I used to enjoy many foodie holidays before having children. But of course, restaurants and young kids are not the best combo. My lovely kids are finally old enough to sit peacefully at a restaurant, but most importantly, enjoy the food, try new things and join in the fun!
So this October, my family and I travelled to Italy for a week long roadtrip. Tourists were gone, villages were peaceful, locals were super welcoming and the sun was shining, what else?
PARMA
Ahhh the beauty of Parma. This city is the birthplace and the home of Parma ham and Parmigiano Reggiano. Sit in a traditional trattoria and enjoy plates of thinly sliced prosciutto di Parma and plates filled with rocks of Parmigiano that you should dip in balsamic vinegar. A main course of tortellini d’Erbetta and a tiramisu later, we were ready to explore the beauty of the city.
This was the first lunch of our adventure and definitely set the tone of the trip.
MODENA
Modena was the base for our trip. For a quieter and more authentic experience, we chose to stay in a tiny village just outside the city. This allowed us to hop between one city to another very easily.
Modena is the home of one of the best restaurants in the world: Osteria Francescana, which gives such a foodie vibe to the environment. Everything is about the art of food and gastronomy. We learnt all about balsamic vinegar (the true real one) and enjoyed the most delicious tortellini al brodo (tiny filled pasta in a broth).
And if you are car amateurs and need to walk off all the delicious food, visit the Ferrari or Lamborghini museums. (I sat in a nice cafe and walked the local life go by instead…)
BOLOGNA
Bologna is probably the most touristy of all three cities. The birthplace of bolognese (or ragu as they call it). Many tours and activities are based in Bologna, hence the crowded feeling.
But it is well worth a visit, also for the architecture, the beauty of the porticoes and the towers. Get lost between a traditional trattoria, a wine bar, a truffle merchant and the oldest bakery selling torta al riso, or just sit a the terrace of Mortadella and champagne and watch the world go by.
foodie activities you cannot miss
- Walk around the traditional market of Modena
- Parmigiano factory visit and tasting
- Aceto di Balsamico tasting
- Pasta making workshop with a local
We did this trip over 9 days of school holidays and drove all the way from Amsterdam (with an electric car). The journey was very pleasant with stops in Belgium (Liege), France (Nancy), Switzerland (Lucern) and Germany.
Food is such an important part of our lives. It creates core memories, triggers all the senses and builds our unique culture.
Foodie holidays are such a special adventure to have with kids! I hope this article inspired you to want to plan a foodie trip with your tribe!
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you wish to exchange, ask any question and discuss your next family adventure.
