San Francisco, Calif. – Handpicked Adventures, a California-based, artisan food-focused travel company, is offering a one-of-a-kind trip to Piedmont, Italy, September 18 – 25, 2013. Anchored by the popular Bra Slow Food Cheese Festival, the Piemonte and the Bra Slow Food Cheese Festival trip promises an intimate immersion into the region’s unique culture via the food, drink and artisans that define it.
The agricultural tour offers travelers the rare opportunity to sample and taste the area’s wealth of foods while interacting with the farmers and artisans who lovingly produced them. Trip highlights include:
- Visiting with chocolatiers in their Torino-based salons – yes, there will be ample tastings;
- Tasting vast arrays of handcrafted cheeses at the festival, which brings together hundreds of Italian and foreign cheese producers;
- Lodging and dining on a working farm and vineyard in Sinio;
- Participating in a hands-on cooking class with a classically trained chef – in his own restaurant; and
- Sipping and savoring at exclusive meetings with winemakers.
Handpicked Adventures’ trip also includes a farm dinner at a local truffle ground, a visit to a snail farm in Cherasco, an Italian brewpub tasting – yes, there’s beer in those hills, too – and a daytrip to the base of the Italian Alps to visit a working dairy farm where the famous Castelmagno cheese is made (FYI: Castelmagno dates back to the 12th century).
For Handpicked Adventures co-founder Heather England, a food-centric tour is the perfect way to learn about a new place. “So often people head to a new destination with an itinerary packed with landmarks and historic sites,” she says. “We approach travel a bit differently at Handpicked Adventures. We believe that the best way to experience a culture is to slow down, savor local foods and engage in worthy conversations.”
Her business partner, Terry Cosola-August agrees. “The history of a place really comes alive when you start talking with the people who have worked on or drawn from the land for generations. Getting up close and personal with regional foods and local cuisine is truly the best way to experience another culture.”
Cost is $2,500 U.S., double occupancy (excluding airfare), if deposit is received by July 31, 2013. After July 31, the cost is $2,750 U.S. (excluding airfare). Package includes all lodging, private motor coach transport, activities translated in English by a multilingual guide, seven breakfasts, festival entry, all group events listed above, plus one additional group dinner. All group dinners include wine and gratuity. The trip is limited to 12 participants. For more information, visit www.handpickedadventures.com.
Terry Cosola-August started Fancifull Gift Baskets in Los Angeles in 1987. Along with being a wine and specialty food expert, Terry is a passionate cheese educator. She is a member of the American Cheese Society, the California Artisan Cheese Guild and Slow Food USA. Terry is an alumna of the Professional Program at The Cheese School San Francisco. She is frequently asked to speak at industry conferences and loves nothing more than to take people on journeys of taste.
Heather England first started exploring artisan cheeses while working in the restaurant industry 20 years ago. In 2012, Heather undertook an extensive curriculum at The Cheese School San Francisco and completed the Certificate in Dairy Arts Program (aka cheese-making) at College of Marin. She is a member of the American Cheese Society, the California Artisan Cheese Guild, and Slow Food USA. Heather has traveled the US broadly over the last 20 years to experience and learn about regional cuisines.
Source: Handpicked Adventures