Has anyone ever booked a Rome food tour with Elizabeth Minchilli?
Jun 29th, 2015, 01:03 PM
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Has anyone ever booked a Rome food tour with Elizabeth Minchilli?
Finally! The accommodations are done and I can focus on my favorite part of any one of our trios: the food!
I've been reading Elizabeth's blog for years, have all her books, and follow her comments on my favorite food website ChowHound for which I have been writing and posting since its creation. I am very excited about the prospect about being able to tour Rome with her for a few hours in August ( provided she is not ferragosto-ing it somwhere else!).
Has anyone ever taken one of her tours? Any feedback would be most appreciated.
http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com/
I've been reading Elizabeth's blog for years, have all her books, and follow her comments on my favorite food website ChowHound for which I have been writing and posting since its creation. I am very excited about the prospect about being able to tour Rome with her for a few hours in August ( provided she is not ferragosto-ing it somwhere else!).
Has anyone ever taken one of her tours? Any feedback would be most appreciated.
http://www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com/
Jun 29th, 2015, 01:33 PM
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Have you emailed her about cost?
I have to say I love her blog and app too and I greatly appreciate her generous creation of free content. I was interested in a tour and frankly I was shocked by the cost. I'm sure it's a wonderful afternoon but for us the cost was stratospheric and it didn't include lunch. But that been said I think that a lot of people in these kinds of cultural fields underprice themselves in relation to the people they are working for. I remember a walking tour in Lisbon which ended with us telling them they needed to charge more!
Clearly Ms. Minchilli has worked out a price structure that is sustainable for her and a select client group but it says a lot about how much people will pay for an "experience". If you have used her, please don't take this as a criticism it's just the reality for me and I'm in no means a budget traveller. It's all a matter of whether it's affordable for you and then whether you believe it's worth it or not and of course these two concepts are intertwined. Lets just say I paid far less to take a private cooking class from a two star Michelin chef and it included lunch!
I'm sure the tour would be fabulous, in my experience bloggers are shockingly often who they appear to be online, despite worries to the contrary.!
I have to say I love her blog and app too and I greatly appreciate her generous creation of free content. I was interested in a tour and frankly I was shocked by the cost. I'm sure it's a wonderful afternoon but for us the cost was stratospheric and it didn't include lunch. But that been said I think that a lot of people in these kinds of cultural fields underprice themselves in relation to the people they are working for. I remember a walking tour in Lisbon which ended with us telling them they needed to charge more!
Clearly Ms. Minchilli has worked out a price structure that is sustainable for her and a select client group but it says a lot about how much people will pay for an "experience". If you have used her, please don't take this as a criticism it's just the reality for me and I'm in no means a budget traveller. It's all a matter of whether it's affordable for you and then whether you believe it's worth it or not and of course these two concepts are intertwined. Lets just say I paid far less to take a private cooking class from a two star Michelin chef and it included lunch!
I'm sure the tour would be fabulous, in my experience bloggers are shockingly often who they appear to be online, despite worries to the contrary.!
Jun 29th, 2015, 04:43 PM
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That's what it costs - but to be fair she does these tours privately so it is just you and Elizabeth and she will tailor tours to suit your requirements.
If you want something more affordable, her tours with her daughter, as I said, will probably suit
http://sophieminchilli.com/
If you want something more affordable, her tours with her daughter, as I said, will probably suit
http://sophieminchilli.com/
Jul 1st, 2015, 03:02 PM
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We took a private tour with her and were very happy with it. Totally enjoyed it. I know she does group tours but I don't know the specifics of those.
I would recommend it and we still talk about some of the things we sampled on the tour. It also helped us learn how to order some things in Italy.
I would recommend it and we still talk about some of the things we sampled on the tour. It also helped us learn how to order some things in Italy.
Jul 1st, 2015, 03:34 PM
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To answer your primary question, no. And I have nothing against food tours or paying for expertise.
But Roman food is not a big mystery, and it is right out there. It is not like some other regions of Italy where you need to get doors unlocked to sample home cooking or farm cooking. The glory of Roman eating is its communal places and street foods, and the list of recommended places to sample that is pretty small and well known, or is easily found on the web.
I would highly recommend reading Fred Plotkin's Italy for the Gourmet Traveler, David Downie's books on Rome -- any thing else Rome specific that has been published and -- since you live in NYC -- have a some meals at Maialino, Lattanzi and the new Roman pizzeria there (I forget the name, think it begins with an M).
For the amount of money you are going to spend for a guided food tour you could get very familiar with the Roman kitchen, discover what you like, and then zero it on it in Rome.
For me, a food tour that doesn't include lunch is odd. Lunch is a great aspect of Roman eating.
Just as something to think about: One of the real difference between Italian food culture and "foodie" culture as it has taken hold in the non-Italian world is the emphasis on sharing a meal, making the most of seasonal foods. But sharing the meal is just as important as the taste sensation. In the non-Italian world, the focus on food is on a bit of this and that, grazing, small plates -- as much sensations as you can get in a short time. It's a consumer-driven race to consume "wows".
So a lot of food tours in Italy are geared to giving you bites of this or that -- but not toward relaxing over a meal and digesting it.
To me, one of the greatest "souvenirs" you can take home from Italy is understanding the deep respect that Italians have for eating as a sociable, relaxing, life-enhancing experience where time goes out the window.
That's not to say that a food tour won't give you added knowledge or be fun. But the priority -- I think -- should be having meals in Rome like the Romans have them.
But Roman food is not a big mystery, and it is right out there. It is not like some other regions of Italy where you need to get doors unlocked to sample home cooking or farm cooking. The glory of Roman eating is its communal places and street foods, and the list of recommended places to sample that is pretty small and well known, or is easily found on the web.
I would highly recommend reading Fred Plotkin's Italy for the Gourmet Traveler, David Downie's books on Rome -- any thing else Rome specific that has been published and -- since you live in NYC -- have a some meals at Maialino, Lattanzi and the new Roman pizzeria there (I forget the name, think it begins with an M).
For the amount of money you are going to spend for a guided food tour you could get very familiar with the Roman kitchen, discover what you like, and then zero it on it in Rome.
For me, a food tour that doesn't include lunch is odd. Lunch is a great aspect of Roman eating.
Just as something to think about: One of the real difference between Italian food culture and "foodie" culture as it has taken hold in the non-Italian world is the emphasis on sharing a meal, making the most of seasonal foods. But sharing the meal is just as important as the taste sensation. In the non-Italian world, the focus on food is on a bit of this and that, grazing, small plates -- as much sensations as you can get in a short time. It's a consumer-driven race to consume "wows".
So a lot of food tours in Italy are geared to giving you bites of this or that -- but not toward relaxing over a meal and digesting it.
To me, one of the greatest "souvenirs" you can take home from Italy is understanding the deep respect that Italians have for eating as a sociable, relaxing, life-enhancing experience where time goes out the window.
That's not to say that a food tour won't give you added knowledge or be fun. But the priority -- I think -- should be having meals in Rome like the Romans have them.
Jul 1st, 2015, 06:33 PM
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You could also take a look at Katie Parla for food tours. Both she and Elizabeth also have food apps for Rome.
We still rave over the large platter of various pork from Norcineria Viola on Camp dei Fiori and the delicious homemade red wine that they served with it. Served chilled and it was the perfect wine for the rich pork. It is a very happy food memory for us both. We did our tour early evening on our first day in Rome.
We still rave over the large platter of various pork from Norcineria Viola on Camp dei Fiori and the delicious homemade red wine that they served with it. Served chilled and it was the perfect wine for the rich pork. It is a very happy food memory for us both. We did our tour early evening on our first day in Rome.
Jul 1st, 2015, 07:41 PM
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I had a lovely email correspondence with Katie Perla today. Unfortunately she is completely booked when we are there but she recommended some other people. I am extremely involved in the food world here in New York City and fairly knowledgeable about Roman food. (We are actually Sicilian and come from a family of outstanding cooks if I do say so myself). I hosted my son's 10th birthday dinner at Mailino. He is obsessed with their caccio w Pepe and as great as mine is at home, their tonnarelli rocks! He is excited to try the gnocchi caccio e Pepe at Cesare al Casaletto and the carciofi all a giudia at Piperno. I have no doubt we will eat very well with or without a food tour as we are very familiar with the restaurants in Rome. I was interested in exploring Monti with EM.
Jul 1st, 2015, 08:41 PM
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We explored Monti on our own a few months ago. With the help of several Fodorites and their wonderful knowledge, experience and suggestions, we ate VERRRRRRY well and enjoyed the area very much. We also stayed in a hotel there which was my intention from the beginning, i.e. to be in an area which we are not familiar with at all, after being in Rome endless times!! Hit my screen name for my trip report from March 2015 and there is a very detailed report of mostly the food and restaurants. Enjoy.
Jul 1st, 2015, 10:22 PM
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So you already know a lot about Italian food culture and Roman dishes! But I am wondering why you think Monti is any sort of special neighborhood for Roman food. It is the rione of Rome where Minchilli lives and it has its fair share of tasty trattorie and upscale restaurants (and also an overload of "hip" but still very touristy places), but I wouldn't single it out (like I might Testaccio or the Trionfale market/Cola di Rienzo area) as a place I'd be interested in having a guide, maybe especially not a 150e per hour guide.
Also, have you considered having a Home Food dinner during your stay? The food can be outstanding.
http://www.homefood.it/en/
(minor note: only 2 c's in "cacio", not 3)
Also, have you considered having a Home Food dinner during your stay? The food can be outstanding.
http://www.homefood.it/en/
(minor note: only 2 c's in "cacio", not 3)
Jul 2nd, 2015, 02:37 AM
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Sandralist we've always intended to have a home food dinner, it looks like a great experience and a real way to learn about Italian culture in the home.
For aynone who is interested in a food tour at a different price point here are a couple of suggestions. This was our DIY food tour of Prati which we very much enjoyed.
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2014/...ma.html?q=rome
We also went on a food tour of Testaccio which was a good introduction to a the neighborhood and different types of food.
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2013/...ly.html?q=rome
Or for lunch and a walk around Monti
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2013/...ti.html?q=rome
For aynone who is interested in a food tour at a different price point here are a couple of suggestions. This was our DIY food tour of Prati which we very much enjoyed.
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2014/...ma.html?q=rome
We also went on a food tour of Testaccio which was a good introduction to a the neighborhood and different types of food.
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2013/...ly.html?q=rome
Or for lunch and a walk around Monti
http://www.somuchmoretosee.com/2013/...ti.html?q=rome
Jul 2nd, 2015, 06:22 AM
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Re: Sandralist's rec about Homefood dinners
We did two Homefoods dinners on recent travels in Italy.
In Sulmona, we enjoyed a dinner cooked by two friends.
There were several courses of delicious food reflecting the Abruzzo region and the meal ended with various homemade liqueurs. The dinner was a highlight of our trip, especially because I recognized the cooking style of my own Abruzzese grandmother.
In Rome, we went outside the historic center to a more residential area of highrise apartments. Our cook was a much younger lady (it was her first Homefoods experience) and she had invited some friends to join us. We enjoyed the food but also the opportunity to hear about the life of young professionals in Italy and to see how they live.
For people interested in trying this experience, I suggest making sure that your hosts speak some English, if you are unable to converse a bit in Italian. Our hosts in Sulmona spoke almost no English, but a friend of theirs who was present spoke English very well. I speak some Italian, and there was an Australian couple present, so amongst us, we were able to keep a lively conversation going.
Anyhow, I recommend the experience.
We did two Homefoods dinners on recent travels in Italy.
In Sulmona, we enjoyed a dinner cooked by two friends.
There were several courses of delicious food reflecting the Abruzzo region and the meal ended with various homemade liqueurs. The dinner was a highlight of our trip, especially because I recognized the cooking style of my own Abruzzese grandmother.
In Rome, we went outside the historic center to a more residential area of highrise apartments. Our cook was a much younger lady (it was her first Homefoods experience) and she had invited some friends to join us. We enjoyed the food but also the opportunity to hear about the life of young professionals in Italy and to see how they live.
For people interested in trying this experience, I suggest making sure that your hosts speak some English, if you are unable to converse a bit in Italian. Our hosts in Sulmona spoke almost no English, but a friend of theirs who was present spoke English very well. I speak some Italian, and there was an Australian couple present, so amongst us, we were able to keep a lively conversation going.
Anyhow, I recommend the experience.
Jul 2nd, 2015, 02:32 PM
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Regarding speaking English/Italian for Home Food dinners:
It is generally the custom for Home Food hosts to invite a local Italian who is an English speaker to join the dinner table if the host has limited or no English and the other booked guests are English speakers. If you have any trepidations, you can e-mail the Home Food website and ask when you book the dinner if there will be English speakers there.
I also would like to just offer for people's consideration that when you are traveling in a foriegn country, it can really be a lot of fun to go ahead and deliberately put yourself in a situation where you don't speak the language but still get to interact. In Italy especially, the lack of a shared langauge almost never stops anybody from trying to communicate and converse. Besides, a lot of words in English come from Latin, and it can be surprisingly easy to get what Italians are saying to you -- especially when you are all focused on one thing at the same time, like the food you are sharing. You'll catch on to what is being said.
Most Italians study English in school, and although some are very shy about deploying their "high school Italian", they will listen and meet you more than halfway, especially if they are your hosts.
Anyway, I have eaten such incredibly delicious food at Home Food meals, I would consider it a very tiny price to pay to not be able to talk at the same time as chewing. If you cook, these Home Food "cesarine" are amazing cooks, and you learn a lot just by eating their food, no words needed.
It is generally the custom for Home Food hosts to invite a local Italian who is an English speaker to join the dinner table if the host has limited or no English and the other booked guests are English speakers. If you have any trepidations, you can e-mail the Home Food website and ask when you book the dinner if there will be English speakers there.
I also would like to just offer for people's consideration that when you are traveling in a foriegn country, it can really be a lot of fun to go ahead and deliberately put yourself in a situation where you don't speak the language but still get to interact. In Italy especially, the lack of a shared langauge almost never stops anybody from trying to communicate and converse. Besides, a lot of words in English come from Latin, and it can be surprisingly easy to get what Italians are saying to you -- especially when you are all focused on one thing at the same time, like the food you are sharing. You'll catch on to what is being said.
Most Italians study English in school, and although some are very shy about deploying their "high school Italian", they will listen and meet you more than halfway, especially if they are your hosts.
Anyway, I have eaten such incredibly delicious food at Home Food meals, I would consider it a very tiny price to pay to not be able to talk at the same time as chewing. If you cook, these Home Food "cesarine" are amazing cooks, and you learn a lot just by eating their food, no words needed.
Jul 2nd, 2015, 06:19 PM
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"Maialino" (note spelling) means "little pig" in Italian. ("Maiale" is a full-grown pig, and "ino" is a diminutive.) The name was chosen partly because the restaurant focuses on pork, but also because its owner, Danny Meyer, went to college in Rome, where his Italian friends nicknamed him "Meyerino" -- until they noticed he always ordered suckling pig at the group's favorite trattoria, so they then dubbed him "Maialino".
