Top Emilia-Romagna Food & Drink

Come be part of the family as you learn how to cook a homemade meal inside a local’s cozy home. In this hands-on class, learn how to prepare a typical Bolognese pasta, a side dish, and an Italian dessert from scratch. Your hosts—a mother and son culinary team—love to entertain and cook with regional foods that showcase the local terroir.

Villa Venti offers a 360-degree experience with the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the company's business. You will join us by taking part in the life of our company starting from the activity in our vineyard (with the possibility of harvesting in the period of late August / September), after which you will meet Manuela who will accompany you in the kitchen learning the recipes of our tradition (piadina , homemade pasta, etc.), finally you will taste our wines together with Mauro or Beatrice combined with the traditional dishes of our territory prepared by you. Get ready to live in close contact with nature and the habits of Villa Venti, to be curious, ready to slow down your pace to follow those of the countryside.

We offer an authentic 'Italian' experience, most of the times guided by the owner and wine producers themselves Fabio (English speaking) and Donatella. Manaresi is a relatively small family run and craft wine estate (50.000 bottles). You'll be discovering the family heritage, strongly related to art and design. The labels design has been awarded with main international prizes.

It is an excursion in contact with nature with the help of the pedal-assisted bicycle very useful in times of tiredness. Suitable for everyone, it allows you to see the village of Fontanellato Castle and the Cistercian Abbey of Fontevivo. Tasting with typical Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano cured meats is planned along the way. In case of need (mechanical breakdowns and / or punctures) our technicians are ready to intervene and recover travelers.

The perfect tour to get deep into the several features of our mountain Appennines: history and art, natural beauties and moreover food, plenty of tastes and combinations, able to bring onto the table the climate, the nature, and the knowhow of this land. More in details, it is a tasting tour to discover real authotenic flavors of Bologna's mountain area: you will see up close how Parmigiano Reggiano is made: the processing and maturing of this fine cheese, in a traditional mountain dairy. You will take part in a basic cooking class, and will have lunch with the excellences of the territory included those produced by yourselves :) at the same time, you will get acquaintance with the raw materials of this mountain territory. Inside a 17th century you will observe the milling of several different kinds grains, you will smell the old scents of this preindustrial baking system, and you will taste these fresh delicacies. Finally we will not miss the beauties of this land....

Taste local specialties and delve into Parma’s renowned culinary scene during this small-group, half-day food crawl. Make five gourmet stops for sweet and savory samples, including cured meats, local pastas, and freshly made desserts, paired with wines and espresso. You’ll also taste Prosciutto di Parma, resulting in a full lunch.

Embark on a journey into Modena’s history, culture and delicious food scene. Meet the proud families and fascinating stories behind food with our local guides. Taste and learn everything about Italian iconic food like Parmigiano Reggiano and Balsamic vinegar of Modena on a small-group tour limited to 8 people.

Explore the culinary traditions of Bologna with this half-day food tour. Join a guide for a small-group walking tour and taste local specialties such as Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, Bolognese ragu, and mortadella. Begin the tour with a gourmet coffee, visit markets, and meet artisans at work to see how tortellini are made. Lunch at a historic osteria and a gelato tasting are included.

Treat your hungry self to a food tour of Bologna, and discover why the city is known for its love of gastronomy. With a local guide, you’ll savor breakfast, then sample fresh pasta, balsamic vinegar, cheese, wine, gelato, and even a secret dish—to be revealed on the tour. Explore the city by foot in between tastings, and learn about Bologna and its food heritage through the tour. Just let the local supplier know in advance if you have special dietary requirements.

This tour will provide you with an experience above and beyond tasting some of the best Italian food in places where locals enjoy dining. A combination of flavorful ingredients, local produce, old-world knowledge and a centuries-old passion for food is why Bologna is the country's culinary capital. As a private tour, everything works around you! Our start times are much more easy going, dates can open up. It's a much more intimate and cozy experience. No need to shout over other tourists, you will have every question answered, and leave feeling like a native yourself!

Enjoy a private and authentic cooking class in a local home with host Silvia, a tour guide since 2000 who learned how to cook from her grandmother. This is a perfect experience for anyone looking to connect with local culture over food. Your cooking class will take place in a local home kitchen where Silvia will teach you how to make 2-3 traditional Italian dishes from their family recipes. After cooking, you will enjoy your meal together in your host's home in Ravenna. • Pasta making and cooking lesson in a local home • Introduction to Italy's say culture and cuisine • 100% private activity • Experience Italian hospitality in a residential Emilia Romagna neighborhood • Vegetarian and gluten free options available

Meet Michele at the Tenuta la Riva winery for your fun wine adventure! During this wine tour, discover how wine is made, white, red and sparkling wine. Learn about where the colors and bubbles come from and how to judge the quality of wine by understanding its body and how it relates to the regions that each wine originates from. Learn from a passionate wine guide and sommelier about the history, production, cultural significance and most importantly, the appreciation of wine. During your wine experience, you will have the chance to taste three wines produced in the region.

Enjoy a private and authentic market tour and cooking class in a local Bologna home with your host Giovanna, a native who has lived in Bologna for over 60 years. This is a perfect experience for anyone looking to connect with local culture over food. Start with a memorable tour of one of Bologna's markets. Depending on the day, visit the Mercato del Quadrilatero (a market with medieval origins) or del Erbe where Giovanna buys her seasonal fruit and vegetables. Here, you can buy local and regional produce, from fruit and vegetables to meat, cheese, and salami. Return to Giovanna's home kitchen where she will teach you 2-3 traditional Italian dishes from family recipes - a pasta, sauce and a side or dessert. After cooking, enjoy your meal together with your host, a warm and gentle retired history and philosophy teacher who lives in an apartment in a large villa with her daughters. Giovanna loves cooking particularly enjoys introducing guests to traditional Bolognese culture and cuisine.

Enjoy a private and authentic cooking class in a local Bologna home with your host Giovanna. This is a perfect experience for anyone looking to connect with local culture over food. Your cooking class will take place in a local home kitchen where Giovanna will teach you 2-3 traditional Italian dishes from her family recipes, a pasta, sauce and a side dish or dessert. After cooking, you will enjoy your meal together. Your host Giovanna is a warm and gentle retired history and philosophy teacher who has lived in Bologna for over 60 years. She lives in an apartment in a large villa with her daughters Francesca and Laura. She learned to cook from her mother and grandmother and from her husband’s family. She loves cooking for family, friends and guests and particularly enjoys widening her culinary repertoire with new dishes she learns on her travels. She enjoys introducing guests to Bologna's snacks such as crescentine, tigelle and piadine in addition to its pastas, vegetables and desserts.

Enjoy a private and authentic home-cooked meal in a local Rubiera home with your host Francesca. This is a perfect experience for anyone looking to connect with local culture over food. An incredibly hospitable host, Francesca welcomes you into her Rubiera home with a warm smile. Over a glass of Italian wine, learn about her life growing up in a restaurant as well as the history behind Italian food. Then join her at the dining table to enjoy a four-course Italian meal prepared by this expert chef. Francesca grew up in a restaurant (literally!), one of the first Michelin star restaurants in Italy. Her family has owned and run the restaurant since 1936. Working in this family-owned, Michelin star restaurant for many years taught Francesca everything there is to know about ingredients, cooking techniques, plating, serving and hosting. Francesca says she loves hosting people from all over the world, “I'm really curious to understand the different ways of living, eating, and thinking.”

Enjoy a private and authentic cooking class in a local Rubiera home with your host Francesca. This is a perfect experience for anyone looking to connect with local culture over food. An incredibly hospitable host, Francesca welcomes you into her Rubiera home with a warm smile. Over a glass of Italian wine, learn about her life growing up in a restaurant as well as the history behind Italian food. Learn to cook in her kitchen a variety of traditional pastas and then join Francesca at the dining table for your meal. Please note that on most days Francesca will host alone, but occasionally her husband, Thomas and her mother, Franca might be present. Francesca grew up in a restaurant (literally!), one of the first Michelin star restaurants in Italy. Her family has owned and run the restaurant since 1936. Working in this family-owned, Michelin star restaurant for many years taught Francesca everything there is to know about ingredients, cooking techniques, plating, serving and hosting.

Enjoy a private and authentic balsamic vinegar tour with your host Silvia in her 18th century family villa. This is a perfect experience for anyone looking to connect with local culture over food. Cristina and Silvia inherited not only their father's acetaia but also his passion for balsamic vinegar making and food. They work alongside their colleague Rita who helps keep their passion alive by passing on their knowledge and traditions around vinegar making to travelers from around the world. Depending on the day, either Cristina or Rita will welcome you into the family home and treat you like family. Learn about the age-old tradition of vinegar making from your hosts who are passionate about keeping the family tradition alive.

Spend the day cooking like a local in the city of Modena during this full-day, private cooking class that includes shopping for ingredients at market. Begin the slow and sacred process of making pasta Bolognese by visiting an open-air, organic food market with your instructor to select your ingredients. In your guide’s traditional home kitchen, learn to make this classic dish from scratch along with a few side dishes.

An excellent value for the money, this private tour and tasting includes one-one-one time with a representative of the Malpighi family, renowned vinegar makers in Modena. After a tour of the barrel rooms, enjoy vinegar samples and pairings with parmesan cheese, prosciutto, bread, and Lambrusco wine. A take-home bottle of vinegar and a recipe book is included.

Explore the delicious and acidic world of balsamic vinegar with a local expert during this short, private tasting and food pairing experience in Vignola. In a loft, see how this vinegar, known the world over, is made and learn about the aging process and tasting notes. In the tasting room, sample balsamic vinegar and Saba made with grape juice paired with classic Italian cheeses, breads, ham, and fruit.

Visit a family-owned cheese factory on this private Parma food experience. At Bertinelli, you'll learn about the making of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, from the cows to the aging, and watch a cheesemaker doing hands-on work to ensure this beloved dairy item turns out right. Then enjoy a tasting of three aged cheeses and a special cream of Parmesan, and discover how to use your other senses to compare the cheeses.

Join local host Chiara on her farm outside Bologna for a hands-on private cooking class. Learn how to cook three dishes from scratch, including tagliatelle pasta with prosciuttio di Parma and lemon zest. Catch a glimpse into local life as you share the meal you helped to prepare with your host. Local wine is included and a vegetarian option is available.

Get out of the stale tourist restaurant scene and into your host's kitchen and pasta workshop with this private cooking class. Learn how to roll, cut, and cook pasta—from tagliatelle to tortellini to passatelli. Cook for about an hour with your host, who may include some Pugliese dishes in addition to local ones in the mix, and then sit down to enjoy your creations. A great way to learn about Italian cuisine and culture from a local.

Learn to make fresh pasta from scratch with a small-group cooking class in a home kitchen, where you’ll sip a glass of wine or beer as you make batches of tortellini and tagliatelle. When you’ve prepared the fresh pasta, sit down to the gourmet meal you’ve created, joining a group of fellow food-loving travelers for a hearty dinner.