Slow Food ~ Fast Cars™

Join Chef Mario in the heart of Modena, set between green rolling hills, verdant landscapes, and the Po River, for six delicious days of cooking, culture, and Ferrari cars. Tie on your aprons as Chef Mario takes you on an authentic hands-on culinary adventure in Emilia Romagna. Discover the traditional cuisine of Modena – tortelloni, Parmigiano Reggiano and balsamico, as you sip Pignoletto, DOC, sparkling white wine, in the land of Ferrari cars and the birthplace of Luciano Pavarotti, Italy’s iconic opera tenor.

Modena Cooking Classes

Join Chef Mario in his professional kitchen and learn how to make homemade tortelloni and tagliatelle. You will prepare delicate sheets of pasta, then fold, cut, and stuff.  Learn how to prepare traditional sauces of Emilia Romagna including Bolognese ragù, a slow-cooked tomato and meat sauce, seasonal vegetables, or traditional veal broth. Chef Mario also shows you how to make tigella, traditional rounds of bread made in a pan, and gnocco fritto, small flash-fried pillows of dough enjoyed with Prosciutto Di Parma ham, and bubbly Lambrusco, red wine. Chef Mario leads in a hands-on pizza-making class using high-quality ingredients topped with tomato, artisan cheese, and Prosciutto. Each guest will mix, knead, and work the dough to create delicious pizza fired in a wood-burning oven with a toast of wine.

Each cooking class includes the preparation traditional full-course lunch or dinner, using local, seasonal ingredients with local wine. Following each cooking class, everyone enjoys the food prepared in class by the pool (weather permitting) or on the terrace with local white or red wine.

Modena

The region of Emilia-Romagna is rich in its natural land resources and is home to the fertile plains of the Po River Valley, which produces much of the country’s wheat and dairy products. Modena is also home to the precious and aged Balsamico and Ferrari sports cars. Take your tastebuds on a ride and enjoy balsamico drizzled over Parmesan Reggiano, thinly sliced Prosciutto di Parma, and Pecorino cheese. When you’re not cooking and dining, discover the land of fast cars at the Ferrari Museum.  This museum wows car enthusiasts as it tells the story of Italian sports cars.   Modena is also rich with art, and history and filled with elegant museums, libraries, monuments, and theaters.

Discover the Palazzo Ducale, built by Roman architect Bartolomeo Avanzini. The Palazzo housed the Este Court for more than two centuries and is now the headquarters of the Italian Military Academy. Visit the the Galleria Estense, and the Estense Gallery for a historic tour of the town. This gallery is home to Italy’s most important art collections and highlights the interest of the Este Dynasty, not solely in painting and sculpture, but in archeology and traditional arts and crafts.

Bologna

Discover Bologna, a short drive from Modena, and delve into this gorgeous city protected by an ancient medieval wall.  Bologna is nicknamed La Citta Grasse, the fat city, thanks to its delicious hearty cuisine.  It’s also known as La Dotta, the learned one because it’s home to the first university dating back to 1088. It’s also called La Rossa, the red one, because of its red rooftops.  Throughout the four seasons,  Visit Palazzo D’Accursio, Palazzo del Podestà, and the Basilica di San Petronio. From Piazza Maggiore, discover Via Pescherie Vecchie, a narrow street that slices through Quadrilatero, to Bologna’s oldest market and shop till you drop while tasting artisan foods of the region – think Prosciutto, Parmigiano, and Lambrusco wine.  Bologna is always a dreamy and delicious destination for everyone.

Parma

The charming city of Parma is a must on every traveler’s list. Originally a Roman colony, the city still displays traces of Roman architecture along its streets and palazzos. From monuments to museums, it kept its deep-rooted food traditions. Parma is renowned for its Prosciutto Di Parma, a salted cured ham whose production is serious and highly controlled. Parma’s delicious cuisine, from tagliatelle to tortelloni, along with its art and history continue to tempt every visitor!

Modena Accommodations

Set in the rolling hills of Emilia-Romagna, the privately owned country farmhouse is the perfect place to unwind while being very close to Modena, Bologna, and Parma. Check-in and relax in your spacious elegant room with views overlooking rolling green fields and magical rivers.  Each room is furnished with a blend of modern accents and period details along with comfortable bedding and fine Italian linens. Spacious marble ensuite baths include handmade artisan soaps scented with olive oils to make your stay relaxing. Rooms also have functioning fireplaces, a minibar, fresh fruit, and wine.

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Itinerary: 6 Days, 5 Nights

Day 1: Arrival & Chef’s Welcome Dinner

• Arrival and check-in at the property.
• Meet your host and relax by the swimming pool (weather permitting) overlooking the hillside of Modena.
• Later in the evening, enjoy your Welcome Dinner prepared by Chef Mario featuring traditional Modena cuisine– handmade tagliatelle with seasonal sauces, thinly rolled tortellini stuffed with meat and served in broth, and main courses such as culatello the prince of Italian sausage, zampone, another traditional sausage, or grass-fed steak. Vegetarian options are always available.  End your dinner with a delicious dessert such as torta di tagliatelle, an Emilia Romagna cake, paired with a glass of Pignoletto.

Day 2: Discover Modena and Parma

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, meet your driver and English-speaking guide for a full-day excursion to Parma and Modena.  Explore this magical city– home to Luciano Pavarotti, Italy’s legendary operatic tenor. Stroll the historic cobblestone streets and visit the Mercato Albinelli, one of Italy’s oldest and pristine indoor marketplace brimming with artisan vendors selling fruit, vegetables, cheese, meat, fish, wine, and precious treasures from the region.  Following your visit to Modena, continue to Parma.  In Parma, visit the majestic Cathedral, Piazza Grande, and Torre Civica. Take time out for a gelato or wine.  Following the excursion, return to the property with your driver.
•In the evening, dinner is on your own with suggestions provided.

Day 3:  Visit the Ferrari Museum & Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served
• Following breakfast, meet your driver for an excursion to Maranello to visit the Ferrari Museum and delve into the history of Italy’s famous car, you can opt to even drive one yourself! Buckle in and drive a Ferrari with an expert pilot.  Take the road of Emilia Romagna and experience Italy’s most famous racing car experience.
•Following your excursion, return to the property with your driver.
• In the early evening, tie on our aprons, and head into the kitchen with Chef Mario for Cooking Class 1. Work alongside the chef to prepare traditional Emilia-Romagna’s best-loved pasta with sauces– including handmade tortelloni and tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce.  Following the class, everyone enjoys the food made in the class with a taste of local wine.

Day 4:  Parmigiano Reggiano & Balsamic Tour with Tastings & Cooking Class 3

• Homemade breakfast is served.
• Discover the art of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Visit this award-winning dairy farm, learn how this precious cheese is made, and sample fresh ricotta and Parmigiano Reggiano along the way.
• After the tour, continue to a special artisan maker of aged balsamico.  Visit the property, and learn about the aged balsamico with tastings included.  Following the tour, return to the property.
• In the evening, tie on your apron and join Chef Mario’s in his master class where you’ll learn how to make Italian pizza and traditional gnocco fritto, small flash-fried pillows of dough often served with balsamico and Prosciutto di Parma ham.
• Following the class, everyone enjoys the food made in the class with a taste of local wine.

Day 4:   Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served.
• Relax by the pool, trek in the green hills, and explore the lush green gardens.  Later in the afternoon, tie on your aprons for cooking class 2.
• Join Chef Mario in crafting traditional Modena cuisine featuring tigella, traditional bread made in a pan. Following the class, everyone enjoys the food made in the class with a taste of local wine.

Day 6: Check out & Arrivederci

• Homemade breakfast is served.
• Check out and Arrivederci!