That's Bologna! Of course it is!

How did we miss this all these years?

Author

Jeannie Edmunds
September 03, 2024

Buongiorno, amici miei!

Rome, Lake Como, The Amalfi Coast...There are well-worn paths through these Italian cities and if you’re a frequent traveler, you’ve probably checked one or more off your list.

But let’s talk about “checklist travel” for a moment.

We don’t believe in it! Seriously. We don’t have a list of “tasks” to accomplish when we’re on a trip. We’re collecting experiences, memories, and new friendships

Our Paris trip ignores the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre in favor of a “live like a Parisian” itinerary. Even if we’re in a popular destination, we’re not looking for the most popular places. One, they’re usually crowded. Two, you can do that on your own. Three, we’re looking for something a little more spicy. A little off the beaten path.

Yes, I know the difference between torteloni and tortellini. But this kind of looks like a bagel to me.

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What So Special About Our Bologna Trip?

Just two hours north of Florence, Bologna is the capital of the Emilia Romagna region of Italy. Parmesan cheese (the real stuff) balsamic vinegar (the certified, real stuff) and Parma ham (the OG) all come from this blessedly abundant area.

Though these products are exported all over the world and you may have tried them, there’s nothing like going straight to the source! For foodies, photographers, art-lovers, lovers of old, beautiful buildings and the European lifestyle, this region is Italy’s most delicious region!

You could spend months here exploring all your gastronomic fantasies!

  • Fresh, local food for days

  • Stunning, well-preserved old world architecture

  • Natural beauty of the local countryside

  • Local women food producers and purveyors

  • Pretty piazzas where “just hanging out” is practically an Olympic sport!

  • Visiting a vineyard and winery in Lambrusco

  • Tasting the best balsamic vinegars from Modena, and learning how to spot fakes in the grocery store.

  • It’s against the law to serve food that doesn’t taste good (that’s not true, but it could be!)

  • Springtime before the hordes of tourists arrive, shopkeepers need and appreciate your business

  • Cooking lesson with a local friend of NextTribe in her villa.

  • Side trip to Ravenna, with 8 UNESCO world heritage sites and mosaics from the 5th and 6th centuries

  • As always, cool women to travel with!

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Do You Love Food?

Oscar Meyer sure did a disservice to the gorgeous town of Bologna, by using it for the name of sliced meat that is similar (but miles away taste-wise) from the pride of the city: mortadella. Anthony Bourdain’s favorite sandwich uses mortadella (a type of bologna with pistachios), provolone, dijon and mayo. Here’s the one-pan recipe.

Some gluten-free eaters find the breads and pastas in Europe don’t bother them. The “soft wheat” grown in the EU is lower in gluten. Don’t try this if you have celiac, but if you’re avoiding gluten you may want to rethink it for this trip!

You wanna make-a da pasta? We have women who will show you how. In a cooking class, you’d pay a lotta “grana” for back in North America!

No crank pasta machines for this lady. “Usare le mani!” she says. “Use your hands!”

We often say “no” to dessert, but not in Italy!

Chocolate. Bologna. Not “chocolate bologna” (but we like the creative idea!”)

To learn more and meet your guide, check out our Info Session on the Bologna trip tonight at 6:30 pm ET. RSVP here.

Someone on the Zoom call will win a $400 discount on the trip!

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Do You Love Beauty? Art?

One thread that seems to run through all of our trips is an appreciation for beauty. The food is the starting point, and you know what they say—you “eat with your eyes,” so the way food is prepared and presented certainly adds to the enjoyment of a meal or a mid-day gelato.

But this region is also rich in ancient architecture, art, and natural beauty. Who’s better to guide us than a woman who’s devoted her whole life to the pursuit of art and art education, and yes, finding good food?

NextTribe member Shannon Faseler leads this trip for us and she really knows her stuff. We love to have NextTribers share their happy places with us

Shannon is not only great fun on a trip, she knows her stuff in Italy. She’s an artist and art educator, with a BFA from the University of Texas and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. For Shannon, local art, good conversations, and great food are as important as any “must-sees” on an itinerary. She is an experienced trip leader throughout Italy and beyond.

Straight lines are highly overrated. Give us a curvy walkway, some soft natural light, and the scent of Spring flowers…heaven!

During our trip to this region, we’ll experience the flavors, scents and scenery of the small cities, towns, and farms in the region. We’ll visit cheesemakers, vinegar producers, meat purveyors and farmers markets, and dine like locals at their favorite spots. And because of Shannon’s expertise in and appreciation for visual beauty, we’ll see the region through the eyes of an art-loving foodie!

Parma ham is prosciutto produced in Parma. Perfect with a glass of wine, sherry, or your favorite non-alcoholic cocktail!

Ciao for now!

Jeannie Edmunds, COO

OR…WE’VE GOT MORE ITALY FOR YOU!