Tasting

Dear lovers and connoisseurs of fine dining!
Where else can you give in to culinary temptation if not in Italy?

EleganTour is thrilled to arrange a journey into the wine and culinary culture of two magnificent regions in Italy: Sicily and Aosta Valley. Valdostan cuisine is simple and hearty. It is rich in flavor and distinct from traditional Italian cuisine. Pasta and olive oil are the two main ingredients of Italian cuisine, but they are not traditional foods in Valdostan cuisine. Here, people mainly eat cheeses, meat and game dishes, vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, cereals, chestnuts, various herbs, and honey. Furthermore, the Valley is renowned for its wine and spirits. While Sicilian cuisine is more aligned with typical Italian cuisine compared to Valdostan cuisine, it still maintains its own distinctive character among Italy’s regions. Why? Quite simply, it’s due to the island’s 3000 years of history and its numerous conquerors. The Greeks brought wine, ricotta cheese, and olives (today Sicily is famous for its olive oil). The Romans introduced wheat and initiated the typical Sicilian bread topped with sesame seeds. Additionally, they used breadcrumbs, reminiscent of cheese, to sprinkle over pasta. The Arabs introduced citrus orchards, cinnamon, almonds, and brought eggplants, which later became iconic in Sicilian cuisine. And the list goes on. Sicilian cuisine has a unique flavor infused with Arab influences. Spices are abundantly used in Sicilian cuisine. And, of course, the main place on the table is occupied by dishes based on fish and seafood. Fruit, berries, almonds, and olives thrive abundantly. Sicily is proud of its arancini (fried rice balls with filling), gelato, and granita (sweet fruit ice), as well as desserts like cannoli siciliani (crispy pastry tubes filled with delicate ricotta) and cassata siciliana (cake made with sponge cake, ricotta, and fruit).

Viewing product tasting solely as a means to assess its quality and characteristics is overly restrictive. Tasting a product is much more than simply savoring it; it means traveling through a territory flavors, perceiving it in its profound essence. Tasting allows the product itself to tell its story, with its distinct flavor born of dedication and passed down through generations to this day. It also means stepping into the homes of locals and experiencing their traditions and customs. Each of us can attribute different meanings to this word based on our own sensations and emotions…

To expand your culinary horizons through tasting, you can combine a guided tour of production facilities where you’ll immerse yourself in the traditional atmosphere of smells and flavors from these two regions.

Additionally, you can enjoy the services of a professional chef who will delight you with the preparation of Sicilian or Valdostan dishes right in your accommodation.