Milk Street on the Road: Naples and Campania
OVERVIEW
The freshest buffalo mozzarella. Rare piennolo tomatoes. The world’s best pasta. These are the building blocks of the world-famous cuisine of Campania, the southern Italian region that includes Naples, Pompeii, the Amalfi Coast and Mount Vesuvius. On this exclusive-to-Milk-Street eight-day culinary tour, we get a perspective on Naples and Campania that few tourists ever do. We begin with a crash course in Neapolitan food led by Culinary Backstreets tour leader and Naples native Chiara Garofalo. She’ll take us to local markets, restaurants and kitchens tucked away in the city’s winding streets. We then head to the countryside to see where the ingredients that feed the city come from. In the stunning pastoral landscapes of rural Campania, we’ll meet up with Friend of Milk Street, cookbook author and culinary instructor Viola Buitoni, who has arranged special access to some of the region’s best artisanal food producers. Over the course of five days, you’ll visit family farms, harvest seasonal produce and shop at small-town markets. Back at our home base–a villa where we are the only guests and that features a grand traditional kitchen–we’ll turn what we’ve found into great meals with Viola’s guidance. For this first departure only, you’ll also be joined by Milk Street’s Director of Education Rosemary Gill. Viola and Rosie have been teaching together for almost 15 years and look forward to sharing time with you cooking, exploring and learning about the foods of Campania.
HIGHLIGHTS
Private kitchen, workshop and studio visits
Artisans in Naples and the Campania countryside will welcome us into kitchens, workshops and studios that are otherwise closed to visitors.
Hands-on demonstrations and cooking lessons
We’ll learn the traditions and innovations of Campania cuisine with cookbook author and teacher Viola Buitoni.
Exclusive agricultural tours
Viola Buitoni has arranged exclusive access for us to visit farms and meet producers of buffalo mozzarella cheese, rare volcanic-grown piennolo tomatoes, and southern Italian pastas.
Immersive cultural experiences
You’ll hear a private concert of Neapolitan folk music, visit a farm nestled within ancient ruins, and learn how volcanic activity has shaped the cuisine and traditions of the area.
Great meals
You’ll sample local ingredients like fresh ricotta cheese and buffalo mozzarella. You’ll try deeply savory caponata, bucatini with chili flakes and anchovies, a family’s authentic eggplant parmigiana, rum-soaked cakes and Naples’s lobster tail-shaped spin on a croissant. And you’ll sip on many local wines.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Arrive & Meet the Group
Day 2
Explore the City’s Kitchens
Day 3
Visit Phlegraean Fields, Taste Wine & Meet Viola
Day 4
Immerse Yourself in Local Cheese Production
Day 5
Taste Italy’s Best Tomatoes & Pasta. Cook with Campania’s Produce
Day 6
Take it Easy & Make a Campania Feast with Viola
Day 7
Return to Naples & Celebrate the Week
Day 8
Say Goodbyes and Depart
ABOUT US
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- Pricing and Accommodation
- The total cost of this trip is $5,250 per person in a shared accommodation. For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, an additional $750 will be due at the time of the final payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip.
- Activity Level
- Travelers should be reasonably fit and feel comfortable walking 1 to 3 miles each day, remaining on their feet for long periods of time.
- Arrival and Departure
- For flights in and out of the Naples international airport, we suggest you arrive by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart any time on Day 8. Alternatively Naples is a short train rider from Rome. We are happy to book extra nights for you at the group’s hotel; just email us for arrangements after booking your spot on the trip. We’ll also provide suggestions for things to do and see in the area on your own if you choose to extend your visit.
- Inclusions
- • All accommodation throughout the trip in stylish boutique hotels
• Professional guides throughout the entire experience.
• All meals and drinks included in the above activities.
• Admission to all proposed activities, locations, and events.
• Private coach for all transportation outside of the urban center
• A hungry group of Culinary Backstreets and Milk Street travelers, excited to explore all that Campania has to offer! - Exclusions
- • Airfare and transportation to/from the start and end destination
• Meals beyond those specified in the itinerary above
• Alcoholic beverages other than those served at the table
• Accommodations outside those noted, including pre- or post-trip hotel nights
• Activities, tours & entry fees not included above
• Personal purchases and incidentals at hotels
• Travel insurance
• Trip Leader tips - Dietary Restrictions
- We encourage an adventurous palate! We try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, though ingredients cannot always be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. This trip can feature plentiful pescatarian options but is not good for gluten-free diets. If you have other food allergies or intolerances, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
- Notes on Itinerary
- Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.
- Our Commitment to Safety and Sustainability
- At Culinary Backstreets, we have reinforced our commitment to sustainability and safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our trips while maintaining the quality of the experience. All of our experiences are designed to have minimal impact on the community and environment. For more details on our precautions, read here. Our cancellation policy is extremely flexible to deal with changes in travel plans.
Testimonials
“Magnificent!!! Could not be better!”