Cook with a cookbook author · Emilia-Romagna
Parma with Erin O’Brien
A seven-day, six-night food week in Parma (March 7-13, 2027) led by cookbook author Erin O'Brien with local guide Alice Rossi. Each day goes to a different producer, town or village, covering culatello, Parmigiano Reggiano, balsamic vinegar, prosciutto and pasta.
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What you will do
- Cellar tour and lunch at a historic culatello producer
- Parmigiano Reggiano farm tasting of 12-, 24- and 36-month cheese
- Pasta-making class and balsamic producer visit in Modena
- Medieval Vigoleno, a vin santo winery and lunch in Castell'Arquato
- Prosciutto producer and Torrechiara Castle
- Lunch at a private home
- Welcome package with local snacks, wine and a tote bag
Before you go
Eat the region first, then cook it. Everything here is free and saves to your trip.
Who leads it
Erin O'Brien
Cookbook author leading the week alongside the local guide.
Alice Rossi
Parma native with a gastronomic sciences degree who leads the day-to-day visits.
Day by day
- Day 1Arrival in ParmaSettle into the hotel, then welcome drinks at 6:30 pm and a first group dinner at a trattoria.
- Day 2Parma and culatelloWalking tour of the historic center, then a historic culatello producer with lunch and a cellar visit. Evening free.
- Day 3Parmigiano ReggianoDairy farm visit with tasting of three ages of cheese, lunch in a private home, and a casual dinner.
- Day 4ModenaA bakery stop, Mercato Albinelli, a pasta-making class and a visit to a traditional balsamic producer. Evening free.
- Day 5Villages and wineMedieval Vigoleno, a vin santo winery, lunch and a stroll in Castell'Arquato. Evening free.
- Day 6Castles and prosciuttoProsciutto producer visit, Torrechiara Castle, lunch at Ai Due Platani, a free afternoon and a group pizza dinner.
- Day 7DepartureCheck out of the hotel.
Itineraries can shift with weather, season and host availability.
What is included
Included
- Six nights' lodging
- Daily breakfast
- Meals, activities and transportation listed in the itinerary
- Gratuities
Not included
- Flights and other travel to and from Italy
- Transfers to and from the hotel
Practical details
- Where you base
- Parma (hotel in the historic center), with day trips to Modena, Vigoleno, Castell'Arquato and Torrechiara
- Where you stay
- Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati, a family-owned hotel in central Parma, six nights. Welcome package of local snacks, fruit, wine, a tote bag and a restaurant/shopping guide. Hotel concierge can help with reservations and transfers.
- Group size
- Limited to 12 participants
- Pace
- Steady. Up to an hour or more of walking a day, at times on hills, uneven ground or stairs, with frequent getting in and out of vehicles. Guests must keep up with the group unassisted.
- Arrival and departure
- Hotel in Parma on Day 1 (welcome drinks 6:30 pm); no airport meeting point published
- Who it suits
- Big eaters who love cured meats, cheese and pasta and enjoy rural, hands-on food days.
Good to know
- Most meals feature pasta, cheese and cured meats, so it may not suit vegetarians, lactose-intolerant or gluten-free guests.
- Itinerary can shift because the trips rely on small family-run businesses; final itinerary is emailed about 30 days before departure
- Ask Via Rosa for deposit and cancellation terms.
- No meeting point is published; the group gathers at the hotel on Day 1
- Via Rosa notes other tours offer more substitution flexibility
Dates and prices
EUR 5,900 per person double; EUR 6,900 single (EUR 1,000 supplement). Covers lodging, breakfast, listed meals, activities, transport and gratuities; not international or hotel transfers. Status when checked: available.
More trips in Emilia-Romagna
Trip details are compiled from the published information of Via Rosa, who runs this trip. Dates, prices and availability change; we reconfirm everything with you before you commit.
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