Duration: 3 Hours
Type Of Service: Local Foodie Tour in Trastevere with Wine & Dinner
Embark on a food tour in Trastevere that offers an excellent introduction to one of the best foodie districts in Rome. Walking around the Eternal City is an excellent way to work up an appetite; a food tour is the best way to end your day of sightseeing. Led by a local foodie guide, visit some of our favorite restaurants and trattoria in Rome.
Roman Bakery and Pizza - At this stop, learn more the history of bakeries, or forni, in Rome. Get acquainted with a major part of Roman culinary tradition by ordering a hot square of pizza bianca for lunch. In Rome, people line up for these olive oil flat breads stuffed with prosciutto, parmesan and rocket. As opposed to red pizza served by the slice (al taglio), pizza bianca is not what most people associate with pizza. After you've tasted this treat, you'll understand how pizza need not have sauce or cheese to be delicious. Pizza bianca is a piece of chewy and crispy culinary heaven.
Roman Street Food - While a sit-down meal of creamy carbonara accompanied by copious amounts of Sangiovese is more likely associated with the best Italian fare, street food is nothing to sneeze at. Some of the most delicious cuisine in Rome includes quick and casual street food. From deconstructed pizza sandwiches at Trapizzino to traditionally fried filetto di baccala at Dar Filettaro’s near the Campo de' Fiori district, Rome street food is hard to beat. In the spirit of experiencing the joy of Roman street fare, enjoy a stop at one of our favorite local spots.
dDuration: 2.5 hours
Type of Service: Florence Evening Walking and Wine Tour – private tour
A popular social tradition in Italy, aperitivo comprises of snacks and drinks to be enjoyed in a bar before dinner. Your tour will begin from your accommodations as you stroll towards the Duomo where you will receive a short introduction about this historic building and the piazza that surrounds it before enjoying a glass of wine or prosecco with crostini's and tuscan meats and cheeses at a favorite Florentine wine bar and restaurant.
Your next stop on this walking tour you will cross over the Ponte Vecchio Bridge for a great photo before strolling through Piazza Santo Spirito, one of the more picturesque areas of Florence, a lively scene both day and night on your way to a popular wine bar for a glass of prosecco.
Your final destination on this wine tour is to enjoy a beverage of your choice and appetizer on a rooftop bar with amazing views of the Arno River and surrounding landmarks.
This is a wonderful introduction to the beautiful city of Florence. I highly recommend this tour for anyone and everyone.
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Duration: 7 Hours
Type of Service: Cooking Class at a Farmhouse in Tuscany
A full day hands-on Cooking Class in a stunning setting in the Tuscan countryside including a food tour through the historic center of Florence. Led by a local food-lover guide, you will taste your way through the Florentine's favorite bakery and grocery stores to experience Tuscan food like a real local. You will buy ingredients on the way and in Florence's most vibrant food market.
On arrival in our beautiful farmhouse, you will start creating a complete menu, from appetizer to dessert, using only the freshest seasonal ingredients, the majority of which come from the vegetable garden of the farmhouse!
Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and learn to cook as Tuscan grandmas and moms do every day in their kitchens for their families. Master the secrets of traditional dishes that you will easily re-create at home for your friends and family. The cooking lesson is suitable for beginners and for those who can already cook.
Then finally we will all sit together outside (weather permitting) and just like a big Italian family, we will take time to enjoy the food we have prepared together. Buon Appetito!
What you can expect
First, discover Florence's historical food market where the locals do their daily shopping. Blend in with the locals. Meet the bakers, the butchers, and the farmers selling vegetables from their fields. Their stalls are full of items such as fresh fruit, vegetables, cheeses, cured meats, balsamic vinegar, sun dried tomatoes, olives and many other Italian food specialties. Shop for the ingredients to use for the cooking class and learn to choose the best seasonal products.
Then, it's time to start your cooking lesson at a farmhouse in Tuscany. This isn't just a demonstration, you will actually take part in creating a full traditional Tuscan meal with your chef's help. You will learn to make real Italian fresh pasta by hand with freshly laid eggs and learn to make a traditional meat sauce using ingredients from right outside the door!
Learn to prepare homemade pizza and classic bruschetta with fresh bread, homegrown tomatoes and the farmhouse's own extra virgin olive oil and then take a break to enjoy the pizza and bruschetta with a glass of Chianti wine.
After the break, it's back to the lesson where you will learn how to prepare traditional Tuscan roast pork, arista and Tuscan roast potatoes using fresh herbs collected from around the farmhouse. To finish the class, you will learn the secrets of the wonderful Italian coffee and cream dessert, Tiramisù.
At last, sit down to enjoy a wonderful meal. Each course will be paired with a carefully selected wine from the region to compliment the flavors of the food you have prepared. At the end of your meal, your driver will be waiting for you for a short drive back to Florence, so it's time to say arrivederci after an unforgettable experience in Tuscany.
Things to Know:
Duration: 6 Hours
Type of Service: Private Tuscan Castle and Ancient Cellars Visit with Cooking Class and Wine Tasting Experience near Florence - small group tour/cooking class
The day will begin with your private, English-speaking chauffeur picking you up in a Mercedes at your hotel. From there you will head up into the beautiful rolling Tuscan hills to a castle in the countryside. Once at the castle, a staff member will lead you on a private tour of the enchanting castle which includes its wine cellars and vineyards.
The castle has an incredibly rich history and was built by the Pazzi family in 1184 AD. At the height of Florence Renaissance in 1478, the Pazzi family masterminded in these castle halls the now infamous plot to kill two outstanding representatives of Florence ruling family, the Medici. With the “Pazzi Conspiracy,” the family - long rivals of the Medici - intended to eliminate Lorenzo de' Medici and so dethrone Florence ruler. Today, in the Castle nucleus, the magnificent “Conspiracy Room” can be admired.
After the tour, you will have a cooking class with three courses which include learning to make handmade pasta, sauces, and dessert. Once you have finished cooking, it’s time to try your masterpieces along with three wines produced at the vineyards of the castle in the castle dining room. Then, you will meet your driver who will take you back to your hotel. A beautiful and intriguing castle, great food, and delicious wines are awaiting your arrival.
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