SOLD OUT (EMAIL FOR WAITLIST)

Join Chef Paolo Laboa and his partner and Solo’s wine guy, Jesse Bania, on a tour of Paolo’s home region, Liguria, and neighboring Piemonte. The gorgeous coast overlooking the Ligurian Sea is where age-old cooking traditions were met with passion and inspiration to create much of Paolo’s unique culinary style. Meanwhile, up and over the dramatic mountainous landscape in Piemonte lie equally iconic and historic opportunities for cultural and gastronomic exploration.

By joining us for this Ligurian-oriented experience, you will share the best food and taste through a special variety of wines at local hidden gems and featured producers we work closely with while learning the stories that lie behind them all. If you have a love for Italian food and wine and an interest in learning as you travel, you are in for an amazing opportunity to do so!

YOUR CHEF & GUIDE:

Paolo Laboa’s love for the cucina started in his mother's kitchen, where he learned the secrets of real Genovese cooking. After many achievements and adventures, including winning the World Pesto Championship, Paolo has found his new home in Portland, ME. Here he and his wife Mercedes live with their two children and run Solo Italiano, a much-loved pillar of the farm to table tradition in Portland. Paolo is very excited to share his home country and region and its cultural culinary traditions with you on this special trip!

Jesse connected naturally with Paolo and the mission behind Solo Italiano on the day it opened its doors. He went on to become the wine director of one of Portland’s most exclusive and unique wine lists as well as Co-Owner and friendly face of the restaurant. He LOVES Italian wine and has built Solo’s program around the natural connection it has to food, origin and atmosphere. He has traveled extensively around the world. He will be your tasting buddy, translator and travel partner. Ask him any question you might have along the way; he will be your pocket guide.

Testimonial:

"My mother and I had the pleasure of traveling to Genoa with owners Paolo and Jesse in October 2022. This was truly the trip of a lifetime. We stayed at a lovely boutique hotel right in the city center and each night we dined for hours. I am fairly certain that I enjoyed some of the most magical and delicious meals of my life on this trip. 

But beyond the stunning beauty of the Ligurian province, the excellent wine, and the incredible eats was the camaraderie and deep well of knowledge provided by our guides. Jesse and Paolo filled our days with tours and stories translating from Italian as they introduced us to other celebrated chefs and restaurant owners. All of our needs were tended to and we laughed a lot. I will never forget seeing wild boars on country backroads or dancing to a vintage jukebox after a meal that lasted 3 hours.

Both my mother and I plan to return to Italy with Solo Italiano in the future. Cannot recommend this experience highly enough."

-Dietlind Vander Schaaf

ROUGH ITINERARY:

Wednesday, 11/13/24:
Arrive at your hotel in Genova, check-in and meet up with Paolo and Jesse for an aperitivo hour to meet your traveling companions and review plans for the delicious week to come! We will share our first dinner together that night with a seafood forward meal where we start each of our trips. This is always Jesse’s favorite meal.

Thursday, 11/14/24:
We will head south along the coast to explore Recco and sample their special DOP Focaccia for lunch, as served in Solo Italiano as “Focaccia di Recco.” We will then spend afternoon in both Santa Margherita for an affogato and then Camogli for some sight seeing before dining at our favorite local restaurant.

Friday, 11/15/24:
We will travel up the Ligurian Riviera coast to Imperia for a tour of Anfosso (our preferred Ligurian olive oil producer) with lunch to follow. Afternoon winery visit with our friends at Claudio Vio or La Bruna. Dinner at a Michelin-rated restaurant in Genova.

Saturday, 11/16/24:
We will spend the morning exploring the city of Genova. We will visit Genova’s Oriental Market. The afternoon will be yours to roam or rest. Optional full rest day to pursue your own desired agenda in or outside of Genova. This will be your final night of accommodations in Genova. There may also be an opportunity to catch a Genova FC match if they are playing that day.

Sunday, 11/17/24:
We will travel north into Piemonte, beginning the day visiting a local Salumeria before a late lunch/dinner and maybe another affogato with Paolo’s charismatic friend, Fabrizio. Potential Grappa Producer Visit this afternoon. We will continue on to our sleeping accommodations at the agriturismo in Canelli.

Monday, 11/18/24:
Following a stunning breakfast at our new accommodations, we will start the day with a wine tasting in the Barolo DOC. Lunch will be nearby in Alba, followed by a late afternoon truffle hunt (or rest if its the following day). Dinner will be at our truffle hunt guide’s favorite local venue in Santo Stefano flush with the season’s best white truffles! Second of three nights of accommodations in Canelli.

Tuesday, 11/19/24:
Begin the day with bubbles at the UNESCO property of winemaker Contratto (Asti) followed by lunch at the charming Osteria Meravigliati. Potential truffle hunt (if not the day before) in the afternoon OR rest at the agriturismo before a collaborative dinner with their chef! Final night in Canelli.

Wednesday, 11/20/24:
Check out of your accommodation in Canelli and savor one last meal (breakfast) with the group. We will be transporting the group to Milan Airport and/or Torino. We have to end up in Milan, but Paolo and I would like to spend a 24 hours in Torino. This final day’s dynamic will be clarified as we get closer, but the option to get to Milan will be there for your planning considerations. There will be no sleeping accommodations included this evening however.

PRICE:
$5,950 per person double occupancy room
$6,950 per person single occupancy room

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
7 nights accommodation including taxes
4 lunches and 6 dinners per itinerary (incl. gratuities)
Continental breakfasts as offered by accommodations
All scheduled wine tastings
All ground transportation per itinerary
All additional sightseeing/admissions per itinerary

DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare or travel to and from Italy and our initial meeting/departure locations. There will be some free time built into the schedule for relaxation or personal exploration. All meals and activities therein are the responsibility of the guest(s).

CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Trip guaranteed departure is based on 8 attendees.
Travelers must be at least 21 years of age.

RESERVATIONS:
To secure your spot(s) on the trip please fill out the form below and submit your deposit of $2,000 per person.

Payments can be made by check or major credit card. Credit cards will be subject to a 2.5% processing fee.

CANCELLATIONS:
If you must cancel your trip reservation with us before 6/30/2024 you will receive a full refund of your deposit minus a $500 cancellation fee. After 6/30/2024, your deposit will be nonrefundable. Once the final balance is paid, it will also be nonrefundable. Final balance will be due 9/1/24.

Please consider taking travel insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. For insurance information please visit InsureMyTrip. Your credit card company may also offer trip protection for such a purchase automatically, as another option to explore. In the event that our boarders close anew or other federal restrictions stop us from traveling, we will work with participants where insurance/trip protection doesn’t cover deposits and final balance payments.

TRAVEL NOTES:

In addition to purchasing travel insurance, we also recommend packing light to the extent that you are comfortable. You may be staying overnight in different towns throughout the week. Having that personal item be a day bag is also helpful for your daily adventures.

RESPONSIBILITY:
Solo Italiano and Paolo & Jesse Bania accept no responsibility for any delayed departures or arrivals, missed connections, loss, damage, or injury to person or property. We reserve the right to change the itinerary and substitute arrangements of any equal value, if circumstances warrant change.