Hidden Venice (trip)
Hidden Venice
- Marco Polo Airport, Venice, Italy
- Culinary & Wine Travel
| from $2,050* per person | 4 Days | Year-round |
| Boutique accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Tour de Forks - Uncommon Epicurean Adventures | 12 people max | |
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Locations visited/nearby
Italy, Europe
0 testimonials about this trip.
2 testimonials about the provider, Tour de Forks - Uncommon Epicurean Adventures:
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Reviewer: Chef Anita Lo
located in
New York,
NY
USA
"I'd recommend Tour de Forks to my own mother. I'd even require it for all serious foodies and food professionals if I could, so they all would experience the fresh new ideas of 'Mod Oz' (modern Australian cuisine: a cutting edge, urban cuisine influenced by nearby Asia), and the exceptional cheeses, wines, meat and produce from that continent.
You could do it on your own, but chances are, even if you have several good guide books, you're going to be disappointed with more than just a couple of meals, and you won't get the personalized, VIP treatment you get from having a few famous, local food professionals showing you around as you do on Tour de Forks. I wish every country I've visited had a Meera Freeman, a George Biron, and a Melissa Joachim to take me out to dinner. These are people whom chefs want to impress and who routinely get the best tables and the best service-these are the people you want at your dinner table. Not only are they your insider's ticket to the culinary cognoscenti circle, they are also passionate teachers who give illuminating demonstrations throughout the tour and take you to find the best jamon, the best lobster, and the best cheeses the country has to offer.
The tour, however, is not just about food. The accommodations are luxurious. You stay at only the most fabulous hotels. Some of the highlights didn't even have anything to do with food. If you go on your own, try not to miss a private plane ride over the "12 Apostles"-12 stunning rock formations off the south-eastern coast on the way to King Island, home to award winning cheeses, fabulous seafood and fantastic beach views. Also don't miss the wild kangaroos that hang out in the golf courses on the way to Sunnybrae, George Biron's home, farm and former restaurant in some of the most beautiful, unspoiled countryside left in the world. And don't forget to take a boat ride with local dolphins on your way back to Melbourne from wine tastings at local vineyards. Or, just sign up for the tour, relax, and let Meera, George and Melissa guide you through a trip to remember."
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Reviewer: Jackie Chasey
located in
New York,
NY
USA
My Tour de Forks culinary adventure was a foodie dream come true. Of course, the Tour de Forks team arranged every detail to please the most sophisticated, discriminating traveler-that was expected, although probably shouldn't have been taken for granted-but what was unique about this trip was the access to experiences you could never have traveling on your own unless you're a celebrity or restaurant royalty.
My fellow travelers were a diverse lot, interesting, accomplished and extremely congenial, and our small group felt like a bunch of friends enjoying each other's company and not like everyone's stereotype of a tour group. I'm sure this was due largely to our tour organizers and guide who did an amazing job of taking individual needs and preferences into account and dealing with every situation with humor and the utmost flexibility.
I will travel with Tour de Forks again, and I recommend it without reservation to anyone who loves food and wine and wants a luxurious, informative and uniquely pleasurable vacation experience.
Special information
- This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
Itinerary
Day 1 - Venice - Bacari tour– Arrival in Venice and private transfer by water taxi to Hotel Flora just behind St. Marks Square. In the late afternoon you'll meet with our guide-sommelier for a Bacari tour. Bacaro, the Venetian version of a wine bar, serve tapas called cicheti which are traditionally consumed with a glass of wine. Venetians stop to snack and socialize before and after meals. Sampling various bacari, you'll learn about the people of Venice and the lifestyle of a community of pedestrians!Day 2 - Cooking lesson - Venetian Masks Atelier– Breakfast at the hotel. Your hands-on cooking class is held in a private apartment near the Grand Canal, and lasts four hours, including lunch. You'll prepare dishes from a regional, seasonal menu, and you'll talk with the cook about different aspects of the local cuisine. This afternoon, you will vist a mask atelier. In the eighteenth century, Venice was renowned for the most famous Carnival in the world. Every social class experienced Carnival, a time of amusement, transgression and creativity. The mask maker from the Tragicomica Atelier will tell you the history of Venetian masks over the centuries; the reasons why people loved disguising themselves, and show you Venetian masks which are still produced according to tradition.
Day 3 - Rialto Market - Fish cooking demonstration - Gondola Yard– Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you'll begin with a visit to the Rialto fruit and vegetable market, and the fish market, the best for variety and freshness. Your guide will take you across the Grand Canal by a gondola to reach the Cannaregio district, where chef Massimo will demonstrate how the fish is cleaned, and the best way to enhance its natural flavors. Lunch will be based on the day's catch.You'll also meet the President of the Rialto Fish mongers, who works in the restaurant. The menu may include: an Adriatic seafood dish including Lagoon crabs, baby octopus, Venetian cod and shrimps, homemade egg pasta with Scampi and peas and finally, Sea Bass fillet with vegetable ratatouille.
After lunch you'll visit a Gondola yard. The Tramontin gondola yard dates from the 19th century. On the occasion of King Vittorio Emanuele's visit to Venice, Domenico Tramontin was asked to make a traditional gondola for his family, which is today displayed in the Doge's Palace courtyard. The master in charge, Roberto Tramontin, will explain the history and features of this unique boat, designed exclusively for Venetian canals.
Day 4 - Departure– Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer by water taxi to Venice airport or train station
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