DiRoNA culinary tour sends delegates to Calabria and Rome

Nation's Restaurant News,  Sept 10, 2007  by James C. Doherty

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The 2007 Distinguished Restaurants of North America culinary tour visited Calabria and Rome, two of Italy's great culinary areas, and provided a trip of cultural and historical experiences for the delegates.

John Arena, Paul Athanas and Reinhard Barthel, who visited all the locations on an inspection tour last year, arranged the DiRoNA trip.

The base of operations for the group was the Altafiumara Hotel, located on the Strait of Messina. The hotel, which offered views of Sicily, formerly was a monastery and provided such amenities as a health and spa operation and excellent food and wine service.

Calabria, the southernmost region of Italy outside of Sicily, occupies most of the toe of the Italian boot in the south. It has been called the "cradle of civilization" and "the garden of Europe," and the countryside along the coast represents some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. The hospitality and programs presented by DiRoNA's Calabrian host was outstanding. Government officials, producers and manufacturers helped to make the group's visit informative and exciting.

A "Taste of Calabria" night provided the DiRoNA delegates with an opportunity to sample a wonderful array of local foods, including pastas, vegetables, seafood, wines and desserts. DiRoNA delegates discussed the food with representatives from the participating vendor companies while picking up some recipes.

All meals, in fact, focused on local and regional culinary dishes. Menus printed in both English and Italian afforded members a fuller understanding of the regional fare. Chefs and restaurant owners also gave freely of their time to visit with the delegates and to share ideas.

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DiRoNA delegates also enjoyed an afternoon and sunset cruise up the Calabrian coast with stops in villages, which provided for an enchanting and beautiful experience on the Mediterranean. A day trip to Taormina, on the eastern coast of Sicily, and a classical lunch at the Grand Hotel Timeo also delighted the visitors.

Tours of vineyards, seafood producers, farms and food processors provided DiRoNA members with the opportunity to learn more about the area's culinary products, while tastings ensured that attendees experienced many of the region's unique foods and wines.

While traveling throughout Calabria, DiRoNA members made stops at museums, villages and other historical sites of interest. One of the area's processors of cod, a popular dish of the region, arranged an outing in the country where wining, dining and dancing with family and friends made for a memorable day.

The DiRoNA tour culminated in a visit to Rome, with a private tour of the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel. A farewell dinner was held at Checchino dal 1887 restaurant, marking the official end of the tour.

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