Announcing the 20th Anniversary "Trip of a Lifetime"

June 11-20, 2012


In honor of our 20th Anniversary year, we have designed a trip to commemorate all of the chefs, artisans, farmers, estate owners, and characters that we have worked with for nearly 2 decades.

A once-in-a-lifetime culinary tour of Florence, Liguria and the 'Bay of Poets', and the island of Elba. With an optional sailing extension around Procida and the Amalfi coast.  

Grapes hung to dry for Vin Santo, Tuscany.

We begin at 'La Cucina al Focolare' in the Florentine hills, where Chef Piero still drives the mothership even more skillfully after 20 years. We'll settle into the Chianti countryside, taste and cook the same rich, extra-virgin olive oil-based traditional Tuscan dishes from our wood fired ovens.

    

La Cucina al Focolare, Florence, Italy.

Next, we travel to Angelo Cabani's gastronomic hotel, Locanda Miranda, overlooking the Bay of Poets, where the most important ingredient is 'amacizia' (friendship). We'll be in the artistic hands of Angelo's 75 years, 60 of which he's spent in the kitchen mastering fish.

Tellaro, Liguria, Italy.

Already on the coast, we'll be drawn to the rustic island of Elba, to Luciano Cassini's well-loved alley-way restaurant, 'Il Chiasso,' for an unforgettable experience with a treasured chef from a disappearing era.

Luciano Cassini, chef, clown and actor, with Peggy on the island of Elba.

We'll end the program back in the city of Florence, where we will hit all of the old haunts - cafés and wine bars, the markets, and a celebratory dinner at Cibreo.

Cibreo Caffé in the center of Florence.

Come prepared to be surprised!

Guest Natalie Beck on deck of the 'Tonnado' off the coast of Amalfi.

     

For more information or to reserve your room, please email us or call our booking coordinator, Merete, at 303-910-0897. 


Pricing: 
Double: $6200/per person
Single: $6750

  

Program includes:

~  Accommodations and most meals

~ Cooking classes and visits with local chefs and artisans

~ Transportation between Florence, Liguria, and Elba  

~ Market excursions, kitchen clowns, produce jugglers, Tuscan fires, singing bus drivers, poetic moonlit nights, full bellies, laughter, plenty of world-class vino and saucy sommeliers... and your open-hearted willingness to enjoy the celebration!