Bologna Family Cooking With Parmesan,… (trip)

Bologna Family Cooking With Parmesan, Prosciutto & Balsamic Producer Visits

  • Bologna Airport, Bologna, Italy
  • Active & Adventure
Italy, Europe, Emilia Romagna

from €1,100* per person4 DaysYear-round
Boutique accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures In Italy 12 people max
Experience Emilia-Romagna’s world renowned Parmesan cheese, traditional balsamic vinegar, and prosciutto di Parma, and real Italian life first hand with a local family in Bologna. Shop for your cooking lesson ingredients with the mother in Bologna’s market full of eye-popping displays in the medieval centre. In the family’s home, you and the mother cook an authentic, full menu meal. You dine on your creations with the family. Soon you feel like a friend sharing simple joys of Italian life.

The fun loving father takes you to see how they make parmesan cheese from start to finish. At a prosciutto factory and a traditional balsamic vinegar producer’s cellars, you see how they make and age these foods. Fascinating! The prosciutto melts in your mouth. The 25 year old traditional balsamic vinegar feels like liquid velvet in your throat.

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Locations visited/nearby

Italy, Europe, Emilia Romagna

0 testimonials about this trip.

2 testimonials about the provider, Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures In Italy:

  • Reviewer: Maurizio Cozzo located in Hanover, New Hampshire USA

    "Mo and I wanted to thank you again for arranging for us a most enjoyable and memorable vacation in Italy. I've been travelling to Italy at least once a year since 1980, when I met Mo. I've always enjoyed my yearly visits to Italy immensely, however, "Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventures in Italy" was exceptional. I repeatedly tell my family and friends it was just too good. So good, I fear all my future trips to Italy will pale in comparison.

    Carmen was an absolute delight. She did everything she possibly could to make our stay in Italy perfect and perfect it was. Carmen was a joy to be with in addition to being a font of knowledge. She seemed to know everything about everything--the history, battles, castles, churches, towns, festivals, wines, cheeses, olive oil and food in general. I could go on forever.

    Elio was the perfect gentleman. Although Elio was not able to accompany us every day of the tour, we knew he was with us in spirit and via his cellphone. Elio was in contact with Carmen daily to make sure all was well. He is a very caring person.

    Toscana was great, but we absolutely loved Piemonte. All the cooking lessons were great with the various chefs--each with his or her own unique personality. What a perfect combination--to be able to laugh and learn at the same time. "


  • Reviewer: Jeff and Nanci Shapiro located in Minneapolis, Minnesota

    "I would like to take the time to tell you how much Nanci and I enjoyed our gastronomical trip to Emilia-Romagna. We've spent most of the week since we've been back telling people about it. We are in awe of the energy and graciousness of our host and hostess (Marcello & Raffaella). We saw, tasted, and experienced things we never would have on our own. We met people--parmesan cheese maker, 5th generation balsamic vinegar maker/patriarch, Italy's best sfoglina (pasta maker), and much more. What a treat it was to gaze out the window of an ancient monastery, now hotel, overlooking dozens of sets of fireworks as the new millenium started. A very romantic moment neither of us will forget.

    We thought the price/value of the trip was exceedingly fair. Nanci is not the cook in the family...I even overheard her telling a friend she would do it again! We are your biggest fans."


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Special information

  • Family oriented trip.

Itinerary

Day 1

    Arrive mid afternoon in Bologna. Check in to a four star hotel in an ancient palazzo with modern rooms and friendly service in the medieval centre so you can easily walk to piazzas, shops and restaurants and soak up local city life. Dinner on your own.

Day 2

    Tour Bologna’s food market with the mother of your family hosts and also your cooking teacher to learn about local foods and shop for ingredients for your cooking lesson. Free time for lunch on your own and exploring the city. Full menu, hands-on cooking lesson with excellent home cook at her family’s home in the centre of Bologna followed by dinner of your creations with the family around their dining table with good local wines.

Day 3

    Leave about 7:30 a.m. to reach the parmesan cheese factory at 9:00 when they start production. See the whole process of parmesan cheese making from start to finish including ageing and taste young and mature parmesan.

    Drive to visit a prosciutto factory to discover how they make and age prosciutto and taste top quality prosciutto right at the producer’s. Enjoy a multi-course lunch in a typical trattoria filled with local people.

    Drive to visit a producer of traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena. Learn how they make it in a ever smaller series of barrels of different woods and what the differences are between traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena and the industrial ones. Taste 12 and 25 year old balsamic vinegars—like liquid velvet!

    Return to your hotel in Bologna. Light dinner and evening on your own.

Day 4

    After breakfast, reluctantly leave Bologna by taxi for the airport or train station.

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