Arrive at your accommodations in the afternoon. Settle in and unpack knowing you will not have to repack for the entire week. Ward off jet lag with a quick walk to the many specialty shops in Piazza Maggiore, which is steps away from our hotel, and perhaps grab your first gelato for the week. In the evening, we will meet for our first group activity. After a wine tasting, we will enjoy our first taste of real authentic Bolognese cuisine during our group dinner at a carefully selected restaurant.

We kick off our week in Emilia Romagna by introducing you to the indisputable king of cheeses, Parmigiano Reggiano! In the morning, we will visit a dairy farm that produces cheeses to some of the local restaurants. With a small production of only a few wheels a day, this producer is a true artisan. We will learn the entire process from production, to aging to finally tasting. We will also taste some still-warm ricotta, as well as other cheese products. After having our first taste of Emilia Romagna, we move on to its second most prized product, Balsamic Vinegar of Modena. We will walk through the vineyards and learn the different types of grapes used to make this prestigious product. After an overview of its production process, we will sample the product, learning a special technique used by the pros.

But the day is not over yet, after learning all about Parmigiano and Traditional Balsamic, we move on to lunch on an agriturismo, where will enjoy some homemade local pasta. After lunch, we move on and visit a Lambrusco Winery. After a tour of the vineyards, we will spend the afternoon leisurely in the area.

In the morning, we will get to know our host city, Bologna, during a wonderful city tour of this often misunderstood and under-visited city. Our trusted native guide, whom we’ve had the pleasure of working with before, will show us around her beloved city and point out all the major attractions such as Piazza Maggiore, Basilica di San Petronio, Neptune Fountain, City Hall and the Twin Towers, which were the inspiration for the fallen towers in NYC.

The afternoon is sure to please all senses as we learn to make local specialty dishes such as tagliatelle, tortelloni and other renowned pastas dishes which this region is known for. We will also learn to make Ragù alla Bolognese from a traditional recipe. After our hands-on class, we will enjoy the fruits of our labor with a few glasses of local wine.

Now that we’ve sampled the Parmigiano and Balsamic, and prepared and ate a few local dishes like tortelloni, it’s time to visit a prosciuttoficio, and learn all there is to learn about prosciutto, one of Emilia Romagna’s staple products. We will learn a bit of its history, the breeding practices and how this iconic cured ham is prepared. Generous samples of Prosciutto and other cured products will be offered, so you can learn and compare flavors.

After all the bounty of samples, a light lunch will be served at a local trattoria. Enjoy the afternoon on your own in Bologna, walking off the day’s calories.

Today, grab your walking shoes and reserve some of the breakfast calories for what is sure to be a walk like none others.  A ​walking foodie tour of Bologna is scheduled for this morning and you’re about to eat your way through Bologna’s historic center. The day starts by visiting the only remaining fruit and vegetable market around. After visiting the stands, we move on to historic delicatessens, bakeries and other specialty shops. Enjoy a Piadina, a local flatbread, filled with various cuts of deli and cheeses. Learn the history of tortellini in brodo and the famous Ragu’, which you now know how to make yourself! But no walking foodie tour would be complete without dessert. The area’s most iconic desserts will be sampled, such as a specialty rice cake and the addicting chocolate salami.

In the afternoon, you will have some time on your own to explore the city before we head towards a group dinner.

May is a beautiful month in Italy and the fields are bountiful with herbs, edible flowers and produce that’s going to be our base for our final cooking class. Today, we visit a dear friend in her private renovated farmhouse and we head in the fields in the hills of Bologna for a farm-to-table cooking class that is not only delicious but also educational. Learn how these herbs were once, and still today, used for medicinal purposes, prepare a delicious lunch with natural ingredients found in the yard, provided by mother earth. Get back in touch with nature, cook, enjoy quality time and appreciate the local natural beauty.

Our time in Bologna is winding down and by this time, we’ve eaten our way through the food capital of Italy. Today, you’ll enjoy some time on your own to shop, visit a museum or simply enjoy Italy’s Dolce Vita by relaxing in Piazza Maggiore.

A delicious final farewell is planned for our last evening together.

The week in Bologna is winding down. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before checking out.