Annotated Lunch with Context Travel in Rome
We are considering doing the Annotated Lunch that Context Travel offers. We will be in Rome during Christmas week and they offer it on 12/23. The restaurant that the lunch is held at is Checchino dal 1887, which we love. Before the lunch, the docent leads a small tour through the Testaccio market. It all sounds like a fun, tasty and educational experience. Has anyone ever done the Annotated Lunch through Context? Or had any experience with Context at all? Thanks in advance for any replies.
By ttoommyy
on Nov 18, 2009 06:00 AM
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This tour&lunch is held by Maureen Fant, who is one of the most knowledgeable authorities on Roman food (and a regular advisor here on this forum) - do not wait a second and book now! Context is a very serious agency, too.
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We did the Annotated Lunch last April and I recommend this experience highly. Maureen is knowledgeable and charming, two key traits for a successful activity. Maureen is a regular patron of both Volpetti and the Testaccio market, so she's the perfect guide for discussing food currently on display, but also putting it into a larger context. I hope that you, like my husband and me, are staying in a rental apartment. Volpetti offers a gracious and generous sampling of many products. You may feel intensely frustrated if you can't buy more of the delicious food you've just tasted at Volpetti because you have no place to store your goodies. We were able to extend the fun of our day with Maureen by eating a grazing dinner and next morning's breakfast off of what we bought at Volpetti.
As for Context, generally, we've been taking their tours for almost a decade and we recommend the organization highly. The administrative details are handled effeciently and reliably. The docents all have extra-ordinary credentials and respond to enthusiasm from the tour group by sharing even more of their knowledge. In April, we also took the Baroque Rome tour and six tours in/around Naples.
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Thanks so much for the replies. I just found out that my partner has already booked this trip as an early Christmas present. And now that I have two very positive replies and know that Maureen Fant is the docent, I am doubly and triply excited!
No, we have not booked a rental apartment Indy 67; maybe on our next trip. As we will be in Rome for Christmas week, maybe Maureen will have a restaurant recommendation for us for Christmas Eve lunch (lining up at 7 for Midnight mass at St.Peter's which actually starts at 10PM this year, so dinner is out).
Thanks again for both replies!
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you know there was a thread a couple weeks ago about the christmas eve eating issue - was that you? If not you might want to check it out there were several suggestions for someone in your situation.
Enjoy your christmas in rome - it is a wonderful season there.
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That was me! I did add those suggestions to my list...I was just wondering aloud if Maureen Fant might have a suggestion, being so knowledgeable on the area, etc.
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hope so - I looked back and see that we did not offer you much of use there. Looking forward to your report back!
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My I ask...is it proper to tip the docent on this type of tour?
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