645573 Tue Aug 18 10:35:26 -0700 2009 8 58 Italy 0 4956136 Hello, I have spent much time in Florence/Tuscany and will be returning there to be with my boyfriend's family this upcoming week. We will be visiting Forte dei Marmi, a beach resort in the province of Lucca. I am looking for a culinary adventure to be had in this area. I am not looking to visit a vineyard in Chianti, rather if anyone knows of any cheese producers/ specialty food manufacturers that are not far from Lucca/Forte and are worth a visit, and do tours/ samples. If any one knows of any place really great to do a cooking class in this area too, those ideas would be appreciated. Just share your ideas with me, and any great experiences you may have had. Thanks! Tue Aug 18 10:35:26 -0700 2009 257640 mangio_gelato 1 4956407 If money isn't a concern go to Lorenzos! We were in Italy for a few wks in February and drove to Forte just for this restaurant and left very happy. We didn't have a reservation and it was very near the time they close the kitchen after lunch however we were given some champagne while a table became available. Lorenzo was there and he was the one who made the suggestions on both the wine and food. Tue Aug 18 11:53:13 -0700 2009 4956136 251576 emn76 1 4957708 Will you have a car? Parma and Reggio nell'Emilia are not all that far from that area, and could be done as a day trip. Tue Aug 18 18:58:22 -0700 2009 4956136 208466 summerUWS2008 2 4958203 HI! Yes, we will have a car, but the ultimate goal of the vacation is to relax on the beach, and therefore we don't want to go too far. I'm searching more of something we can do in a morning, rather than a day. Any suggestions? Thanks! Wed Aug 19 00:25:18 -0700 2009 4957708 257640 mangio_gelato 1 4959512 You asked: "cheese producers/ specialty food manufacturers that are not far from Lucca/Forte and are worth a visit, and do tours/ samples." Unfoortunately,nothing, like that anywhere around Forte or toward Lucca. Wed Aug 19 11:19:06 -0700 2009 4956136 195501 allende 1 4965058 Fred Plotkin's book recommends a cooking class in Livorno. and also some special baked good of Jewish origin there. If you are interested I will pull the info on the class. You might want to go up to Colonnata (carrara) to see where the lardo is made and try some good samples, also the Garfagnana, in the mountain valliey north west of Lucca has lots of culinary specialties and you might want to explore that area. I bet if you go to the tourist office in Forte I bet you will you will find stuff about olive oil makers, agriturismos where you might go for lunch and other culinary attractions. Fri Aug 21 07:02:07 -0700 2009 4956136 11130 jen kalb 1 4965105 I believe there is a town not too far inland that specializes in 'lardo', which is basically cured pork fat. It is near Carrara, where many of the marble quarries are located. I recall that it was a place Anthony Bourdain visited on one of his travel shows. Fri Aug 21 07:20:10 -0700 2009 4956136 23776 DavidT 2 4965115 Further info: it is the village of Colonnata. http://www.deliciousitaly.com/prodotto.php?id=129&regione_id=15 Fri Aug 21 07:22:49 -0700 2009 4965105 23776 DavidT 1 4967833 Do you know about the cooking classes offered by the mother of Chef Marco Canora? http://laurastuscancooking.com/ Sat Aug 22 07:17:32 -0700 2009 4956136 12618 erica