Cook with a cookbook author · Emilia-Romagna
Parma with Marissa Mullen
A six-night food week in Parma (April 18-24, 2027) hosted by author and food stylist Marissa Mullen, with local guide Alice Rossi. It focuses on Parmigiano Reggiano, culatello, prosciutto, balsamic vinegar and pasta.
Ask us about this trip →Free to ask. We confirm dates, availability and price before you commit to anything.
What you will do
- Culatello producer with three-course lunch and cellar tour
- Parmigiano Reggiano farm visit and tasting of three ages
- Evening cheese-board workshop
- Modena market, pasta class and balsamic producer
- Medieval Vigoleno and a vin santo winery
- Prosciutto tasting and Torrechiara Castle
Before you go
Eat the region first, then cook it. Everything here is free and saves to your trip.
Who leads it
Marissa Mullen
Based in NYC and the Hudson Valley; founded That Cheese Plate and created the Cheese By Numbers method.
Alice Rossi
Parma-born, studied gastronomic sciences, formerly with Academia Barilla, licensed tour leader.
Day by day
- Day 1ArrivalCheck in, welcome drinks at 6:30 pm, then dinner at a trattoria.
- Day 2Parma and culatelloWalking tour of the center, then a culatello producer with a three-course lunch and aging-cellar tour.
- Day 3Parmigiano ReggianoFarm visit with 12-, 24- and 36-month tastings, lunch at a private home, and an evening cheese-board workshop.
- Day 4ModenaHistoric bakery, Mercato Albinelli, a pasta-making class and a traditional balsamic producer.
- Day 5Hill villagesVigoleno, a vin santo winery and lunch in Castell'Arquato.
- Day 6Prosciutto and castleProsciutto producer visit and tasting, Torrechiara castle, a free afternoon and a farewell dinner.
- Day 7DepartureCheck out.
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 and the surrounding hill villages
- Where you stay
- Palazzo Dalla Rosa Prati, a family-owned hotel in central Parma, six nights; concierge can arrange reservations, taxis 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
- Cheese and charcuterie lovers who want a hands-on week led by a cheese-board specialist.
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 says this tour has less substitution flexibility than some of its others
Dates and prices
EUR 5,300 per person double; EUR 5,900 single (EUR 600 supplement). Covers lodging, breakfast, listed meals, activities, transport and gratuities. 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.
Chef Amazing · Will Travel for Food · 250 food markets · The Best 100