Tourissimo, an expert in Italian soft adventure tourism, is excited to announce a special edition chef-led bike tour of Piedmont where guests will learn about the Slow Food movement at the University of Gastronomic Science in Pollenzo, dine at an array of Michelin-starred restaurants, hunt truffles, overnight at 4-star Albergo dell´Agenzia (former estate of King Carlo Alberto of Savoy), and cycle 140-miles past ancient castles and hidden hilltop hamlets. The tour will be led by Chef Benjamin Cohn, executive chef at Westside Tavern in West Los Angeles, and Chef Marc Meyer, a pioneer in the New York City restaurant scene and owner of Cookshop, Shuka and Rosie’s. The all-inclusive tour is scheduled for October 1-7, 2018 and starts at $5,995 per person.
“Famed for its truffles, and with towns like Barolo and Barbaresco, it’s easy to understand why Piedmont is a gourmand’s paradise,” said Tourissimo Founder Beppe Salerno. “Our guest chefs will play an important role in telling the story of this region through the food and wine culture.”
The tour will take guests into the Langhe and Roero regions of Piedmont, two of the most important wine producing areas in Italy that both received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2014.
“Wines will be perfectly paired with dishes to make each meal a gastronomic event,” said Salerno “Towns like Pollenzo, Monforte and Alba are perfect stops for a taste of what the region has to offer.”
One of the trip highpoints will be dining at Michelin 3-Star restaurant, Piazza Duomo, in Alba. It is considered one of the top 15 restaurants in the world. Fassona beef, hazelnuts, chestnuts, white truffles and biodynamic produce are all sourced from Chef Enrico Crippa’s farm and used in his inventive modern Italian dishes.
Tour Highlights:
Meeting winemakers and local farmers
Hunting truffles with a professional trifulau (truffle hunter)
Taking a cooking class with Mamma Giovanna at the Marrone Winery Estate
Exploring the villages of Barolo and Barbaresco, the namesakes of two world-famous red wines
Attending lectures at Slow Food University
Cycling along rolling hills covered with vineyards and quaint medieval villages
Dining at three Michelin-rated restaurants (Piazza Duomo, Villa d’Amelia, and Guido Ristorante)
Overnighting at a former estate of King Carlo Alberto of Savoy, Albergo dell’Agenzia
About Tourissimo: Founded in 2015 by Beppe Salerno and Heather Dowd, Tourissimo designs and leads active vacations in Italy, providing turnkey, fully-supported programs primarily serving small (8-14pp) private groups through outbound tour operators, travel agents, and private organizations. https://www.tourissimo.travel/