Pasta Grannies Food Tour

In Italy everyone believes that that their Nonna is the best cook in the world. And one of the things that Nonnas are especially good at in Italy is making pasta by hand. The only problem is that these cooking skills – taking flour and water, mixing them, and rolling them out into shapes –  is a skill that is in danger of dying out. Yes, a lot of people know how to make pasta, but it’s that indefinable something, that is passed on from one generation to the next, that is in the well worn hands of the grannies.

Luckily there are still grannies, you just have to know how to find them. And my friend Vicki has not only been able to find them, she has spent the last 5 years documenting these amazing women on video. She has shared their skills charmingly on her YouTube channel, Pasta Grannies, and has also published a glorious cookbook documenting not just the women, but the recipes that have been passed down for generations.

I would like to invite you to join Vicki and me in Parma for an entire week exploring the culture surrounding these grannies. We will of course be meeting some of these woman, as well as learning how to make pasta. But we will also be digging deeply into some of the ingredients that this part of the world is best known for: Parmigiano Reggiano, Aceto Balscamico Tradizionale di Modena, Prosciutto di Parma and Culatello. And of course wine!

While pasta is made all over the country, the region of Emilia Romagna is particularly famous for some of the most delicious and unique pastas made in Italy. In fact, when most non-Italians think of pasta it is the dishes of this region – Lasagna, Ravioli, Tortellini and Tagliatelle – that they think of. And all have their roots in Emilia Romagna.

We will spend six nights and five full days diving deeply into this theme, through the eyes of the women who continue the traditions: the grannies. Each day we will be visiting markets and food producers as well as eating and cooking our way through as many types of pasta as possible.

What makes this week so special, of course, is the time we will be spending with the nonnas. In this part of the world the tradition of a woman firmly running the household from her kitchen is deeply entrenched and very much still alive. Often called cesarine or rezdore, the skill by which any of these women is judged is her ability to roll out a sheet of pasta dough as thinly as possible. We will be invited into the private homes of several of these women, where they will share their knowledge with us. While we will certainly come away with insight into pasta making skills, it is just as important to listen to the stories they have to tell.

Details of the Pasta Grannies Week in Emilia Romagna Food Tour

When: November 14-20, 2021

Who: This trip is limited to 12 guests.

Where: We will be based in Parma, in the region of Emilia Romagana

Nearest airport & Train Station: The nearest international airport is Milan. There are many ways to get to Parma from Milan.

Some of the things we’ll be doing:

• Pasta classes with Grannies
• Visits to Grannies (and Grandpas) homes
• Visit to Culatello producer
• Visit to Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale producer
• Visit to several historic castles
• Wine Tasting
• Pasta-filled dinners and lunches
• Visits to Modena and Bologna
• And much more….

There is lots more of course! If you think you’d like to join us, and would   to hear about the details, just send me an email. I’ll send you the brochure which has the detailed itinerary and price.

To learn  more about this trip, including all the details, just send me an email.

For more about using your appetite as a guide to traveling around Italy, see my book:
Eating My Way Through Italy

And if you’d like to prepare your own Italian feast (including a complete menu from one of the pasta grannies I met) see my book:
The Italian Table: Creating Festive Meals for Family and Friends.