Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Culinary Immersion
September 2026
"To put a freshly made meal on the table, even if it is something very plain and simple as long as it tastes good and is not a ready-to-eat something bought at the store, is a sincere expression of affection, it is an act of binding intimacy directed at whoever has a welcome place in your heart".
— Marcela Hazan
Emilia-Romagna is the culinary destination of Italy. The land of Modena, Massimo Boturra, Parmigiana Reggiano, Balsamic vinegar, Parma ham, and so much more. Often overlooked, this region boasts delicacies that you find nowhere else, and that are protected by dozens of organisations that deem the ins and outs of what makes good food…great.
This was the first trip we organized outside of the South of France, way back in the ‘before times’ in 2029. In the time that has passed since our first adventure in the region, we have built partnerships with a number of small, family-owned producers that we cannot wait to share with you. Let us walk you through racks of millions of dollars of Parmigiano Reggiano and Prosciutto. Taste Balsamic vinegar where it’s aged in a family attic in Modena, and taste the pastas and breads of the region, fresh from the fire/cook pot. Each step of this journey is bathed in culinary delights.
While this trip is a bit more excursion-heavy than some of our other trips, we will have plenty of time to celebrate and learn more about these storied food traditions while crafting our own culinary creations through the lens of the Courageous Cooking Method.
Back at our sweet farmhouse, tucked in the rolling hills, you’ll learn to craft handmade pastas, stuffed pastas, ALL the pastas, and with different sauces, all while learning our Courageous Cooking Methodology that will have you cooking from the hip. The outdoor kitchen also features an authentic wood-fire oven where you’ll make the most perfect pizzas, and more! We’ll experiment with whatever foods capture your imagination to show just how many things are possible in a high temperature oven. You’ll also be the honored guests at our friend’s winery for a day of feasting alfresco unlike any other. You’ll explore it all and return home cooking intuitively like an Italian grandmother!
Everything (except souvenirs) is included:
-
![]()
Accommodations
You simply pick the room of your choice, and we handle the rest. Your investment includes five nights and six days in a renovated Italian farmhouse tucked into the countryside outside of Parma. The newly renovated rooms feel infinitely modern & luxurious, but still charming. It’s the perfect setting for the Dolce Vita. With horses, donkeys, and ample acres to roam; your home away from home will be the talk of your year.
-
![]()
All meals and beverages
All meals and beverages (including alcohol and alcohol-free alternatives) from arrival dinner to departure breakfast are included. Discover fun new things, like what we call Jelly Jar Wine, with a label that looks like Smuckers, to local Lambrusco! You will eat some of the best meals of your life, including meals out and about. This week is focused on slow food, and friendship in rural Italy.
-
![]()
Italian Cooking Classes
This experience is focused on learning to cook from the hip, the Italian way. You’ll learn to cook pasta from scratch including ravioi hand-rolled and machine rolled; you’ll master the art of Italian sauces; desserts; learn to cook over an open fire; and we’ll tackle pizza. Classes are taught by our instructors as well as locals.
-
![Explore Parma's Gastronomy]()
Explore Parma's Gastronomy
Birthplace of Italy’s top 3 culinary all-stars… Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto, and Balsamic Vinegar! We'll go behind the scenes to see how they each are made. We’ll also spend a dreamy day at a winery, shop at local markets, make heaps of handmade pasta, and explore the world of truffles!
-
![]()
All Ground Transportation
Once you’ve booked your room, and found flights to Milan Malpensa Airport or train tickets to Fidenza Train Station?
We take care of the rest. Our fleet of vehicles are all comfortable, and nothing larger than an 8 passenger van. No buses here!
Your Home for the Week: Casa dei Cavalli
Casa dei Cavalli is a charming restored farmhouse in the countryside surrounded by farmland and lovely old estates. The farmhouse is the kind of place that quickly feels like part of you, as if you’ve been coming here for years. We love to fill it with our favorite friends (and make new ones!) and up until now it was actually by invitation only for returning guests as a special opportunity to dive deep into Italian gastronomy. This is a special place where time moves more slowly, where everything is just slightly upscale and we get to spend time with people who truly love food, especially really delicious Italian food.
The farmhouse itself has gorgeous rooms and suites each of them unique and each with a rustic, yet highly elegant charm. Let us know what you’re after and we will take care of you! To secure a room for this trip, click through to Book Now and you will be given available options to choose from to fit the size of your group.
The farmhouse also features a gorgeous teaching kitchen. Not to be outdone, the outdoors here also shine. With horses, donkeys, and so much more on the property it is truly a one-of-a-kind find. We spend most of our time outside— when we are not out on delicious excursions— in the outdoor kitchen, using a wood fired grill and generous alfresco space, which is a culinary delight. An expansive covered patio, with a lounge and ample places to hide away, surrounded by the beautiful grounds, and sparkling swimming pool, patrolled occasionally by a few neighbor cats. Here we cook, we learn, we create, we laugh, a lot. We make homemade pastas, the sauces, the veggies, the desserts, and keep coming up with even more things we can cook in the wood-fired oven. Once you learn about Jelly Jam Wine (not made from jelly nor jam), you’re basically family. Benvenuto!
Amuse Bouche:
Some of What You’ll Do, See, Cook, and Eat
-
![]()
Parma Ham
You’ll visit a family-run, multi-generational business that makes the inimitable ham that this region is known for. With only three ingredients–time, salt, & pork–this ancient product of the region is the Bella of the ball.
-
![]()
A Local Goose Restaurant
We’re regulars here, and have been working with the owners for over 7 years. This little tucked away Osteria makes every single thing they make daily. They are famous for the goose products including a number of goose charcuterie items.
-
![]()
Master Pasta by Hand
This experience is focused on learning to cook from the hip, the Italian way. You’ll learn to cook pasta from scratch including ravioi hand-rolled and machine rolled; you’ll master the art of Italian sauces; desserts; learn to cook over an open fire; and we’ll tackle pizza. Classes are taught by our instructors as well as locals.
-
![Parmesan Cheese]()
Parmigiano Reggiano...Of Course
Parma is the birthplace to many of Italy’s all-stars. The most important just might be Parmgiano Reggiano. We’ll visit our friends who have been making Parmigiano Reggiano for eons. We’ll see it made, we’ll taste different kinds. And yes….You can take some home with you.
-
![]()
Vineyard Feast Amid the Vines
Each of our trips is finished off with what we call the ‘final flourish’. A day where we don’t cook, and get to integrate into the local food scene. During this trip, we visit a small-production winery with a view that is to die for. The rest? We’ll leave a surprise.
-
![]()
Fire Cooking
We’ll cover Pizza, in a portable oven so you can take the skill home without the fuss of fire-building. And wood fired, Italian-style open fire cooking in a wood-fired grill that is unique to the region.
Due to this trip’s popularity, we offer two weeks to choose from.
September 27 - October 3, 2026
September 20 - 26, 2026
Meet your Instructors & Hospitalians
Kendall Lane
Culinary Lead
Makenna Held
Hospitality Assistant
Mai-ya Mersereau
Hospitality Lead
*subject to change due to health, staffing, etc. This is our current staffing for this experience. We don’t offer refunds for changes of staff
Curiosities and FAQs
(pssst…you can also chat with us. Click the green chat icon to ask anything you’re heart longs to know)
-
Everything but flights. All of our trips are all-inclusive, from when you arrive until you depart, we will take care of you in style!
You are responsible only for getting yourself here and home. We take care of all the accommodations, meals, drinks, tours, gratuities, transportation, cooking lessons, and excursions; with lots of laughter to boot. -
You’ll book your flights in and out of Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP) or if you are traveling beforehand, you can make your way to the Fidenza train station, which is closest to our villa. We will meet you there and take care of everything else.
Arrival. Plan to arrive by 3pm to Milan Malpensa if you’d like pickup. Or, arrive to the train station by 4pm.Departure. Book a departure flight that leaves no earlier than noon, as we will need to drive an hour to the airport, plus you’ll need time to be there ahead. We are also happy to take you to the train station if you plan to extend your trip elsewhere in Italy.
-
We will meet you at the airport in Milan or train station in Fidenza and take care of you from there!
For the curious, we will be driving to the sweetest restored farmhouse in the Parma countryside. It will be our home base for cooking classes, relaxation, and our deep dive into Italian delicacies through our bespoke excursions across the week.
-
Whatever brings you joy! Italians love casual elegance, and we are very much come as who you are. We suggest comfortable walking shoes for our excursions, but none of these are challenging walks. We will only have 1 or 2 times where you might want something nicer than your casual day clothes, a nice meal out, for example, at a winery.
-
In September, Emilia-Romagna typically experiences mild and pleasant weather. The average daytime temperatures usually range from about 79°F to 63°F. Really wonderful weather.
In November, the weather cools with autumn, and daytime temperatures are usually between 55°F to 41°F. While the weather is colder, it's still a charming time to visit, especially for those interested in experiencing the region's fall beauty and culinary delights of that season.
No matter when you come, Bring a layer for rain and for evenings.
-
You should be able to navigate some stairs, and walk through a cheese factory for example. There are stairs in the villa to get up to the bedrooms. Of course, we will carry your bags for you.
-
Yes to both! In Italy there is wine, but there will always be non-alcoholic options available as well. Non-drinking is on the rise and we enjoy providing fun alternative drinks. The winery visit will still be fascinating and beautiful, for the landscapes, history, food, and interesting artisan process.
-
We are able to accommodate any dietary restriction or preference. Once your booking is confirmed, we will be communicating with you and will ask about any dietary restrictions.
-
All of them are over at this link.
But in short-terms: no refunds, we recommend travel insurance, don’t be a jerk and we’ll get along well, and be kind to your fellow travellers.