***2 spots left!***

Join Chef Paolo Laboa and his partner and Solo’s wine guy, Jesse Bania, on a tour of Sicily! Home to myriad gastronomic traditions and inspirations, Sicily is both far from Paolo’s home region of Liguria and similar in its affection for seafood and indigenous wine varietals. Sicily also represents a uniquely rich and diverse landscape and climate that serves as a bountiful source of cultural culinary exploration much as we have found within the reach of Genova.

By joining us for this Sicilian experience, you will share in the best food and taste through a special variety of wines at local hidden gems and featured producers we work closely with–all while learning the stories that lie behind them all. If you have a love for Italian food and wine and an interest in learning as you travel, you are in for an amazing opportunity! This trip will be limited to 12 guests.

YOUR CHEF & GUIDE:

Paolo Laboa’s love for the cucina started in his mother's kitchen, where he learned the secrets of real Genovese cooking. After many achievements and adventures, including winning the World Pesto Championship, Paolo has found his new home in Portland, ME. Here he and his wife Mercedes live with their two children and run Solo Italiano, a much-loved pillar of the farm to table tradition in Portland. Paolo is very excited to share his home country and region and its cultural culinary traditions with you on this special trip!

Jesse connected naturally with Paolo and the mission behind Solo Italiano on the day it opened its doors. He went on to become the wine director of one of Portland’s most exclusive and unique wine lists as well as Co-Owner and friendly face of the restaurant. He LOVES Italian wine and has built Solo’s program around the natural connection it has to food, origin and atmosphere. He has traveled extensively around the world. He will be your tasting buddy, translator and travel partner. Ask him any question you might have along the way; he (and Paolo) will be your pocket guide(s).

Testimonial:

"My mother and I had the pleasure of traveling to Genoa with owners Paolo and Jesse in October 2022. This was truly the trip of a lifetime. We stayed at a lovely boutique hotel right in the city center and each night we dined for hours. I am fairly certain that I enjoyed some of the most magical and delicious meals of my life on this trip. 

But beyond the stunning beauty of the Ligurian province, the excellent wine, and the incredible eats was the camaraderie and deep well of knowledge provided by our guides. Jesse and Paolo filled our days with tours and stories translating from Italian as they introduced us to other celebrated chefs and restaurant owners. All of our needs were tended to and we laughed a lot. I will never forget seeing wild boars on country backroads or dancing to a vintage jukebox after a meal that lasted 3 hours.

Both my mother and I plan to return to Italy with Solo Italiano in the future. Cannot recommend this experience highly enough."

-Dietlind Vander Schaaf

ROUGH ITINERARY:

Saturday, 6/3/23:
Arrive at our hotel in/near Catania, check-in and meet up with Paolo and Jesse for an aperitivo hour to meet your traveling companions and review plans for the delicious week to come! We will share our first dinner together that night in/near Noto.

Sunday, 6/4/23:
Travel to Noto and visit Cafe Sicilia. Dinner in Marina di Modica at Il Corallo.

Monday, 6/5/23:
Visit Mount Etna with dinner in Catania.

Tuesday, 6/6/23:
Travel to Vittoria to visit Occhipinti Vineyard in the morning, continue to Agrigento for an afternoon of beach time relaxation. We will spend the night in Agrigento to break up our transition to the Western side of Sicily.

Wednesday, 6/7/23:
Travel to visit one of our favorite extra virgin olive oil producers in Menfi for lunch (near Castelvetrano). Dinner together and the beginning of a two-night stay.

Thursday, 6/8/23:
Winery visit at Marco de Bartoli with lunch. Explore and dine in Marsala.

Friday, 6/9/23:
Complete our arc into Palermo, with an exploration of the city, including Sicilian street food for lunch. Check into our final hotel We will spend the day exploring Palermo before having our final dinner together.

Saturday, 6/10/23:
Check out of your accommodation in Palermo and savor one last goodbye breakfast with the group.

PRICE:
$5,925 per person double occupancy room
$6,925 per person single occupancy room

YOUR TRIP INCLUDES:
7 nights accommodation including taxes
4 lunches and 6 dinners per itinerary (incl. tax & gratuities)
Continental breakfasts as offered by accommodations
Paolo and Jesse as your professional guides
All scheduled wine tastings All ground transportation per itinerary
All sightseeing/admissions per itinerary

DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Airfare or travel to and from Italy and our initial meeting/departure locations. There will be some free time built into the schedule for relaxation or personal exploration. All meals and activities therein are the responsibility of the guest(s).

CONDITIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Trip guaranteed departure is based on 10 attendees.
Travelers must be at least 21 years of age.

RESERVATIONS:
To reserve your spot on the trip please fill out the form below and call (207) 780-0227 to submit your deposit of $2,000 per person.

CANCELLATIONS:
If you must cancel your trip reservation with us before 4/1/2023 you will receive a full refund of your deposit minus a $500 cancellation fee. After 4/1/2023, your deposit will be nonrefundable. Once the final balance is paid, it will also be nonrefundable. Final balance will be due 5/1/23.

Please consider taking travel insurance to help cover any unforeseen circumstances that may arise. For insurance information please visit InsureMyTrip. Your credit card company may also offer trip protection for such a purchase automatically, as another option to explore. In the event that our boarders close anew or other federal restrictions stop us from traveling, we will work with participants where insurance/trip protection doesn’t cover deposits and final balance payments.

TRAVEL NOTES:

In addition to purchasing travel insurance, we also recommend packing light to the extent that you are comfortable. You may be staying overnight in different towns throughout the week. Having that personal item be a day bag is also helpful for your daily adventures.

RESPONSIBILITY:
Solo Italiano and Paolo & Jesse Bania accept no responsibility for any delayed departures or arrivals, missed connections, loss, damage, or injury to person or property. We reserve the right to change the itinerary and substitute arrangements of any equal value, if circumstances warrant change.