Last night was the final night of the Chianti Wine in Tuscany tour with the Culture Discovery group. It was a great last day and a most enjoyable evening. Lorenzo who does not want to be called “Chef” was our guide on our final cooking lesson. He is an incredible chef and most important an incredible teacher. We learned to make pasta in the same fashion as he learned when he was 9 years old from his grandmother. He told us that she was very happy to teach him until she saw all the white footprints throughout her home. We made runaway meat lasagna – for those who do not know what that means; it is lasagna with no meat because it ran away. It was made with vegetables, (carrots, zucchini, leeks, onions and celery) – truly some of the best lasagna I have ever tasted. He also taught us how to make a stuffed turkey breast and cantucci which I can’t wait to make at home. The smell of the cantucci is better than sugar cookies and permeated the rooms around the cooking area and kitchen. I am pretty sure I gain 5 pounds just from the smell alone. Also a note about the stuffed turkey breast – it was again cooked entirely on the stove top and not in the oven.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the other wonderful Chef and his mother, Francesco and his mother Franca. They showed us how to make eggplant lasagna which was wonderful!!! (BTW – I have never liked eggplant so for me to say it is wonderful – it truly was a delight). The best part about the cooking classes was the fact that both chefs learned their trade through their families using recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation. Prior to our final meal with Lorenzo on Friday night we visited a farm/winery that not only produces DOCG Chianti but also raises Chianina cows for Florentine steaks and also makes their own olive oil. We had lunch with the family which included three generations and learned to make the local pizza called ‘schiacciata’ which was of course cooked in their wood burning outdoor oven. In addition, everything we ate there was produced on the farm with the exception of the tomatoes. Everything meaning the flour for the schiacciata, olive oil, beans, onions, steaks, pear jam, carrots and of course the wine.
I just want to say that the people at Culture Discovery truly know how to make a memorable week. Although I have never been on a tour with any other company over the last 5 weeks I have noticed a lot of tour groups. This is nothing like a big tour company, it truly is like being with family. I was so blessed to have three of the most interesting people in my group, Ben from Oxford – (who I suspect is truly one of those brainiac people who never stop thinking) and Randy and Meryl from south of Boston who are more than the typical dynamic couple. Randy is a retired psychologist – (no I did not ask him to analyze me) and Meryl his wife who is one of those power women truly smarter than most men. Rounding out the group was our Culture Discovery guides. There was Charlotte who is probably one of the most seasoned travelers I have ever met (BTW – she is under 30 so to call her a seasoned traveler at her age is HUGE!). Her most memorable saying “It would be my pleasure.” If she said that one time she said it 500 hundred times. There was also Daniele which in case you are wondering is the Italian name for Daniel in English – he joined us midway through the week. He is one of those people who has their brain going 100 miles an hour always thinking ahead about the other tours they are hosting and dotting ‘i’s’ and crossing ‘t’s’. He may have been multitasking but you would never know it. He was there for our group and allowed us to have great laughs at his expense – (seriously his last car ‘upgrade’ had us in tears on Thursday night). Last but not least was Spartaco who kicked off our week last Saturday making sure we all knew what to expect and set the stage for upcoming adventure. This company searches and provides unique experiences for the traveler wanting more. Nothing about the entire week felt like a tour group. They provide top of the line accommodations (thank you to Ross Hotels in Radda in Chianti for a wonderful stay) to top of the line transportation (thank you to Paulo who added so much history and color during the time in the van moving from one event to the next). If you want to visit Tuscany check out Ross Hotels in Chianti. Top of the line, wonderful staff and once again family owned.
The best part about my experience with Culture Discovery is I get to experience another week with them on the Amalfi coast in June. I can’t wait!!! More fun with Spartaco at the helm, more cooking and new experiences in a different region in Italy.
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