Westworld Alberta
Issue link: http://westworldmagazine.ama.ab.ca/i/245179
GourMAND A. a Three Tastes of Tuscany Italy's Tuscany region offers plenty to tempt a flavourcraving gourmand: olives and Sangiovese grapes ripening on sunbathed vines, rich cheeses lining the shelves of corner-shop delis and tiny trattorias serving up antipasto, bruschetta and wild-boar stew. Fly into Florence and head straight for the green-carpeted countryside to get your manos on the local delicacies, right at the source. (clockwise from top left) lush hills surround Castello di Volpaia organic winery in Tuscany's Chianti region; cooking students learn to make pasta from scratch at Ecco la Cucina cooking school near Siena; a selection of cured meats with Tuscan crostini prepared at Castello Banfi winery in the Brunello region. 1. lIVE THE CUlInaRY dREaM In THE Val d'ORCIa Settle in at a restored 18th-century farmhouse on an estate near the medieval city of Siena, for six days of cooking classes, farm tours, wine tastings, market shopping and relaxing in the rolling countryside. At Ecco la Cucina cooking school, students learn to prepare such regional mainstays as panzanella (bread and tomato salad), cantucci (braised meat), risotto, roasted meats, traditional Tuscan ribollita (vegetable soup), stuffed crêpes and fruit crostata. 2. SIP, STaY and dInE aT a CHIanTI WInERY Castello di Fonterutoli, just south of Castellina in Chianti, has been producing Chianti wines for 600 years. Go beyond the basic cellar visit by staying overnight in one of several country homes on the 117-hectare vineyard. The houses are just steps away from the [Side Trip] basque-ing in Culinary spain Mazzei-brand Chianti Classico, produced at Castello di Fonterutoli winery. (clockWise from toP) castello di volPaia, ecco la cucina, castello banfi, istock, mazzei p16_25_TravellerTypes.indd 21 Learn to cook and eat like a Basque native with a daylong culinary immersion in the city of San Sebastián, on Spain's north coast. The Basque region has a rich culinary heritage featuring grilled fish and meats, and distinctive dishes such as pintxos – small bites on bread – and marmitako, or tuna pot. S p r i n g 2 0 14 | W e s t W o r l d a l b e r ta 21 14-01-10 3:41 PM