Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/739845
FALL/ WINTER 2016 DREAMSCAPES 13 CULINARY PURSUITS Now the grand villa is a lavish getaway for culinary and wine lovers in pursuit of cooking classes and winery tours included in the new Luxury Gold by Insight Vacations Rome to Venice itinerary. It's at this Medici villa where I roll up my sleeves to tuck into the pasta fresca all'uovo (fresh egg pasta) in the ultimate Tuscan cooking class. My chef master is a brigade of local cooks, nonnas (grandmothers) and mammas (mothers), who are fine taskmasters as they whip out commands: "Knead harder," "flip over," and, "you're not done yet," in endearing instruc- tional notes as we carefully master the fine art of hand-rolled pappardelle noodle- making and create a Mamma-approved meat sauce inspired by big glasses of rosé. "Food is very big today. We know guests are looking for that kind of experience in travel and they want to learn and have authentic engaging experiences," says John Boulding, the CEO of Insight Vacations who is joining us on this taste of Italy. A few hours later we toast our fine cre- ations over a glass of the vintner's best and devour a fabulous four-course meal pre- pared by the guests in my escorted luxury motor coach tour. THE SWEETER LIFE When I lived in Tuscany in the '90s, I had a tiny attic flat in Florence. Fiascos of Chi- anti and bowls of pasta were my daily dose of la dolce vita (the sweet life). I'd wander through ancient streets once frequented by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Dante Alighieri, and all the other greats of art and literature like Brunelleschi, whose great dome crowns the capital of the Renaissance. But this past spring I went full-scale luxury for the first time. I returned to the boot-shaped country whose heel dips into the Mediterranean Sea and unlaced the centre, which, at times, seemed like a dance of seduction. With only eight days to spare, my wish list for this Italian quest appeared unattainable. However, the fine attention to detail in my escorted tour itinerary, led by an ace travelling concierge, made it possible to see Rome, Florence, Verona and Venice, with day trips to the medieval towns of Calcata and Perugia. For lovers of fine dining, luxurious hotels, and those who don't mind exploring local haunts in search of per- sonal experiences, yet feel the best way to see renowned landmarks is on private tours with local experts, follow me in this bite of Italy. It begins like the old saying, "All roads lead to Rome." THE ETERNAL CITY Everywhere is within walking distance from my temporary abode in Rome. The luxury landmark Baglioni Hotel Regina lies near the Villa Borghese on the famous Fellini street, Via Veneto, renowned for posh shopping and the rich leafy canopy immortalized by Sophia Loren in La Dolce Vita.