VISIT THE REAL ITALY & FRANCE OFF THE BEATEN TOURIST TRACK WITH ME   Dates for 2017  ROME & LAKE April May & June. FRANCE LIMOGES & DORDOGNE July & early August. One day tours or more for 3 days, there is always so much to see & taste. Suggested accommodation in nearby carefully restored village b&b pension and country houses. 

ROME & LAKE BRACCIANO: After 3 months collecting different treasures all around the lake just 40 mins north of Rome I have put together treks following the old tracks Etruscian, Roman, medieval, visiting derelict villages, churches & convents still standing proud. I have found traditional kitchens with grannies happy to teach you how to make their own receipes pasta sugos sauces perhaps with wild boar or simplly light home grown tomatoes with their secret ingredients; how to make fresh pasta fettucini, papardelli, casarecci, malformati, orecchietti, ravioli. Grannies amazingly generous to share their secrets & tips. 

Fortunate to meet a family farming 5 types of truffles well established now after 10 years who will show you how to harvest the truffles, how to prepare them, cook them and YES finally you will taste them in the same kitchens. Naturally with local wines should you wish to live this culinary sensation to the full as the locals do. 

LAKE & RIVER TREKS ETRUSCAN ruins, Baronial villa & hamlet, church & convent, Roman viaduct & water systems. Roman Ferrerie ironworks. Accompanied by local guide with me to translate.

NEW ENTRY for ROME: Elegant Italian cooking in '60s Designer house 20 mins from the centre of Rome. Hosted by the English owner with years of 5* Italian & French cooking for her distinguished guests. You will have the whole day at the house, resting in the beautifully landscaped English gardens & stunning pool. We all lunch together with our creations accompanied by excellent wines.

  
FRANCE in central west areas of Limoges & Dordogne (nearest airport and station LIMOGES & BRIVE) One day trips (choose one tour & lunch) or 3 days of village life, markets, tiny restaurants colourful & enterntaining, antique hunting in markets & broccants, visit old working paper mill, ancient iron forge, cheese making with goat's milk, bread making with family run shop. Summer August village fétès with music and dancing (August only). Medieval towns to visit and explore, market day full of colourful stalls food and artisan items, beautiful churches & of course cafè bars, little village restaurants offering exquisite menus all local produce and of course local wines.

BREADMAKING day at family run ARTISAN BOULANGERI mother & daughter. Working & learning now to make artisan French breads from ancient grains, all organic, buckwheat, rye & spelt for those wishing to try without gluten. Travelling with them to their suppliers of organic walnuts & flours not only organic but also using antique machinery, the old traditional methods.

CHEESE MAKING DAY at small goat farm, demonstration and tasting.

Accommodation in eco gites cottages in restful settings. Built by the owner using all natural materials, earth & straw, set in their peaceful lawns and pond. Cut away from the village but only 500 mts from the weekly market selling organic vegetables & cheeses from small local suppliers. A fine local butcher in the main little square where Marinette overs locals strong café & cool beers or a petit blanc.  True to French tradition there are 3 bread & pastry shops...bien sûr.

Another accommodation option offers the entire house to yourself with gardens & swimming pool shared with the other guests in the cottage opposite at a discreet distance.  I can email you the photos once we have seen your travel dates.

If you are planning to be in Europe this year APRIL MAY or JUNE in ITALY or JULY & AUGUST in FRANCE, send me your dates & locations using the EMAIL FORM above and I'll email you some OFF THE BEATEN TRACK TOURS.

I look forward to hearing from you and meeting up in Europe.