PRESS TRIP

he 60 mile stretch from to Parma crossing through in the middle is known as the ‘Valley of Food’ and is one of the T most compact areas of culinary expertise ever known. We were lucky enough to visit a Parma ham factory, and one which made Parmigiano Reggiano, to see and experience how much passion is put into creating these foods, which have become more famous than the places themselves. It is not a quick and easy process, the meat is preserved for anything A FOODIE from 12 – 26 months to ensure premium quality and the milk which makes the cheese goes from cow to production in less than 30 minutes. REDISCOVERY There are no nasties present in this food, it goes through the most natural preparation process possible, resulting in expensive but exquisite OF ITALY part of the country - perhaps it was the world- ingredients used the world over. class food or the thought of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Federico It’s called the ‘Land with a Soul’ and after (Grandson of founder, Ferruccio), but as our “If you love food, drink, spending time in Italy’s Emilia Romagna journey unfolded, it became very transparent. region, to mark the launch of the Italian architecture and cars, you’d We spent three days here and experienced edition of the 2017 Michelin Guide, the first some of the greatest things about Italy all in time it had ever been held outside of Milan, struggle to find a better one place, but you could easily set up camp for it’s easy to see why. This northern region is a fortnight. Its central location in the country’s spot in the world.” often overlooked but it’s where you’ll find northern territory means that a 90 minute car the picturesque cities of Bologna, Modena ride either way will deliver you to the beauty of Taste of Luxury and Parma, which are home to some of the Italian coastline - the Mediterranean on the Italy’s finest local produce - parmesan, west and the Adriatic Sea on the east. Whether Our Michelin experience was to take place Parma ham, tortellini, and many more. you would go is another thing entirely for there on the second day. Parma has been named a And that’s not all, it’s also home to the is so much to see and do within the Emilia UNESCO City of Gastronomy, which is partly world’s most luxurious motors, the likes of Romagna region itself! From the traditional why the launch of the Italian edition of the 2017 Ferrari, Lamborghini, , and Ducati, delicacies of Italian food, in its most natural and Michelin Guide took place here. We attended a and much of Italy’s Roman, Renaissance purest forms, to the stunning sites of the cities presentation of Michelin stars to some of Italy’s and Byzantine architecture, along with and the luxurious fashion and motor houses; most talented chefs, from the most desirable UNESCO World Heritage cities, top fashion If you love food, drink, architecture and cars, restaurants, at the stunning Parma Regio Theatre. brands like MaxMara, La Perla, and Sergio you’d struggle to find a better spot in the world. We sampled a buffet style lunch and heard from Rossi, and the birth place of Pavarotti. International Michelin Director, Michael Ellis. In the evening, we were treated to a 9-course Interested? We thought so. Here’s how we Michelin starred showcase gala dinner at the fell in love with Italy all over again. Voltoni hall of Palazzo della Pilotta. The Valley of Food If you visit Italy for the buildings then you won’t miss out in Emilia Romagna, we were “I’ve been to most tourist hot spots in Italy – able to view some architectural masterpieces, Naples, Pisa, Milan, Rome and Florence, to the Modena Cathedral, the Ghirlandina tower, name a few – and loved every trip. They are all both Unesco world heritage sites, and the 3rd famous in their own right and each as beautiful largest cathedral in the world, Basilica St Peters as the next but when we touched down in Cathedral in Parma. Bologna on a cool November evening, I really wasn’t prepared for the delights which lay Finally, we had the chance to explore both the Enzo ahead of me. Despite its relatively unknown Ferrari Museum and the Ferruccio Lamborghini status, the region has just as much to rival Museum and learn about their history. The speed, Italy’s bread and butter tourist areas, but there style, and finesse of these Italian sports cars are was something more appealing about this neat even more remarkable up close!”

FLIGHTS: British Airways flies direct to Bologna airport, from £72 one way. www.ba.com. We travelled with KLM from Manchester via Munich but in the summer you can get direct flights from Ryan Air.

WHERE WE STAYED: Bologna Hotel Corona d’Oro, Old Town Centre, Via Guglielmo Oberdan, 12, 40126 Bologna, Ph 0039 051 745 7611, www.hco.it Parma Hotel Palace Maria Luigia Viale Mentana, 140, 43100 Parma ph 0039 0521 281032 www.palacemarialuigia.it/. Hotel Corona d’Oro

WHERE WE VISITED: Museum: Via Paolo Ferrari 85 – 41121 Modena. museomodena.ferrari.com Prosciutto di Parma: Fratelli Galloni, via Roma, 84, +39 0521 354211 Parmigiano Reggiano: Baganzolino Via Puppiola, 15 Baganzolino Parma +39 0521 601313. Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum: Strada Provinciale Galliera, 319 40050 Funo di BO. www.museolamborghini.com Sfoglia cooking class: mUova e Farina www.uovaefarinabologna.it/ Corte Isolani 5/a Bologna The trip was held to mark the first launch of the Italian edition of the 2017 Michelin Guide. For further information on Emilia Romagna, visit www.emiliaromagnaturismo.it/en 116