Taste of Piedmont & Parma with Chef Craig Flinn
October 28th - November 6th, 2011
About Craig Flinn:
Chef Craig Flinn is a nationally recognized chef. Having come to attention working alongside The Food Network’s Chef Michael Smith, Flinn’s celebrity is now all his own. His much celebrated Chives Canadian Bitro put local ingredients in consciousness of diners before it is was fashionable. His series of cookbooks including “Fresh & Local”, “Fresh Canadian Bistro”, and his latest “Fresh and Frugal has made him a household name amongst avid home chefs across the country.
Experience the scents and flavours of Emilia Romagna & Piedmont – the residence and soul of Italy’s slow food movement and home of some of Italy’s greatest food products including Parma ham, traditional balsamic vinegar, parmesan cheese and wine styles including Barolo, Barbaresco, Ghemme, Gattinara, Barbera D’Alba, Moscato d’Asti and many more. This 9-day, 9-night tour will be led by Chef Craig Flinn – one of the leaders of the Nova Scotia Slow Food movement and a regular observer and participant of Terre Madre – the Slow Food conference held bi-annually in Torino. The tour has been designed by our resident Italian expert and sommelier, Alanna McIntyre, who lived in the region for many years before returning to Canada (Piedmontese husband in tow). This tour is designed for the food and wine lover alike as you will enjoy cooking classes well as wine tastings and tours at some of Piedmont’s most famous producers as well as small artisanal producers whose product is in such demand it rarely makes its way across the Atlantic.
Tour Cost
$3695/person based on double occupancy (land only) – single supplement (18%).
Inquiries/Reservations: info@winebytheglass.ca, call 902-488-9959
Includes
- 9 nights’ accommodation
- 9 breakfasts
- 6 lunches
- 8 dinners
- 5 wine tastings
- Chocolate making class
Itinerary
Friday October 28th – Welcome to Italy
You will be greeted at the Milan’s Malpensa airport by your hosts for the week. We will then head towards Parma, Italy’s center of ham production. Your accommodation for the next two nights is the stunning Torrechiara Castle, located in the hamlet of Langhirano. After checking into our rooms, we’ll tour the castle before enjoying a relaxing welcome dinner featuring, of course, local Parma ham.
Saturday October 29th – The Wines & Food of Emilia-Romagna
After breakfast at the hotel, we will spend the day exploring the best of Italian food including visits to a traditional balsamic vinegar producer, which includes a tasting of their products, a sommelier guided lunch featuring the wines of Lambrusco and a visit to a Parmesan producer to understand how one of the world’s greatest cheeses is made. After a day of indulging in some the world’s most famous food products, we’ll spend the night in Parma. You’ll be on your own for dinner but given your in food heaven it shouldn’t be hard to find a great spot.
Sunday October 30th Alba
This morning we’ll return to Parma to explore this city which beyond being the center of Italian food is full of rich culture and stunning architecture. You’ll have the morning to explore before we meet at 1:00 to make our way to Piedmont. Our destination tonight is our villa, located just outside Alba. The owner of the property, who was once the head chef of Eataly and our own Craig Flinn will cook this evening’s dinner.
Monday October 31st – Bring on the Barolo! Grinzane Cavour/Fontanafredda/Barolo
Bring on the Barolo! We’re off to the heart of the Piedmont red wine country. First stop is the impressive Castello di Grinzane e Cavour where we will stroll through the museum that is a tribute to local food and wine before making a quick stop at the Enoteca Regionale di Grinzane e Cavour that houses an impressive selection of local wines for tasting and purchasing. We then make our way to Fontanafredda for a tour and lunch at this established Barolo producer. After lunch we will visit Paolo Scavino Winery, who regularly achieve ratings from Parker and Wine Spectaor in the high 90s. From there it is off to Pio Cesare winery, where we will enjoy a tour and tasting. Pio Cesare consistently makes some of the best Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera. Many of its wines regularly score more than 90 pts from both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker. After a day indulging in the best of Piedmontese wines we’ll enjoy a light dinner. We’ll invite the winery represantives back to the villa for a gourmet meal prepared by Chef Craig and house chef Piero.
Tuesday November 1st – Slow food tour around Bra – Banca del Vino/Ascheri Vineyards
This morning we set off on our “Slow Food Tour”. Our first stop is Pollenzo and the University of Gastronomic Sciences where we’ll tour the impressive wine bank followed by a lunch of typical fare. After lunch we’ll explore the nearby town of Bra before visiting the Ascheri Winery for a guided tour. To round out the day we will visit the world famous Baladin Brewery for a tour and gourmet dinner. You may be in the heart of wine country but your most memorable food and drink experience might just be your dinner at this brewery.
Wednesday November 2nd - Asti and Acqui Terme
We make our way to the town of Aqui Terme, famous for its natural hot sulphur springs. Here you may choose to shop at the many boutiques, taste wine at an enoteca or partake in a spa treatment (extra charge). After a morning of shopping we drive about 30 minutes to our lunch destination, a charming restaurant popular with the locals called Madonna della Neve. What could be better after lunch than something sweet? This afternoon we travel to Asti Alba’s historic rival town and home to the sweet and frothy Moscato d’Asti. Spend the afternoon walking about the historic centre or sipping a glass Moscato in a cafe. We then return to the villa for a light meal created by Craig.
Thursday, November 3rd - Exploring Torino
We’re off to Torino, Piedmont’s business and cultural capital. You’ll be free to tour this bustling city, where you might choose to walk alongside the river Po or visit one of the many cathedrals, galleries or many museums such as the Egyptian museum, the second largest of its kind after Cairo’s . We will meet up early evening partake as a group in the Turin aperitif culture.
Friday, November 4th
We start the day with a visit to the basilica Sacra di San Michele, located high atop Mount Pirchiriano. Here you can revel in the spectacular beauty of this abbey that dates to the 10th century. Others may simply sit in awe of the magical views of the Val Susa. Bring your camera this is a stop that will fill your photo album. We’ll have a quick pizza for lunch, then head to Guido Castagna’s Atelier del Ciocolato for a chocolate making workshop. After indulging in chocolate we head back to Alba for cooking class and dinner at the villa.
SATURDAY November 5th – The Truffle Market & Degustation Menu
You’ll get to sleep in this morning. You will need the rest as it will be a day of indulging in fine wine and food. We’ll enjoy a light lunch at the villa then it is off to nearby Alba in search of the region’s seasonal specialty; the illusive white truffle. White truffles are amongst the most prized ingredients by chefs around the world. With market value of approximately $7500/kilo, for many a taste is a once in a lifetime experience. We’ll collect wines from here before returning to the villa for a degustation menu made by Chefs Piero & Craig .
Sunday November 6th
Your guides will deliver you to Milan’s Milapensa airport, ensuring a safe start to your journey home