I live in Mexico, and I had for long time wish to make a guided trip to Italy and enjoy their wonders in history, food and wine. I was in Bologna, in the first week of June, I had a great time with Mr. and Mrs. Marcello Tori, they were wonderful to me, I got the chance to see many things I never imagine not even in dreams, I have traveled to Italy before, but now I can tell I got to see the real one.
Besides having Rafaella and Marcello with me, all the time, showing their love for their country, their pride for the history and the wonderful people and sharing only happy moments, The accomodations were wonderful, Cinzia and Domenico made me feel at home at their hotel in Riolo Terme, all the classes, the people I got to meet during my week, are now part of my wonderful memories.
I will always treasure my experience there, and I have talked about it with many friends here in Mexico, so I am sure many will travel in the future to Italy and live themselves my experience. Once again thank you for a wonderful week, great people, beautiful places, lots of history, the best food and wine.I send my best regards to all who made my experience possible.

I would simply like to say that I NEVER do this sort of things. I find that most "marketing" testimonials are simply marketing tools written to pull on your heartstrings and sell you something. This letter is written from my heart and is truly meant to convey an experience that did not last long enough, but will continue to live on in my heart and memories forever.
In September 2002, my sister, a dear friend and I booked a tour with Vegetarian Cooking Tours in Italy. This was our first trip to Italy. I am an artist and designer, so my imagination runs away with me. I tend to imagine larger than life. What a wonderful surprise to find my imagination could never conceive the beauty of the country, the food or the people of Italy. Meeting our host in Bologna was instant friendship. The warmth and genuine enthusiasm of Marcello and Raffa won our hearts. Their passion for all things Italian make us fall in love.
I am still reeling from all of the things I saw and experienced in Italy. The markets, the cooking lessons, the wine, the herb garden, the gelato, the people and the wonderful food made this an unforgettable tour.
Somewhere along the way, we forgot we were tourists and we began to blend into the landscape. We forgot Marcello and Raffa were tour guides and begin to think of them as family. It is simply impossible to put into words our Italian experience.
I am someone who enjoys visiting different places and always going somewhere new, but I cannot think of any place more beautiful or more inviting than the Italy of Marcello and Raffa. Be warned, you will never be the same once you have experienced the Vegetarian Cooking Tours in Italy.

I had an amazing time during your Umbria program and rave to everyone about it. All of the people I have told are so jealous and now beg me to cook for them, but I just tell them that they are going to have to go see Marcello and Rafaela and do it themselves! My sister will have great memories of this trip we took together. Thank you for the chocolates and the gift for my mother, she loved it. We thank you for taking us around and showing us another side of Italy, we will remember it for as long as we shall live.

We liked all of our itinerary, the accommodation was in the perfect location. Both Marcello & Raffaella were wonderful. Each of our cooking lessons was unique in its own way, the food was great, the variety better.

Hello Marcello & Rafa-
We had a wonderful time with you and have been bragging about our culinary experience. So far, though, we've only made the shallot sauce that Maria Grazia showed us and the salad that Luigi prepared for us. We would like very much to remain in contact with you as well. Your very gracious hospitality made our vacation a dream come true.

It was the most amazing adventure we ever had. We really felt Italian. We spent so much time with people who live there. Marcello could not do enough for us. Marcello is an amazing guy--he made the trip for us. It was interesting to see such different foods in different regions. Both tours (Emilia Romagna and Umbria Food Lovers’) were fantastic in their own ways.
We fell in love with Umbria. It could not have been better. Marcello goes to the end of the earth for you. I like green, the countryside, the cultivated country. The cooking lessons in Umbria were great. I loved the chocolate one. The one with Eros was at the convent. When we got there, we saw a picture perfect food display Eros had made, and I was so touched that I cried. Professor Piatti in Bevagna was a fantastic guide. He was born there and had the key to every church. I loved the truffle hunt. The family was warm and the father told such funny stories. Translating throughout the tour was good. No problems for us. Marcello is a natural schmoozer. He makes connections, gets you inside the kitchens. What to improve on the Umbria tour? Nothing. All great. In Trevi the hotel was fantastic. The woman manager was so nice.

Our tour was a nice mix of sightseeing, cooking classes, visits to places of food-related interest and good restaurants. My favourite visit was the factory where we watched parmesan cheese being made. The thing that attracted me to this tour, in fact, was this visit and the one to the makers of prosciutto. To me, that part was the most
interesting in the planning of the trip and in the actual taking of the trip - and I wouldn't have minded an extended amount of time dedicated to that kind of tour. For example, to see how olive oil is actually made.
The view out the window of our room was spectacular!. The hotel was clean and neat. Marcello did the tour and he is just wonderful, a real gem. He's genuine and considerate and thoughtful and seemed to anticipate every need. He always asked questions and kept the conversation flowing and nobody feeling left out (our tour group was 5 people). He gave us a lot of insight into the people and customs of the region, which is more important than the "typical" tour guide who recites dry facts (which I can...and did...read in the tour books before I went on the tour). He "made" the tour. He made us feel like "family" to him. He was also an excellent driver. Raffa wasn't with us a lot, but she was very kind and helpful and a pleasure to spend time with. The "cooking lesson" portions of the tour were the things of least interest to us before the tour. We're not "into" cooking, but love food. So mostly it was the chance to tour the factories that appealed to us - and the cities we were to visit. That said, the lessons were a pleasant surprise. They were fun and we really, really loved meeting the families and seeing their homes/gardens - feeling a "part" of their lives for an evening. My favourite cooking lesson was at Gianni and Maria Grazia's home. One, the lessons were not overly-long. Two, we cooked/tried/ate a variety of things. Three, the veggies came out of their garden - fresh peas, fava beans, etc. (and we got to eat cherries right off the trees - which impresses city people like us!). Four, we very much enjoyed the meal with them and their family and friends.
I liked the variety of dishes and tastings we were exposed to. For instance, one meal highlighted salume (it was wonderful). Another focused on very traditional types of dishes. We ate at all different kinds of places, tried wonderful foods – we were never bored by the offerings.
I think we got a lot of value for the money. The tour was very comfortable, informal, well-planned and well-paced. When we were at table, we were never rushed, always offered a variety of things to taste. If we wanted anything (an after dinner drink, for example), it was available. The little touches were very special - getting tour books of the cities we visited, getting the recipes we tried printed up in a book, having the chef at San Domenico come out and greet us and sign his book for us.

A million thanks for the fantastic photos that arrived last week. What a surprise when we opened the envelope and found the wonderful pictures from our most memorable trip to Italy. We think of you often and remember the incredible cooking classes, the meals, and the beautiful scenery. And having you as our tour guides made the trip so memorable.

We liked everything of our tour! It was a good mix of food, cooking, wine, Ferrari's and tours! Maria Gracia (the chef) and the cooking lessons were wonderful, really hands on! Marcello and Raffaella were the best! They are very charming, fun, and willing to do everything! Marcello picked us up early each morning and spent the entire time with us. They know everyone in the region and always got the best
service. Also I love Raffa's mother! She was so sweet and she even made a cake for me! We were made to feel like part of the family!
The cooking lessons with Maria Gracia were great because we had to do most of the work ourselves, which gives you the confidence to do it again when you get home. All the recipes with all the chefs were very simple with few fresh and delicious ingredients, and also not too time consuming to prepare. This is extremely practical, and we have made several dishes since returning home! If the dishes would have been too time consuming or too fancy, I am sure it would have been fun there, but not very helpful once we got home!
It’s too hard to say what was my favourite cooking lesson. I think the best thing was the MIX of the different chefs. Maria Gracia with her "mama" style, Umberto who is always on the move and very professional with a big kitchen, and Luigi (who taught us about Balsamico) made the most beautiful and delicious dishes!!!
The best thing was the fact that we always had so many dishes! We could taste a little bit (or a lot!) of so many different dishes, which really gave you a great feeling for region! Everything was great!!! Pasta, prosciutto, parmesan cheese, balsamico, wine, etc. etc.! A good question would be: "Would you return?" and our answer is a POSITIVE YES!!!

Briefly I thought that the best thing about the trip was Marcello and Raffaella. They were warm and sympathetic and they helped me as best they could. I liked the variety of the itinerary. The range of cooks from Valentino at San Domenico to Maria Grazia was fascinating, not so much because of how different they were but because of how similar.
I thought the balance of the lessons was perfect.

Ciao Marcello e Raffaella
I had a truly wonderful time with you in Italy. I have told everyone I know how fantastic your program is. I really cannot wait to come back and do it with you again. Will definitely try to come next year Again, thank you both so much for everything. You really went out of your way to make this the best trip to Italy I ever had (and I have been many many times). I miss it already. Grazie tante

Ciao ..Marcello and Raffaella, it is hard to believe that it has been only two weeks since we returned from Italy. Penny and I had a wonderful time in Venice, though we so missed being with you. I can think of no more wonderful way to have spent my special birthday than in Emilla Romagna with you as our guides. Every minute was an adventure, far beyond that which we expected. We fell in love with a region
that was virtually unknown to us before we began the exploration. I just picked up my pictures, and while they are not National Geographic quality, each one only tells a story and brings to mind so many wonderful people. Everyone you introduced us to was such a lovely person. Please thank each and every one of them for having shared with us that which they love and do so well. We learned so very much. While we have yet to treat our friends to that special meal, Penny and I plan to do that together in the near future. Everyday I think of how to include a little bit of Italy in what I do, eat and drink. I just this weekend opened the bottle of Nocino. It was as good as the first time we were introduced to it!
Above all we want to thank you for being the gracious and caring people you are. From the time we began communicating directly by e-mail, until the day you sent us off at the train station, we felt that we were being cared for in a very special way. You were sensitive to the difficult time we were experiencing in our own country. You were concerned every moment with our comfort and enjoyment in yours. "We liked" so very very much!! I know we will keep in touch. I only hope that someday we can share a bit of our paradise with you.
We have made some new friends.

Dear Mr.Marcello Tori & Mrs.Raffaella Raspadori
I trust that you are in the best of health and enjoying prosperity as usual.
I would like to thank you for the efforts and cooperation you have kindly
extended to us in the recent our study mission on in spite of your busy schedule.
The participants as well as those involved in the mission are sincerely indebted
to you for being able to have the guidance in the best environment and achieve
more than expected. Time and again, I would like to reiterate my gratitude.
We would like to repay your kindness and support by way of henceforth utilizing
and applying the knowledge acquired from you to our dairy operations and thank
you for giving us information on your activities.
Please extend our sincere gratitude and warm regards to everyone who helped and
supported us one way or another during our visit. And from now on, we hope that we would like to build up a bilateral relationship around dairy situations in your country and ours. I wish all of you continue success, and I remain,
Yours respectfully.

Dear Marcello and Raffaella,
The tour you provided for Rosalyn and me was one of the most enjoyable experiences we have ever had in all of our travels. The cooking lessons, hotels, restaurants, and guided visits to very special places all far exceeded our expectations. Also your help in planning our driving trip after the cooking school turned out great! We only got lost twice and we had NO auto accidents. We would love to do it all again someday. You operate one of the best tours in Italy and your personal attention to details makes this possible. We are already making pasta and trying other recipes.
Sincerely

Dear Raffaella and Marcello,
I hardly know where to begin in complimenting Marcello and Raffaella for their amazing program in Emilia-Romagna. As a single woman traveler, I've joined 4 different group tours in Italy over the last 4 years: a couple smaller-sized bus tours and 2 cooking school programs. The program run by Marcello and Raffaella is without question the best tour I've ever been on!
They took such good care of us, it felt like we spent a week with friends rather than as members of a tour group. They run their company with pride and integrity, and you also can sense their joy in sharing the wonders of this amazing region with visitors. Emilia-Romagna is an unbelievable area filled with riches just waiting to be explored by more Italophiles. We met so many extraordinary people during our one short week here. Rita, our gracious pasta instructor, who welcomed us into her lovely home and, with good humor, encouraged us along in our fledgling explorations into the world of handmade pasta. Max, the pottery artist from Faenza, who took time to show us around his studio, and then sat down to paint a few graceful designs on a bowl, before we lost ourselves among the treasures of his shop. The entire staff of San Domenico in Imola, where we had our last dinner together as a group. This was one of the most extraordinary dining experiences of my life thanks both to the impeccable quality of the food as well as to the professional ease and expertise of the staff. These are just a few examples of the many people we met during the week who made us feel so welcome and at home during our travels in Bologna and the surrounding areas.
Marcello and Raffaella have not only chosen wonderful people to work with, they have also been creative and thoughtful in the way they have woven together each day of the program. One morning you find yourself walking through a wonderfully scented herb and botanical garden with a very knowledgeable local guide; that evening you're in a cooking class taught by a man who shows you how to use these aromatic herbs in a variety of dishes. On another day, you're awestruck by a visit to a Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese factory and a traditional balsamic vinegar producer. That afternoon you're wowed by a fabulous lunch in which the main course uses parmigiano in a unique and delicious way, and in which every course - including dessert - involves the use of traditional balsamic vinegar.
Marcello and Raffaella have started with the unbeatable ingredients of this amazing region (parmigiano, balsamic vinegar, Parma ham, mortadella, Brisighella olive oil, fresh seasonal produce, etc., etc.) and trusted these ingredients in the hands of remarkable people along the way. What the lucky traveller ends up with is one of the most delicious and well-rounded experiences one could ask for in all of Italy. I can't wait till my next trip with them!