Tie on your aprons and join our Michelin Star Chef in a culinary adventure in Parma. This glorious 6-day food adventure heads to the culinary heart of Parma for an authentic hands-on cooking class and food tour like no other. This one-of-a-kind cooking experience is set in a Michelin Star kitchen using Emilia Romagna’s high-quality products such as prosciutto di Parma, Parmesan cheese, and aged balsamic balsamic from Modena. Learn the art of making tortellini and tortelloni and delicate sheets of hand-rolled pasta in our small classes with personal attention to each cooking guest.
Imagine an immaculately restored antique court rebuilt and refubished, brick by brick, and returned lovingly to its original glory. An ancient dwelling that was once home to Maestro Giuseppe Verdi, now an impressive structure of ancient red brick set on the banks of the Po. Today, the property is a luxurious, welcoming retreat for discerning guests. Our exclusive Prestigious Parma program brings you to the lush rolling countryside in the very heart of Reggio Emilia using organic produce that comes directly from the chef’s vegetable garden and the estate’s working farm. The cuisine is elegant, fresh and colorful, and is based on the farm-to-table produce.
Parma Cooking Classes
Cooking classes take place in the property’s beautiful Michelin-star kitchen with Chef Massimo and his team and make full use of the excellent organic produce from the kitchen garden. But that’s not all. On the estate, there are also cows, geese, pigeons, ducks, rabbits, and chickens, all of which make their way into the kitchen, as well of course, as the area’s famous pigs are carefully raised for artisan culatelli, salami, preti, coppe, spalle, and many other types of salumi. Pasta is also an important staple food and you will learn how to prepare delicate sheets of pasta and transform them into anolini, tortelli, ravioli, tagliolini, tagliatelle, stringoni and pasta rasa. Also discover the fruits of all the seasons and enjoy jams and marmalades, crystallizing fruits, along with the process of making tomato and vegetable preserves. When in season, learn about the traditional liqueurs and herb teas like Nocino allo Sbùrlon, walnut liqueur, Bargnolino al Luigino, prune liqueur, and Canarino, a digestive drink based on hot water and lemon zest, all wonderful traditional remedies and tipples to recreate at home.
Parma
The property is situated a short distance from Parma center set between antique buildings and in a hamlets that comprise the village. The city of Parma which dates back to Etruscan times, is an attractive, wealthy, and well-organized town that over the years has been a Roman colony, and a home to Goths, Lombards, and Franks. As well as being a city that produced two great Maestros – Verdi and Toscanini – Parma also offers a beautiful Romanesque Duomo which contains some astounding frescoes by Lattanzio Gambara and a pink marble baptistry by Antelami, both of which are well worth a visit. The town is filled with restaurants and trattorias, artisan shops and its renowned covered market home to artisans and farmers from the nearby farms selling their seasonal fruits, vegetables, cheese, wine, meats, fish and olive oils.
Giuseppe Verdi
Discover Verdi during your stay in Parma! Giuseppe Verdi, the famous was born October 10, 1813, in Roncole. His hometown is a small village five kilometers southeast of Busseto in Emilia Romagna. During your visit to Bussetto, walk in the footsteps of Italy’s greatest composer. The National Museum Giuseppe Verdi is inside the beautiful Villa Pallavicino in Bussetto where 27 works of the great composer are represented throughout the tour showcasing the original scenographies of Casa Ricordi, the precious fabrics of the 19th century, costumes, and his music.
Parma Accommodations
This unique property is perfect place to experience the beautiful countryside of Emilia Romagna while discovering the food and wine of the region. The landscape is dominated by fertile fields and woodlands and the windings River Po. The exclusive property offers six rooms, and two suites, each warm and elegant, furnished tastefully in a style that blends modern accents with period details and furnishings featuring magnificent sixteenth-century ceilings. All rooms offer splendid views over the fields and rivers with comfortable beds and Italian linens, functioning fireplaces, a minibar, and a basket of fresh fruit. Private ensuite bathrooms furnished with bath linens, marble baths, and handmade artisan soaps scented with olive oils and wine. Breakfast is served daily.
The estate’s working farm produces the fruits and vegetables for the kitchen and cooking classes including the famous prosciutto, ham, salumi and pork products which are aged in the cellar. This aging cellar dates back to 1320.
The property also has a restaurant that serves excellent local cuisine overlooking the countryside and the River Po. Sit back, relax, and sip a Sangiovese wine while cozying up to an open fire. Set in the heart of the Emilia Romagna countryside and nestled in the triangle of Parma, Cremona, and Piacenza on the Po River while learning to prepare local cuisine and discovering regional wine. Bikes available at the property, ask on site.
Click for Property Photo Gallery
Itinerary: 6 Days, 5 Nights
Day 1: Arrival, tour of property, welcome dinner
- Check in and welcome.
• Tour of the property which overlooks the hills of Emilia-Romagna. Tour the property’s cellar, exploring the production of artisan ham and salumi.
• Welcome Dinner featuring a full course Chef’s Tasting menu prepared by our Michelin-Star Chef with wine included.
Day 2: Morning Cooking Class 1 & Artisan Parmigiano Visit
- Breakfast is served
•10:00 am – Cooking Class 1. Aprons on and into the kitchen with Chef Massimo and his team where you learn how to transform fresh organic produce from the estate’s vegetable garden into delicious local dishes. You will make a full four-course “Starred” menu, from starters to dessert. Lunch follows at the Chef’s table and includes the foods prepared in class. Local wine included.
•In the afternoon, discover an artisan Parmesan maker. Learn how Parmigiano cheese is made with tastings included.
•Laster in the evening, enjoy Chef’s Tasting Dinner featuring including Prosciutto, salami, Parmigiano Reggiano, focaccia, home-made dessert, and wine.
Day 3: Verdi Tour & Evening Cooking Class 2
- Breakfast is served.
- In the morning, meet your driver to explore and follow in Maestro Giuseppe Verdi’s footsteps as you explore the places and monuments marking important moments in Verdi’s musical career. Tickets include Verdi’s birthplace, the Verdi Theater, and the Casa Barezzi Museum, the place the young Giuseppe Verdi had his first musical training.
- Following your visit, return to the property and enjoy a picnic lunch at the property, overlooking the hills of Emilia-Romagna, and featuring local tastings of artisan cheese and bread.
•3:30 pm – Cooking Class 2 featuring handmade pasta and risottos. Learn the secret of turning out delicious anolini, tortelli, ravioli, tagliolini, tagliatelle, stringoni or pasta rasa, and how to dress pasta and risotto dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients. Dinner follows at the Chef’s table and includes the foods prepared in class. Local wine included.
Day 4: Chef’s Tasting Dinner
- Breakfast is served.
- In the afternoon, relax around the property, enjoy a walk or a bike ride at the property
- Laster in the evening, enjoy Chef’s Tasting Dinner featuring including Prosciutto, salami, Parmigiano Reggiano, focaccia, home-made dessert, and wine.
Day 5: Excursion to Parma & Farewell Dinner
- Breakfast is served.
- Following breakfast, meet your driver and English-speaking guide for your excursion to the city of Parma. Enjoy a tour of the ancient city where you will visit the Duomo, Baptistry, theater with our English-speaking guide.
- Following the tour, return to the property.
- Later in the evening, enjoy a full Farewell Dinner featuring a full course menu with wine included.
Day 6: Arrivederci!
- Breakfast is served.
- Checkout and Arrivederci!
Program Includes:
- 6 days, 5 nights in a Classic or Luxury room, based on 2 guests.
- Daily breakfast and maid service, included.
- 2 Hands-on cooking classes, preparing traditional full course lunch with wine included.
- 1 Welcome Dinner with a Chef’s Tasting Menu with wine included.
- 2 Picnics at the property prepared by the Chef with wine included.
- 1 Full-Course Farewell Dinner at the property’s medieval restaurant. Wine excluded.
- Guided visit of property, including a working garden farm and beautiful 14th-century wine cellar.
- Guided visit of the famous Parmesan cheese maker with discussions and tastings included.
- Visit to Giuseppe Verdi’s birthplace, the Verdi Theater, and the Casa Barezzi Museum.
- Guided visit of Parma, a Food Lover’s Dream tour.
- Cooking Vacations Welcome Bag with Chef’s apron, Prosecco and recipe book.
- A copy of Lauren’s cookbook, “It’s A Dream Place – Stories & Recipes of Food, Love and the Amalfi Coast.”
Program Prices
$3,895 per person, based on 2 guests in a Classic Room.
$4,195 per person, based on 2 guests in a Suite.
For Single Guests: If you are traveling on your own, please call us for the best group price. We are happy to welcome you into an already scheduled group.
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2025 Dates: This program is available throughout the year. You can check in and start your cooking program any day of the week, as this program is offered 12 months per year. Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange. Call for updated rates. Airfare is not included.
