Taste Bologna

A local food tour company in Italy's Food Valley

Taste Bologna runs its own food tours, cooking classes and tastings in Emilia-Romagna, in Bologna, Modena, Parma and Ravenna. Its menu is organized by city, and the corporate page says events can be held in any of those cities, or across several of them in a multi-city itinerary. The business is registered as Taste Bologna di Andrea Chierici, at Via Malta 19, 40135 Bologna, and prices are in euros.

The about page is written by the founder, Andrea, who says he "was born in Bologna on a hot day in August 1985." He traces the idea back to his grandparents' grocery store in the Bologna countryside in 1950, and dates the company itself to 2013: "Summer, on a beach in Ravenna. That's where Taste Bologna was born." What began as "a one-man show," the page says, "is now a family of local food nerds," working with "bakers, pasta makers, osterie owners" who are "friends first, partners second." The page also shows Andrea with Rick Stein during the filming of Rick Stein's Long Weekend in Bologna in March 2016.

The homepage says that "Since 2013, over 50,000 people have enjoyed the unforgettable flavors of our food tours and cooking classes," and cites "+1500 5-star reviews" on Google and TripAdvisor. The Ravenna page gives a slightly different figure, "OVER 1,400 5-STAR REVIEWS."

Tours and classes by city

In Bologna, the Classic Bologna Food Tour is a walk around the markets, "hopping together your lunch like real local Bolognesi," and the Bologna at Sunset Food Tour covers the city "during its most charming hour." The Bologna Cooking Class promises "new pasta cooking skills" as the souvenir, and the Chef's Table, Pasta Class, Wine and Stories experience is held "in a historic Bolognese palace." The Bologna Wine Tasting covers Pignoletto and Lambrusco "picked with care by a master sommelier."

The Modena Food Tour includes "exclusive access to a private acetaia," and a separate Modena Balsamic Tasting goes "From the grape to the bottle" to explain what the site calls "the black gold of Modena." In Parma, the Parma Food Tour goes "behind the scenes" to meet local artisans, and the Parma Cooking Class makes pasta from scratch and pairs it with local cured meats and wine. Ravenna has a food and mosaics tour and a mosaic workshop.

The homepage describes the public tours as small: "Join small groups - max 10 guests." It adds "No umbrella to follow," and promises tailor-made tips on restaurants, cafes and family shops for the rest of the stay. The tour and class listings do not show prices or times; booking runs through "Book now" and "Check Availability" buttons.

The Ravenna tour in detail

The Ravenna Tour: Food and Mosaics is the most fully described product, and it is sold as a private tour. It is priced "Starting at €99 per person," lasts 3.5 hours and runs "Every day and afternoon on request," with a cap of 12 people ("Write us for larger groups"). The price includes skip-the-line tickets to the Basilica of San Vitale and the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia, which the page values at €12.50; a piadina or crescione with a glass of Sangiovese; a full lunch of fish or meat dishes that change daily; and a certified local guide "fluent in English."

The FAQ covers the practical side. The guide can meet guests at a city-center hotel, at Ravenna station or in Piazza del Popolo. The train from Bologna is about an hour; the page gives the fare as €7 in one place and "around €8" in another. The company says the walk covers "less than 2 km (1.2 miles)" on a flat route and calls it "suitable for most fitness levels." It caters to vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and pregnancy-safe diets if noted at booking, has meat options for anyone who does not eat seafood, and serves more wine with lunch, with non-alcoholic drinks available. Larger parties are split into smaller groups, each with its own guide. If a train is late, the company tries to adjust but says rescheduling is not guaranteed. The tour runs in bad weather, since the mosaics are indoors and the food stops are sheltered.

The cancellation rule for this private tour is clear: a full refund "for cancellations made at least 1 week (7 days) before the tour date," after which the booking is non-refundable.

Private groups and corporate events

The menu has sections for families and kids, friends and couples, and corporate and team building, and the site sells gift cards. The corporate page offers "Private cooking classes, food tours, incentive travel, food challenges, and bespoke food projects." It describes cooking classes "under 500-year-old frescoes or a vineyard estate," team challenges such as making "the best tortellini with a local sfoglina" or racing through Bologna's historic markets, and group sizes "From small executive teams to large-scale events for 100+ guests," with several guides for larger groups. Most private classes and tours last "between 3 and 5 hours," tastings are pre-ordered so there is "Zero waiting time," and the company says it handles "most dietary restrictions (Vegan, GF, etc.)." It recommends booking "3-4 months out" for exclusive venues and promises "a detailed, all-inclusive quote within 24 hours." Contact is by email or by text or call on +39 348 9346 282.

What the site leaves open, and who it suits

The tours overview page lists the Bologna, Modena and Parma tours and classes without prices, start times or meeting points. The cancellation rule quoted above is given for private tours; the overview and homepage do not state one for the public tours. The languages on offer are stated only for the Ravenna guide, and the overview pages do not say whether children can join the public tours, though there is a family section for private bookings.

Taste Bologna suits food-focused travelers who want a small-group walk or pasta class with a local company, capped at 10 on public tours, and visitors who want a well-organized private day in Ravenna with tickets and lunch included. Its corporate program suits teams and incentive groups looking for cooking and food challenges across the region.