where with many shops and cafés.
11AM COFFEE BREAK AT THE MARKET at the near café Ingrosso Minuto http://www.ingrossominuto.it/#/CAFFETTERIA inside the newly restored galleria Umberto I opened in 1890!
1 PM LUNCH: Visit iFood Bistrot, an avant garde Italian restaurant with a focus on organic, local products and wines. http://www.ifood360.it/index.htm (5 min. walk)
3 PM GELATO AFTERNOON: After lunch, we’ll walk to the lab of a local artisanal gelato maker and pastry chef who will introduce the group to the most typical Italian and local dessert and the art of gelato making. Once there, we will go on a tour, learn about gelato and other Italian desserts.
8 PM APERICENA: A combination of aperitif and dinner, we will visit Neuv Caval‘d Bronz for this tapas-style dinner.
DAY 4 Tuesday
9 AM COOKING CLASS: Meet in the lobby and after a 20min walk, we’ll reach ACT (Professional Association of Turin Chefs), for our first cooking class (Arneis based menu: risotto, chicken and bonet typical dessert) followed by lunch.
2 PM TOUR OF SPECIALTY SHOPS: We will do a walking tour of Turin’s historical cafés and specialty shops.
8 PM DINNER: The group will visit McBun, a slow fast food which represents the Slow Food answer to the American fast food style. http://www.mbun.it/sito/top-menu/lidea.html (6min walk from the hotel)
AFTER DINNER: Group will return to the hotel by cabs or subway, or choose to visit Turin’s wine bars or cocktail clubs.
DAY 5 Wednesday
9:30AM VISIT TO THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: Spend the morning at the Gobino’s traditional chocolate factory www.guidogobino.it to learn about the production of chocolate, candy, and have a tasting session. We’ll meet in the lobby and together we’ll take public transit to reach the factory
12 LUNCH: after the chocolate factory, we’ll take public transit to move in the Piazza Vittorio area where we’ll have lunch at Il Porto de Savona https://www.facebook.com/ristoranteportodisavona
FREE AFTERNOON AND DINNER ON YOUR OWN: in the afternoon we recommend you visit either the National Museum of Cinema hosted in the Mole Antonelliana, the tallest building in Europe and also the Turin’s symbol, or the Egyptian Museum, the second largest in the world!!
For the dinner, you can try La Porta Rossa http://www.laportarossa.it or
Galante http://www.ristorantegalante.it
DAY 6 Thursday
9AM VISIT TO LAVAZZA: The group will check out and meet in the lobby for transportation to Lavazza coffee headquarters after placing all bags on the bus. We will receive a tour of the facility and learn about the production of coffee and espresso.
1PM LUNCH: Lunch will be at Carletto’s http://www.ristorante-carletto.it/sito in Pecetto, on our way to Asti. The Chef Aldo Marchese will give the group a mini presentation.
3:30PM TRANSFER TO CALAMANDRANA: the group will reach Calamandrana, a village in the Asti area, by bus and will check in at the relais La Corte http://www.agrilacorte.com/
6:30PM COOKING CLASS: the group will meet in the lobby and follow the head chef of La Corte to the hotel kitchen for the cooking class (full menu TBA according to the seasonal products available)
8:30PM DINNER: dinner at relais La Corte savoring the fruits of your labor in the kitchen
The Wine Country
DAY 7 Friday
9AM VINEYARDS TOUR AND COUNTRY LIFE MUSEUM: after breakfast, we’ll take our bus to visit the Gancia vineyards and the country life museum (museo delle contadinerie)
11:30AM TOUR OF CANTINE GANCIA: guided tour http://www.gancia.it
12:30 PM LUNCH: we’ll enjoy a private tasting session at Cantine Gancia
1:30 FREE TIME: after lunch the group will have a couple hours to stroll around and do some shopping
3:30PM ASTI VISIT: back on our bus, we’ll reach Asti to visit the Ugo Scassa Tapestry museum and the Duomo, renown for the Palio Flags! Before heading back to the hotel we’ll have the chance to wander in Asti to get the sense of the town.
6:30PM RELAX: we go back to the hotel to relax a bit before dinner
8PM DINNER: by bus we’ll reach La Cometa, a family owned restaurant where you’ll taste food how it is made in a regular home of the area!
DAY 8 Saturday
9AM LANGHE VISIT: after breakfast we’ll leave for a tour in the Langhe area on our bus
9:45AM CHEESE FARM: we’ll visit the Alessandro Boasso’s sheep cheese farm which is an official artisanal Slow Food presidium (certified farm with certified cheese production) http://www.slowfood.it/resistenzacasearia/ita/89/alessandro-boasso-tuma-di-pecora-delle-langhe-italia
10:45AM PASTA MAKING IN MONFORTE D’ALBA: always by bus, we’ll reach Monforte d’Alba where we’ll visit Antica Dispensa Bricco to see how pasta and the local products are traditionally made here http://www.anticadispensa.it/
12:30PM LUNCH IN BAROLO: we’ll have our lunch in Barolo at the Barolo friends restaurant http://www.barolofriends.it/ After lunch, we’ll take a tour of Barolo and Cherasco
(at 15km/9.5miles far), two tiny towns of the area.
2:30PM CORKSCREW MUSEUM: after lunch we’ll visit the unique corkscrew museum with more than 500 corkscrews!
4:15PM HOTEL CHECK-IN IN CHERASCO: after our tour, we’ll check-in at Hotel Oasis http://www.oasis-hotel.it/ where we can relax a bit before dinner
7PM DINNER IN BRA: by bus we’ll reach Bra where we’ll have dinner at the rustic-chic Osteria Boccon Divino http://www.boccondivinoslow.it/boccodivino/ita/osteria.asp a Slow Food certified restaurant
After dinner you’ll have a couple of hours to stroll around Bra before going back to the Hotel with our bus.
DAY 9 Sunday
9AM WINE BANK IN POLLENZO: departure for Pollenzo where after about 10min we’ll reach the Wine Bank http://www.bancadelvino.it
12PM (NOON) LUNCH: at noon we’ll leave for Alba (20min bus ride) where we’ll have lunch at Ristorante Caffé Umberto http://www.caffeumberto.it/
3PM ALBA VISIT ON YOUR OWN: after lunch you’ll enjoy a free afternoon to get lost on the lanes of this medieval town
DINNER ON YOUR OWN IN ALBA: Alba is one of the world food capitals, so picking a place where to eat won’t be easy but you can try La Locanda del Pilone http://www.locandadelpilone.com/ or
La Bottega del Vicoletto
10:30PM HOTEL: we’ll meet in front of the Duomo to drive back to our hotel
DAY 10 Monday
9:30AM TRUFFLE HUNT: after a short bus ride we’ll reach our truffle hunt location where we’ll hear about the local truffle hunt traditions and techniques directly from a real trifolau or truffle hunter.
12 LUNCH: at the end our truffle hunt, we’ll taste some truffled specialties of the area.
AFTERNOON ON YOUR OWN: back to Cherasco, where the group will enjoy a free afternoon to visit the village
8:30PM DINNER: we’ll have our good-bye dinner at the typical osteria L’Ostu sul Cantun, renown for the typical agnolotti and local cheeses! http://www.lostusulcantun.it/
DEPARTURE TUESDAY
7:30 to 9 AM BREAKFAST: Breakfast will be served in the hotel and then guests will check out and depart for the airport by bus, provided by Patricia and her team.
Sample Hotels:
Hotel Dock Milano http://www.hoteldockmilano.it located in the city centre
Hotel Oasis http://www.oasis-hotel.it/