Testimonial

It’s hard to imagine a host in Italy warmer than Marcello; he will do practically anything for his guests. The program Marcello and Raffaella arranged is interesting, delicious and fun especially if Marcello is there. We had many spontaneous requests outside of the regular program — Marcello was eager to help us, find and see everything. He was always trying to figure out how we could see and do everything.  Marcello and Raffaella are wonderful people whom I recommend to everyone interested in the cuisine and culture of Emilia Romagna.

I just arrived home yesterday afternoon after one of the most remarkable experiences I have ever had abroad. When I first looked into going on a tour, I was quite reticent, having images of large groups of people squished at long tables at crowded, mediocre restaurants, packed onto noisy busses, following haphazardly after a tacky tour director holding up an umbrella and walking too briskly from site to site. Wow, was I ever naïve! Being with Marcello and Raffaella in Bologna and in the picturesque surroundings towns was like sailing on a cloud. My mother and I felt truly pampered, safe, taken care of and happy. More than anything , however, is the absolute warmth, kindness, and professionalism that Raffaella and Marcello both possess. We quite simply adore them. Being allowed to tailor our tour to meet all of our needs (gastronomic and retail-therapy!) is such an unusual and wonderful feature of your company. I already want to do another tour with wine and food and friends sometimes in the next year!
Saying thank you is hardly enough, but know that if anybody ever needs a recommendation, I’d be more than happy to share my experiences!
You are true gems in the industry.
With profound thanks

This region in the extreme Northeast region of Italy, bordering Slovenia, is not well known to American travelers, but we found it charming with an abundance of delightful wines from small farms. As usual, Bloune had done their homework and took our small group (3 couples) to meet delightful and talented local producers of wine, food and art.
We stayed the entire time in Udine, in a comfortable hotel (be sure to ask at check-in if you prefer air conditioning)with a driver collecting us each morning for the day’s excursion to wineries, historic sites and wonderful meals. A day trip to Spillembergo, home to an internationally renowned mosaic school, was especially interesting.
The cooking lesson featured frico, a regional dish made from riced potatoes and grated montasio cheese, a dish I guarantee we’ll be making the first cold night we have.
We loved the wines. The whites were as good as expected in this region and the reds a delightful surprise. And then there was the white merlot, something wonderful.

This is the perfect trip for people who love Italy in all its diversity, and don’t like crowds. Bravo, Bluone.

I can’t say enough about what a great week this was! This is the very best way to have what felt like a genuine Italian experience. It’s billed as a food tour, but it felt like so much more. Marcello and Raffaella Tori, our hosts for the week, were nice enough to limit the group to just our family of five and we had a blast (really good time).
Every day was packed with activities and everything was included in the tour price. Hotel was fabulous and well located in central Bologna and we were transported all over the Emilia–Romagna region of northern Italy. Food was delicious and plentiful (pace yourself), and we got to help prepare a lot of it ourselves. Learned so much and fell in love with all the Italian people we met. Do this!

We enjoyed our walking tour with locals Raffaella and Marcello, touring central Bologna's food stores, stalls and providers. We learnt about the origin, composition and traditions associated with authentic Bolognese cuisine - from the simplest everyday meals, to special events and holidays. R&M are clearly proud of how local fresh ingredients produce the best food of the Emilia Romana region. We stopped for a light lunch of local meats and cheeses, and topped it off with a artisan gelato! We'd recommend spending time with Bluone.

This was my fifth tour with Raffa and Marcello, and all have been wonderful. The Prosecco region of 15 towns in the Veneto outside Venice is a special place. Rolling hills of vineyards and wineries are tranquil and beautiful. We sampled the products of many wineries including prize winners. The production is strictly controlled for quality and only those wines meeting the standard are given the DOC or DOCG. During our tour we ate delicious food including local cheeses and radicchio. Raffa and Marcello treated our small group like family, and I think of them as family. You can't go wrong with them, but this tour was really special.

Dear Raffaella and Marcello -
Thank you so much for the wonderful day of shopping, cooking, eating, and being together. Lew and I have mentioned our day with you as one of the highlights of our trip to Bologna and Rome many times during the trip.  Now that we are back home, we want to get out our aprons and make pasta and use the rosemary garlic salt on tomatoes as soon as we can.
Please come to Boston.  We would love to show you around and perhaps even cook together!

I really want to thank you both and your family once again for taking so good care of us! Be sure, I will not easily forget my 40th birthday! You made it so very special! Thank you very much!

Dear Marcello and Raffaella,
I want to take the time to tell you how much Nanci and I enjoyed our gastronomical trip to Emilia Romagna. We have spent most of the week since we have been back telling people about it. It seems to get betterwith every telling- the true test of a great time! The professional pasta maker was right-we appreciated her skills, teachings, and food even more in hindsight than we did at the time. I was able to get my souvenir mattarella (rolling pin) through security in 5 airports, but not without a few questions and puzzled looks. Now I hope to use it at home somewhat successfully.
We are in awe of the enery and graciousness our host and hostess on our trip. We saw, tasted and experienced things that we never would have on our own. We met people –parmesan cheese maker, 5th generation balsamic vinegar maker/patriarch, Italy’s best sfoglina and much more. What a treat it was to gaze out the windows of an ancient monastery (now hotel) overlooking dozens of sets of fireworks as the millennium started. A very romantic moment that neither of us will ever forget. We thought the price/value of the trip was exceedingly fair.
Nanci is not the cook in the family but tells everyone how much she had. I even overhead her telling a friend that she would do it again!
If you would like to use any of this letter as a testimonial in your future promotional work, please feel free to do. We are your biggest fans.