July 2nd, 2015
Learn To Cook The Bolognese Way With ‘The Boho Chef
Enjoy a stay in Bologna with a difference this summer, by immersing yourself in one of the things this beautiful city is renowned for the world over – its food.
In the city that gave us ragu, tagliatelle and tortelloni, CIBO – The Culinary Institute of Bologna – offers exciting and addictive, hands-on cookery experiences, lasting for anything from one hour (for a quick pasta making session), to five days, for the amateur cook wishing to benefit from in-depth tuition that will teach them how to cook a wide range of authentic Italian dishes, the Bolognese way.
The courses are a magnet for people worldwide, who share a passion for food and you can soon find yourself forging relationships with fellow foodies from other countries, who have made a beeline for Bologna’s only purpose-built cookery school.
Under the inspirational guidance of CIBO owner – the enigmatic ‘Boho Chef’, Stefano Corvucci – and fellow tutors, Lucia Bezzi and Mattia Battirani, food lovers of all skills levels come together to cook. Some may be starting from scratch on the culinary scale, whilst others may be honing their skills. None of that matters, as you join forces and work as a team, to create dishes you can then eat together for your lunch or dinner. Fun and laughter fill the kitchen, so prepare to be entertained as well as immersed in your food passion. Having fun with food is CIBO’s ethos.
One-day courses are hugely popular and will typically see you creating pasta dishes in a completely hand made way, from the making and rolling of the dough, to the preparation of fillings for stuffed pasta and the sauces for baked pasta dishes. You will also create entrees, a couple of Italian main dishes, dessert and possibly other things too. During this process you will learn how to alter dishes in order to perfect their taste or appearance, handle meat and vegetables to maximise the value from them and combine flavours and textures, to produce meals that truly tickle the taste buds.
What you won’t be doing is learning a recipe, or knowing what you will be cooking before you’ve started your day, or half-day, with a visit to Bologna’s historic Mercato di Mezzo, where you will see what is available for purchase that morning. Taking back the selection of foods that are in season, you and your tutors will then decide which dishes to create with it. As Stefano Corvucci says, his students learn techniques, not recipes … the ‘R’ word being almost banned during the courses.
A meal without vino is breakfast, in Stefano’s eyes, so you will have every opportunity to imbibe CIBO’s own wine during your experience, whilst listening to stories from the great raconteur that is the ‘Boho Chef’. All tutors speak English, so there are no linguistic barriers to overcome.
Head to www.cookingclassesinbologna.com to choose the cookery experience to suit you, whether that is purely focused on pasta, vegetarian cooking, meat only, a half-day, full-day or multi-day experience, or learning the secrets from an Italian Nonna’s kitchen. Special courses for those with dietary needs, who do not wish to miss out on the delights of Bolognese cooking, are also available.
Prices start at around £32 for a one-hour course, to £210 for a full-day experience (8 hours), £617 for three-days and £1028 for five days (prices dependent on Euro exchange rate). UK foodies can get a 10% discount on courses running for half-a-day and longer, by emailing details of their chosen course and desired date to giannah@me.com
Notes to Editors
- Suggestions of places to stay in Bologna can be found at the website and other foodie experiences can be added to the itinerary, by booking a food tour with Bologna Welcome (www.bolognawelcome.com)
- Direct flights to Bologna are available with EasyJet (from London Gatwick), RyanAir (from London Stansted, Manchester, Edinburgh and Bristol) and with British Airways, from London Heathrow. One-stop flights can be booked from most major airports with operators such as Lufthansa (via Frankfurt or Munich), KLM (via Amsterdam) and Air France (via Paris).
- Press wishing to request a press trip booking at CIBO, should contact Jane Hunt on 01253 891114/jane@catapultpr.co.uk to discuss.
- Other courses are available at CIBO, catering for the needs of serious cooks wishing to spend a full month at CIBO and there is an option to add a food experience in Venice on to the Bologna course, subject to tutor availability and dates.
- Courses for professional chefs, who wish to become skilled in authentic Italian cooking and restaurant management, are available, both at CIBO in Bologna and in the chef’s own restaurant, in the UK. These often appeal to restaurant owners and chains wishing to train up sous chefs. When travelling abroad, as a restaurant consultant and trainer, Stefano Corvucci will typically spend five days with the chefs undergoing training. All can be tailored to individual requirements, however. Contact Jane Hunt, on 01253 891114 to find out more.
- The ‘Boho Chef’ is also available for personal appearances and cooking demonstrations at UK food festivals, exhibitions, events, private functions and store openings – to name but a few types of occasion at which he can entertain customers, visitors and guests. Please contact Jane Hunt, on 01253 891114 or via email to jane@catapultpr.co.uk to discuss Stefano’s availability and fee.
