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Culinary Tours
The Tuscan Table in the Autumn: Truffles
Tuscany Italy
November 10-17,2013
View a slide show about the trip to Tuscany, Italy
Our sojourn in Tuscany is an opportunity to experience truffles— rare and precious with its’ intoxicating aroma, a hidden treasure at the height of the season. The trip includes an early morning truffle hunt, cooking classes, and visits to small boutique wineries. The olive harvest will be in process at this time too. You’ll learn how to evaluate extra-virgin olive oil. We’ll visit small producers of artisan foods of the region. There will be several hands-on cooking classes that focus on the best of Tuscan cuisine, using local ingredients from the villa and our daily trips. Tuscany in the fall is special -the end of the grape harvest and the beginning of the olive harvest. It is a foodie paradise. Nowhere else in Italy, offers the spectacular scenery, incredible food and wines in such a compact area. Most importantly you will meet the people of Italy – the true heart of the country.
8 days of la dolce vita is limited to 10 guests.
This is an experience you don’t want to miss. Share it with your spouse, friend, child, sibling, or parent, or come solo.
Accommodations
Located in the Florence hills in the Chianti area, and set in an olive grove and vineyards, is a luxurious villa dating from the 1300's. This will be our home base for the week. This was Domitilla's (the owner) grandparents' summer home. It has been beautifully maintained and modernized. There are great views and plenty of room to relax in and around the villa. The villa is near the town of Impruneta.
Sunday November 10-Aperitivo and Antipasti
Independent arrival in Florence. Pick up at airport or train station and transfer to our villa in Impruneta in the afternoon.
* Benvenuto--Aperitivo with antipasti. Welcome and introduction to villa, guests and program
* Dinner at villa prepared by Julie and assistants(local wines included)
Monday November 11-Hands-on Pasta Cooking class & Olive oil tasting
* Hands-on cooking class with Julie at the villa in the morning
* Lunch at villa based on the cooking class menu(local wines included)
* Cellar tour and wine tasting at villa
* Olive oil tasting at Torre Rossa
* Free time in Impruneta shopping specialty foods and textiles.
* Hands-on cooking class with Julie at the villa
* Fall dinner at villa based on the cooking class menu, (local wines included)
Tuesday November 12-Market Tour of Florence--cooking and eating
*Morning visit the food markets of Florence
*Lunch in Florence
*Hands on cooking class at the villa
*Light seasonal dinner at villa based on the cooking class menu(local wines included)
Wednesday November 13-Greve, Saffron and Chianti
* Tour and tasting of Chianti wines and visit Antica Macelleria Falorni
* Lunch, wine and olive oil tasting, tour at a farm estate in the center of Chianti
*Free time in Greve
*Light seasonal dinner at villa based on the cooking class menu(local wines included)
Thursday November 14-Certaldo hands on cooking class and truffle hunt
*Certaldo-Truffle hunt, cooking class and lunch.
* Free time to explore Certaldo
* Dinner at villa based on the cooking class menu(local wines included)
Friday November 15-Florentine Bistecca dinner in Panzano
* Hands-on cooking class with Julie at the villa
* Light lunch at villa based on the cooking class menu(local wine included)
* Panzano-visit Antica Macelleria Cecchini dinner at Officina della Bistecca grilled Florentine bistecca over hardwood coals.(local wine included)
Saturday November 16-Truffle Fair
* San Miniato Truffle Fair-lunch on your own
* Farewell dinner at villa(local wines included)
Sunday November 17-Departures and Good byes
After breakfast transportation provided to Florence airport or train station.
HIGHLIGHTS
• Week-long immersion in Tuscan food traditions. Learning about truffles, extra-virgin olive oil, Chianti wine, saffron, and cheese.
• Truffle hunt
• Wine tastings
• Truffle cooking class in Certaldo with local chef
• Cooking classes with Julie at the villa
• Visit to a local cheese maker
• Visit to a local olive oil producer
• 7 nights accommodation at villa, with en-suite bathroom
• All meals (including local wine), travel services with the tour itinerary, service charges and VAT
Please note that accommodations for special food needs may not be possible.
PRICING
Price per person based on double occupancy:
$4,200 for participants in the full program sharing a double room
$3,800 for a spouse or friend participating in all activities except cooking lessons at villa.
$600 Single supplement
Alternatively....
You can reserve your own private Tuscan Table trip from $4,200 per person based on a minimum of 6 people for 8 days/7 nights
Deposits and Payment Information
A deposit of $1500 per person is required. A reservation will not be considered confirmed until we receive the deposit and reservation form.
This is an experience you don’t want to miss. Share it with your spouse, friend, child, sibling, or parent, or come solo.
Please note that accommodations for special food needs may not be possible.
To register download the form, fill it out, and return it to Julie at julie@cookingwithjulie.com or by US mail to P.O. Box 5412, Napa, California 94581.
Passports & Visas
A valid passport is required of all participants. It must be valid at least six months after date of return to the U.S. The name on your reservation must match the name on your passport. Non-U.S. citizens must consult with the appropriate consulates to determine if any visas are needed.
It is suggested that all passengers, regardless of the passport they hold, check with the appropriate consulates of the countries being visited to determine if any visas are needed.