GRI Members Trip: Le Marche, March 27th – April 3, 2011
This year’s trip to the region of Le Marche was incredible! It continued to fulfill the GRI mission to learn about the products, taste the cuisine and wines and discover new ideas and techniques that GRI Members can bring back to their restaurants and customers in the United States.
Enjoy the article and video by Max Gross of the New York Post, one of the guest Journalists on the trip:
We want to take this opportunity to thank our very generous sponsors, Comune di Acqualagna and Provincia di Pesaro e Urbino. Partnering with GRI our hosts coordinated for us an itinerary which included: a lovely tour or the medieval town of Urbania and dinner hosted by Chef Isabella Silvestrini at Pieve del Colle, an organic farm and restaurant; a tour and lunch at “Prosciutto di Carpegna” PDO; a dinner tasting at Raphael College in Urbino featuring Casciotta, a well-known DOP cheese; a visit to Acqualagna, the “Truffle Capital” featuring a Demonstration of searching for truffles with Truffle Acqualagna accompanied by their dogs, a tour of the laboratories and production facilities for Acqualagna Tartufi and a truffle lunch at “Palazzo del Gusto” featuring Chef Samuele Ferri from “Osteria del Parco” and Chef Marco Mancinelli of “Birra al Pozzo”; dinner with Chef Alberto Melangrana at his historic Antino Furlo restaurant and hotel; a meeting and video presentation at the headquarters for the Province of Pesaro with a greeting by local authorities followed by a beautiful lunch along the coast in Pesaro at Chef Alceo Rapa’s restaurant “Da Alceo”; a hands-on visit at 4:15am to the Fish Auction in Fano; a detailed presentation in Cartoceto famous for their PDO olive oil followed by a lunch at the beautiful hilltop restaurant Symposium hosted by Owner & Chef Lucio Pompili; dinner at Uliassi, with acclaimed Owner and Chef Mauro Uliassi; a presentation of the Wine of the Region of Marche by the IMT Institute; a visit to the world famous Grottos of Frasassi.
Stay tuned for details in the coming months for the 2012 GRI Members Trip.
GRI Members Trip: Tuscany and Rome, April 11 – April 18, 2010
This year’s trip to the region of Tuscany and eternal city of Rome was spectacular! It continued to fulfill the GRI mission to see, taste, and learn about new products, wines and ideas that we can bring back to our restaurants and customers in the United States.
We want to take this opportunity to thank our very generous sponsor, The Banfi Vintners Foundation. Partnering with GRI and the Italian Culinary Foundation, plus the Mariani family, the team at Banfi coordinated for us: an excellent product & wine presentation and luncheon at the Enoteca Italiana di Siena; visits to Cecchi's Castello Montauto Vineyards & Winery; a presentation and dinner at Cecchi's Villa Cerna Estate; a very memorable day and evening at Castello Banfi that included a winery tour, formal wine tasting, a “Pinci Pasta” demonstration and luncheon, a beautiful traditional Tuscan flag and drum ceremony and reception in the courtyard of the Castello; this was followed by a Gala dinner highlighted by very special Banfi wine selections. It didn't end there, the following morning they accompanied us to a great tour and tasting at Fontana Candida Winery followed by a traditional Roman menu for lunch at the winery's Enoteca on property. We would especially like to recognize and thank Lars Leicht and Bill Whiting from Banfi who went above and beyond to make sure every detail was arranged for the group.
One of our gracious hosts who assisted us with coordinating many details of the trip itinerary, Dr. Alessandro Falassi, provided us with personally guided tours of the historical highlights throughout Tuscany that included: the charming city of Siena and the Piazza del Campo, site of the annual Palio di Siena; Castellina where we were greeted by the Mayor and enjoyed a lovely wine tasting in the medieval vaults; and the historical city of Pienza highlighted by a tour of the Castle, the historic summer home to several Popes and aristocratic families.
In true GRI style, our meals were superb each day! Highlighted by: dinner at the historic Antica Trattoria “La Torre” Proprieta Famiglia Stiaccini s.r.l. which has been in the family since 1860; a presentation and luncheon at Enoteca Italiana di Siena featuring the producers of the salumi and cheeses from Siena and the surrounding areas; lunch that included the famous “Mac Dario” at Antica Macelleria Cecchini with chef celebrity butcher, Dario Cecchini; a presentation and dinner at the beautiful Villa Cerna Winery Estate with the Cecchi brothers; a tour and luncheon at Podere Forte winery and farm famous for their Cinta Senese pigs.
After we departed the tranquil rolling hills of Tuscany we traveled to the vibrant and exciting city of Rome where we were taken on a beautiful tour of Rome by night followed by a traditional Roman style menu at the infamous “il Fortunato” in the historic center.
Our trip culminated with a very special final day in Rome. Many thanks to our GRI Chairman, Tony May, who arranged a private guided tour of the Sistine Chapel just for the GRI group!
2009 GRI Member Trip - Region of Puglia
Gruppo Ristoratori Italiani has been doing these trips since 1979. Every year we go to a different Region, so that we can learn about New products, New dishes, and New techniques. In other words ours is an educational trip to view the evolution of the food and wine products in the region we visit. Particularly these days when Italian Cuisine is No longer strictly tied-in to its folkloric image of regionality, but making the regional products the pivotal ingredient of Italian Cuisine. As we visit, View, and taste we always bring back with us new ideas for ourselves and the consumer (our customers). Our Trips allow us to keep up with what is happening with Italian food and wine.... after all Italy,for us is still the SOURCE!
Puglia is “the heel” of the boot of peninsular Italy. One of the most fertile regions rich with olive trees, wheat, and vines covering the territory like a colorful patchwork. Puglia is a top olive oil producer and among the biggest Italian producers of tomatoes, carrots, olives, eggplants, artichokes, almonds, and citrus fruit.
See a video from the 2009 Trip to Puglia!