September 25-October 3, 2010

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Saturday September 25th - Arrival

Vanessa and Rosetta will pick you up at Lamezia Terme International Airport at 5 p.m. Our well-equipped luxury van takes us to our first stop to Hotel San Lorenzo in Camigliatello Silano, about an hour away. Enjoy a traditional Italian dinner and meet fellow tour members. During the meal, I’ll discuss what to expect in the coming days of our Calabrian tour, and answer all your questions.

Sunday September 26th – Mushroom Hunting

The day starts with a mushroom-hunting excursion. You’ll spend the day in the Sila woods, hunting for porcini mushrooms, the prized Italian varietal for which Calabria is the main producer in Italy. Bring comfortable shoes and be prepared to hike a little. Enjoy your picnic lunch al fresco before heading back to your hotel. Later, you’ll learn how to clean and prepare the fruits of your labor, wrapping up the day with dinner at Ristorante La Tavernetta, renowned for its scrumptious mushroom dishes.

Monday September 27th – Artisan Products and Cooking Class

Before we leave La Sila, learn about its remarkable cheese and prestigious salumi. The region is the home of Caciocavallo Silano, a DOP certified cow’s milk cheese named for the way it straddles (a cavallo) a piece of wood. We will also get to see other cheeses in production, including mozzarella, and taste all the cheeses produced in the region. We will tour a salumi factory, peeking into the curing cellars to view famous Calabrian salami, followed by a taste. For lunch we head to Santa Severina, where a Norman castle overlooking the sea gives us a first look of the Ionic coast. We will check in at the lovely Fattoria il Borghetto farmhouse. Later, dive into a cooking class in the superb kitchens of the guesthouse, as we prepare the evening meal of Covatelli con Sugo di Maiale (homemade pasta with pork sauce), Alici Arriganati (fresh anchovies with breadcrumbs), and Patate e Peperoni (potatoes and peppers). Wrap up the day with a relaxing dinner.

Tuesday September 28th- Crotone’s Market and Farm Day

In the morning, we’ll head to the ancient Greek city of Crotone on the east coast of Calabria. Enjoy a typical Italian breakfast of a pastry roll and a cappuccino at one of the traditional cafes near the town’s classic market. Walk through the downtown fish market and the produce markets and admire the local bounty. Enjoy a light seafood lunch before heading to Dattilo. One of Calabria’s most renowned estates, Dattilo not only hosts the region’s best restaurant, but also is home to an extensive organic farm, a vineyard, and an olive grove that produces a tasty extra virgin olive oil. Enjoy the estate’s hospitality by sampling its excellent olive oils and wines. We will attend a cooking demonstration of some of the dishes we will eat at dinner.

Wednesday September 29th – Wine, Culture and Tour

Driving north along the coast, we head to the winemaking region of Cirò, home of Calabria’s most prized wines. Stop at the Librandi winery for a tour and wine tasting. Lunch on traditional products at my favorite restaurant, Max Trattoria, in Cirò’s marina, and try sardella, Calabria’s caviar. In the afternoon, we head further north to Rossano, one of Calabria’s centers of Byzantine civilization. Visit the local museum to admire the Codex Purpureus, a unique Gospel handwritten in the 6th Century on red parchment paper, believed to be the oldest illustrated manuscript of the New Testament. Tour the Amarelli Factory, famous for its licorice. Taste licorice products and shop in the factory store for gifts to take home. In the afternoon, arrive in Cetraro, on the west coast. Check in at Grand Hotel San Michele, high on a cliff overlooking the sea, and have dinner at one of the restaurants there, sampling regional specialties made from organic food grown in the surrounding garden.

Thursday September 30th- Cooking Class and Shopping

Enjoy a leisurely pace today. Gather in the late morning for a cooking class at the hotel, using fresh vegetables grown on the property’s farm. We will have lunch on the dishes we prepare. After lunch we will show you around Diamante, known as the “City of Murals”, where you can shop for foods made with the local citrus and peperoncino. Then we’ll head to La Taverna del Conte restaurant for a seafood dinner prepared with the local catch of the day.

Friday October 1st – Figs and Gelato

Heading south on the west coast, we stop in Amantea to visit the Colavolpe Factory, maker of exquisitely packaged confections based on dried figs. After lunch in Amantea, head to the piazza of the town of Pizzo to eat a local specialty, tartufo gelato. Before dinner we’ll arrive at the Porto Pirgos resort, near Tropea. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the sea, take a stroll on the white sand beach or swim in the pool with its view of the Mediterranean. Dine at Casa Janca, the home of Signora Rita Callipo, who will delight you with her classic Calabrian dishes.

Saturday October 2nd – Tropea Cooking Class

For our last full day of activities, we will head to the beautiful seaside town of Tropea and shop or just enjoy the views. After a light lunch, we will have gained our right to enjoy the premises of our wonderful hotel and relax. Later in the afternoon, we will attend a cooking class at a local agriturismo and enjoy the specialties of the area, including the prize-winning red onions and ‘nduja sausage for which this area is famous.

Sunday October 3rd - Departures

After breakfast, the shuttle takes you to the Lamezia Terme International Airport for your return flight to a gateway city.