Art and Food 2018

Slow Food in Turin * Art in Lombardy  * Painting in Franciacorta 

   9 days/8 nights 

September 18-27, 2018

All of your senses to be filled…Italian style....La Dolca Vita!

Join  J E T S E T WISDOM this fall in Italy for the biennial Slow Food/Slow Wine and Terra Madre at Salone del Gusto in Torino, the secret art jewels of Milano (including the Last Supper), and finally three full days of painting in the Franciacorta regions peppered with winetastings, shopping at the world-famous Franciacorta Shopping Village and luscious Agriturismo foods.

Leaving the US or Canada on Tuesday September 18, 2018 and arriving in Milan, Italy on Wednesday September 19, we will be either meeting in Torino at our landmark hotel if you wish , or at a pre-arranged location at 0:930 at MXP Malpensa airport for the 1.5 hour drive to Torino.  After check-in you will have the option of a late afternoon tour of this baroque beauty called Torino to the Italians, (Turin) followed by a welcome local Piedmontese dinner.  Get familiar with the city of Torino and rest up for the opening day of Salone del Gusto- you will need comfortable walking shoes for our next couple of days.  

Salone Del Gusto is throughout the city of Turin at many different venues - Opening at 10 till 9:30 pm - a full and active day, but as much as you desire as your hotel is centrally located right in the fashionable Quadrilatero Romano district, an area known for its fantastic shopping, restaurants and nightlife. The San Giovanni Cathedral – home to the Turin Shroud – is right next door. We'll have dinner together as a welcome Wednesday evening, and also Friday evening. Thursday evening* will be a meet up for aperativo, you will be tasting all day at Salone del Gusto.

Thursday and Friday will be spent savoring the twenty regions of Italy at the Slow Food/Terra Madre Salone del Gusto show.  They are still finalizing special packaging, tastings, lectures but rest assured we will have plenty to choose from.  You’ll also have an opportunity to see the museums within walking distance, central as you wish.

Leaving Torino on Saturday midday, we will drive to Milan (about 1-1/2 hours) in our private coach. A lovely walking tour of your new neighborhood, next door to Pinocateca Ambrosiana, Peck for noshes, (as in if you're peckish) and The Duomo (cathedral) steps away from Palazzo Reale, housing one of the many world class collections. We'll glimpse into  a private palazzo The art world in Milan is all about beauty and exploration.

Minutes from La Scala ,  bohemian La Brera with its private galleries and Pinocateca La Brea, you will feel at home in this small private hotel, sharing harmony, culture and silence.   Milan promotes several museums housed in grand Palazzi locally, we’ll fit in at least two, and a stop at the Castello Sforzesco before a walk through Parc Sempione’s Trienelle Museum . Aperativo is a must on one of our evenings.

We will leave on Monday midday for a short drive up to Franciacorta to our agriturismo stay of three nights. Filled and inspired by the art of Milan and Turin, we will surely enjoy some plein-aire.  Do not worry - if painting is not your thing we have lots of other activities in mind.  However, painting in the vineyards and terraces of our lovely agriturismo should be a priority.  This undiscovered region is not to be missed.  Lago Iseo is beautiful, and the place of The Floating Piers exhibit in 2016:  www.christojeanneclaude.net/projects/the-floating-piers. 

We conclude, quite fittingly in the champagne region of Italy - (francia corta - short French) with amazing champagne.  We will have some time for a wine tour and  serious retail therapy at the close by Franciacorta Outlet Shopping Village for those interested.  Wednesday evening will be our farewell dinner at the agriturismo tasting their food and wine.

Flight transfers to Milan Malpensa or Bergamo from Franciacorta, morning of Thursday September 27, 2018. included.

What’s included/ what’s not …

9 days/ 8 hotel nights  Inclusive of almost all meals  (except denoted by *), with wine and water and gratuity, entry to Slow Food for two days,  two special event programs within the Salone del Gusto, Terra Madre, lodging in charming 4* hotels with double occupancy,  transfers and transport in a private limo coach throughout our 9 days. Other than airfare of your choice, everything is included but your retail 'therapy'!  Breakfast is included each morning at all of our hotels,  WIFI is complimentary. 

Limited Single occupancy available upon request at an additional fee. Airfare and airport transfers are not included other than Malpensa Milan, nor is travel insurance, which I would recommend. Please be advised that this tour is all about painting, art and food - and lots of great walking, especially at the Salon del Gusto.  Our first stay  is within the center of Turin of course for a respite when needed.

A deposit of 50% is required to hold your spot. All major Credit Cards are accepted.   This trip will be limited to 12, and spouses/partners/friends  are welcome. 

 Visa , MC and  Paypal accepted.  3% discount for check/cash.  

Please email Claudia Wisdom-Good at jetsetwisdom@gmail.com or 540.718.4046 for  pricing, further information, to sign up or any questions.  Don’t miss out - Terra Madre/Slow Food is only every two years -this Jetset WISDOM trip will not  be repeated until 2020. 

Join us in Italy for Terra Madre/Slow Food in Torino, Barolo in Piemonte and the secrets of Milano!

Join  J E T S E T WISDOM this fall in Italy for the biennial Slow Food/Slow Wine and Terra Madre at Salone Internazionale del Gusto in Torino, the Truffle Fair in Alba, Piemonte l’Osterie & Le Vinerie and three days discovering the secret jewels of Milano including a day trip to the Lake District.  

Dates are October 23-November 1, 2014.

Leaving the US or Canada on Wednesday October 22, and arriving in Italy on Thursday, October 23, we will be either meeting in Torino at our chic, artsy albergo, or at a pre-arranged location at MXP Malpensa airport for the 1.5 hour drive to Torino.  After check-in you will have the option of a late afternoon tour of this baroque beauty called Torino, followed by a welcome local Piemontese dinner.  Get familiar with the city of Torino and rest up for the Opening Day of Salon del Gusto- you will need comfortable walking shoes for our next three days.

The next two days will be spent at the Slow Food/Terra Madre Salone del Gusto show.
 J E T S E T WISDOM has your tickets purchased for unlimited entry, and will include  two special event programs (TBD) for our  group.  Slow Food is not just about Italy, although the 20 regions in Pavilions 1, 2 and 3 of  the Salone del Gusto could fill your entire two days if you wish! The OVAL holds food producers from over 5 continents.  

The Show is over 65,000 square meters, and showcases almost one thousand food producers, as well as 1200 wine labels that participate in the Vini Slow program.  

Our 3 days will start with transportation from our hotel to the Lingotto Fiere, location of the Salone del Gusto. The show is open from 11-11, and our hotel is conveniently located so you may come back, relax, and choose to return to the show in the evenings.  Saturday evening will be dinner in Torino, after a final aperitivo.  Breakfast is included each morning at our hotel,  WIFI is available for a nominal fee.

Leaving Torino on Sunday after breakfast, we will continue into Piemonte and arrive at the Alba Truffle Fair held only on a select few Sundays.  Spending the afternoon in this quaint but vibrant city, we will arrive in time for an aperitivo and dinner in La Morra, our home for the next 3 nights.  Full breakfast and wifi included.

Long time friend, author of The Mystique of Barolos, winemaker in  Langhe, Maurizio Rosso last fall.

Monday and Tuesday we will explore the wines of Piemonte with a private driver, staying at a perfectly situated and appointed,  Corte Gondina in La Morra  (which was reviewed recently in the Wine Spectator).  La Morra is located in the centre of the Barolo area of Langhe, and produces over 40% of the Barolo wines.  The town is full of jewels -   lovely trattorie and shops, with walking trails through the local wineries.  Dinner is included Sunday and Tuesday,  however, Monday dinner* will be on your own.  

We will stop for lunch at local Osterie along our wine routes both days and will be included.  Our region is renowned for both Roero (whites) and the long heady line of Barolos.

Wednesday morning we will leave after breakfast for our final three days in Milano. On the way, we will stop into BRA, the city that began The Slow Food Movement.  

Milano resonates with sophistication, beauty, art, fashion and architecture. One of my all time favorites to explore.  Next three nights, we will be staying right up the street from famous PECK and the Biblioteca-Pinacoteca Ambrosiana. 

Minutes from La Scala, The Duomo and bohemian La Brera, you will feel at home in this small private hotel, sharing harmony, culture and silence.  Dinner together and prepare for a Thursday filled with exploring the Design capital of the world.  Milan promotes several very small and private museums, housed in grand Palazzi locally, we’ll fit in at least two, and a stop at the Castello Sforzesco before a walk through Parc Sempione’s Trienelle Museum.  

We will have an aperitivo atop La Rinascente department store overlooking the Duomo.  Thursday Dinner* on our own most likely at a spot in La Brera.    Final day of Friday is on your own:  can be spent either going to an outlet shopping village outside of Milano, a train up to the Lake District - think Garda, Maggiore or simply boat to Bellagio, (an hour away by train), seeing The Last Supper, or just exploring more of Milan and picking up last minute gifts and shoes (!)   Private aperitivo on our balcony looking over Milan before a final dinner at one of  my very favorite spots, included.

Flight home on Saturday, drivers will be arranged at approximately Euro 20 per person to Malpensa, upon request.

9 nights, 10 days.  Inclusive of almost all meals  (except denoted by *), with wine and water and gratuity, entry to Slow Food for three days,  two special event programs within the Salone del Gusto, Terra Madre, lodging in charming 4* hotels with double occupancy (single occupancy available upon request at an additional fee), transfers and transport in a private limo throughout Piemonte Wineries and  from Torino  and back through to Milan hotel.  Airfare and airport transfers are not included, nor is travel insurance, which I would recommend. Please be advised that this tour is composed of a lot of walking, especially at the Salone del Gusto.  There is minimal seating at the Show, unless you are in a conference or pre-arranged venue, lunch, dinner, etc

A deposit of 50% is required to hold your spot.  This trip will be limited to a small number of 8-10 people.  Credit Cards and Paypal accepted.  3% discount for cash.  Please email Claudia Wisdom-Good at jetsetwisdom@gmail.com for further information, questions and an application form.  

Don’t miss out - Terra Madre/Slow Food is only every two years -this Jetset WISDOM trip will not  be repeated until 2016!

Italian American Girl: Commissione Giovani NY to Host First-Ever: “Young Italian Music Festival” on October 28th.

 Commissione Giovani NY to Host First-Ever: “Young Italian Music Festival” on October 28th.

This would be an event not to miss - what a great venue. For tickets, http://italianmusicfestival.eventbrite.com/

The Grand Finale for a visit to Venice!

Recently, returning from a 12 day cruise, on the decadent Oceania's Insignia, we arrived in Venice, for our final day, and overnight.  There are a couple of very fine details about making Venice one of your favorite destinations.  The finest detail, is at the end of your journey. Whether you are disembarking from a cruise (in my case), or leaving your hotel, the preferable choice of transport is a WATER TAXI.  Not only is it a very efficient way to get 'out of dodge', without question, it is an exhilarating arrivederci to Italia!  Lugging luggage over the steps of St. Mark's, onto the Vaporetto, squishing into a 12" square area with your bags, and hoping to be able to hop off at the right station is not for the faint-hearted, especially after a stunning visit in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  Nor is buying into the 'excursion' fare of the ship to transport you (with hundreds of others) to the airport....Don't do it to yourself!

 My driver of the day happens to be LUCCA, my very very favorite Italian name.  Lucca, at Venice Water Taxi is your man.  24hours a day...phone is +39.041.5229040...request my Lucca, but most likely any of their drivers will indulge.  The boats are superb, spotless and it's reminiscent of   a James Bond movie in a cigarette boat....with a very fine Italian flair!...AND between 4-5 people will only run  about E25 each with a generous gratuity (read: lots of luggage:   5 girls and 12 days...madonna!!!)  I had to attach a photo of Angie from Marbella, feeling quite smug about the whole moment!  Bacione , Venezia!

Another little detail of making the most of your visit, is planning a very early visit to  St. Mark's Square. Once that's done before the crowds (that would be by 10am),  spend time over in Accademia, visiting the museums (Galleria dell' Accademia is full of top art from the Venetian Renaissance), enjoying dinner at one of the many local osterie or trattorie, one of my long-time favorites is Trattoria Ai Cugnai at 857 Dorsoduro, which is run by 3 sister-in-laws and their sons - quite a handful, I must admit!  Buy yourself a day pass on the Vaporetto, and get out of the main areas - Venice is so full of secrets and surprises. Explore!! By the way, I'd love to hear what your favorite travel wisdom is about  Venice?

Links for this jetset wisdom tip: www.venicewatertaxi.it ,  www.veniceairport.it

Treasures of the Table Series: THE ART OF THE SALUMI

Last night was the first in the "TREASURES OF THE TABLE" series hosted by SPEAK LANGUAGE CENTER.  We had the extraordinary talent  of Mr. Chris Mattera, of Belmont Street Butchery, Richmond presenting the total lowdown on salumi.  We're voting that Chris needs his own Food Network show! Bello!! Not only were we able to taste Coppa, lardo (Lardo di Colonnata), Mortadella, Prosciutto, Rigatino (a cousin of Pancetta), Salame and Spalla, but he told us passionate tales of how he would produce these products, both in a small town in Tuscany, as well as in his shop in Richmond.

We started with a  small appetizer of Rigatino over Chicken Liver Crostini. Paired with di Leonardo "Toh!" da UVE ($11.99) from the town of Manzano in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, one of the most north-eastern regions of Italy. This "Toh" is 100% Friulano, a fuller bodied grape than the Pinot Grigios.   A crostino is a small piece of dried toast with a topping, that can range to a small dab of pesto, fish and herbs, or in this case Rigatino (similar to our bacon) on a chicken liver pate.  In my cooking school in Florence, we made beautiful crostini (plural) each day with crusts from the day before, added fresh herbs with a little protein, and that usually got our day off to a powerful start!

Mortadella was my favorite.  It is very finely textured cooked sausage, almost fragile to taste, but spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg and mace and studded with cubes of creamy white pork backfat (Lardo), finished with peppercorns and pistachios.  Typically it was made in a mortar....Mortadella, sometimes known as the great-grandfather of Bologna (or Baloney).
The Bresaola was gentle tasting, but firm consistency, and paired well with the Colsanto (Rosso Umbria 2004 @ $10.99!!  For many of us, the Lardo was a bit hard to 'swallow', literally.  Salt-cured pork fatback...not to be taken in large quantities...but apparently quite often served on toast in the morning....Okay...probably not on my toast...but.the Italian Lardo is cured in caves up in Northern Tuscany, near a very good friends' home in the small farming  village of Luscignano - right in view of the Carraras.

  A visit in itself, to see the humongous caves with the huge slabs of marble, brought down by massive trucks on a small winding road...not for the faint of heart, but just the same an incredible area to explore, hike, ski.  If you're interested, a great website for home rentals in a very unspoiled area of Toscana is listed below. The first time I sat on their terrace drinking prosecco, I thought the marble was snow - it is quite a majestic sight.

We also enjoyed tasting an amazing value Lambrusco.  Emilia Romagna is home, of course to Parma and Modena (you figure this out..), so their rich frizzante Lambrusco can hold up to a variety of fairly serious salumi, prosciutti and cheeses. At $6.99, Canina Social di Gonzaga Lambrusco - very nicely priced.

One of my favorites wines for the evening, rivalling Patricia Kluges' SP Rose @ $28.00 was the Rocche Costamagna Rosao Ose Vino da Tavola 2008 @ 9.99,  perfectly paired with the sweet (La Chinata) Paprika Coppa (a smaller capicola).

  Christina Ball, the owner/director of SPEAK Language Center  has moved into roomy quarters in the Glass Building in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia to provide her language students a beautiful setting  - which definitely doesn't hurt the learning!  Attendance has flourished!  But, what makes SPEAK so exceptional is Christina.  More about Ms. Ball in another post! But in the sharing,  she also invites her students and guests to attend cultural  venues -usually on the weekends. This allows students  of all languages to come together, for a bit of a social, a bit of a chat, (in the language of your choice since almost all of the instructors attend) and always a bit of an innovative wine-pairing with Robert Harlee of MARKET STREET WINESHOP & GROCERY, also in Charlottesville.  Cannot wait for the next Treasure from Christina, pictured far left....I hear it goes with the La Chinata Paprika from Spain....Manchego? Spero di si!

Contact Robert, the owner of the Market Street Wineshop to order any of the wines at wineshop@cstone.net.  Other links from this article:
www.speaklanguagecenter.com
http://www.belmontbutchery.com/

www.labellatoscana.com.