Meet Susy Patrito, the heart of our culinary journeys in Emilia-Romagna. Susy has dedicated more than three decades to the art of meaningful travel, immersing travelers in culture and community far beyond typical tourism. Today, Susy guides Esperienza guests with a passion for the culinary and cultural treasures of Romagna, the power of meaningful connection, and a focus on care for travelers and the people and places they visit.
Italian Cuisine: So Much More Than Just Food
What the UNESCO announcement about Italian cuisine means to us, and to the world
In December, Italy celebrated an announcement by UNESCO. Italian cuisine is an intangible cultural heritage. Not just a dish. Not just an ingredient. The entirety of Italian cuisine.
Who is UNESCO? What is meant by the label “intangible cultural heritage?” And why is this announcement important?
Esperienza Awarded For Commitment To Italian Cuisine in Small Villages
On a recent summer evening in the charming town of Forlimpopoli, Esperienza founder Anna Bonavita was presented with the Marietta Ad Honorem award by the distinguished Casa Artusi Foundation, on behalf of Esperienza. The award recognizes Esperienza’s promotion of small Italian villages among Americans, through our immersion tours dedicated to the appreciation of Italian cuisine and its rural roots.
Travel’s Healing Power
Fifteen years and a lifetime ago our family of five—my wife, our three school-aged children and I—lived in Italy. It was our la dolce vita period. That experience reawakened a love for many things—family, simplicity, beauty, adventure, and notably, all things food-related. Upon returning to my American home, even as I resumed a conventional career and lifestyle, I was changed. Among other things, I spent more hours creating in the kitchen, relishing every moment. I was even inspired to enroll in a formal culinary arts training program. Life continued, enriched.
Ricetta della Felicità
Thoughts Inspired By A Special Summer
Having now returned from my late summer travels in Romagna. I’m pleased to say it was a month of deep immersion and unexpected creativity, filling me with great energy for the time ahead.
Much of my time was spent with our adventurous and inspiring Esperienza travelers as we explored the region and co-created so many beautiful moments together during our new Art, Cuisine and Language tours.
Panettone Passion
Panettone!!! The great bread reserved for the Christmas festivities has more than any other conquered Italia. It has symbolic value in her gastronomic culture. It is at the heart of every gathering. Panettone is a must at every holiday table. Is it because of a happy and lucky combination of ingredients such as raisins, candied citrus, and vanilla which are said to bring us good fortune? Or is it the communion of wonderful ingredients of mother yeast, rich egg yolks, and pasture sweet cream butter? Or could it be that this ethereal cake transcends community by fragrance and flavor, new and old; it restores us during the most cold/ dead season?
Esperienza Class Note
Many thanks to Team Esperienza for the 2020 Cooking with the Seasons - Natale class. It was wonderful, easy to follow and I felt as if I was right there, in the kitchen, in Italy! I was waiting for a cup of espresso. I had to pay attention as I’m not sure what I was thinking whenI invited friends to join me for dinner after I returned from Italy on Saturday. I had to chuckle with their reactions to my going to Italy….which calmed down considerably when I shared it is ZOOM. With Covid, going to Italy via ZOOM is a pretty good option with a bit of imagination in tow.
Pasta: A Magical Meditation
Early December is the time when I begin to think about making pasta by hand. Yes, one can buy everything in the frozen section of any supermarket, but I want the ritual that will connect me with my past, my present and even may be taken to the future by my grandchildren. And so it is preparation time, the quiet time with the ingredients and my memories.
An Evening At Macondo
One of my favorite stories is of time spent in a now closed restaurant in picturesque Cesenatico called Macondo (after the magical village from One hundred years of solitude of Gabriel García Márquez). We went there because Macondo was the antithesis of a restaurant - it was away from the main tourist drag along the canal, the two self appointed chefs were childhood friends of the fisherman who provided the daily catch and then there were a couple of local musicians, also friends, who we were told will stop by whenever they can. There was as much spontaneity and genuinity as one could wish for.