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Where
Rome & Puglia
Group Size
8-12 Travelers
Duration
6 Days, 5 Nights
When
November 11 - 16, 2025
Price
5,500 USD per person
Pasta in Italy seems steeped in tradition, with time-honored recipes handed down through the generations. Any change would be sacrilegious. At least that’s what James Beard Award winner Dan Pashman, host of The Sporkful food podcast and inventor of the cascatelli pasta shape, thought when he set out to create a cookbook of nontraditional pasta sauces, entitled Anything’s Pastable. But on a research trip across Italy he was shocked to learn that pasta did not become the country’s national food until about a hundred years ago, and iconic dishes like carbonara were just invented in the 1940’s. Others, like the city of Bari’s spaghetti all’assassina, are even newer, and continue to evolve.
On this 6-day Pasta Pilgrimage in Rome and Puglia, you’ll retrace Dan’s steps, eating at many of the same places where he ate, with many of the same people – including Dan himself, who will join the trip for several action-packed days! Along the way you’ll experience both the delicious traditions of Italian pasta culture, and the new ideas, giving you a deeper appreciation for the full breadth of pasta history and culture, as well as a taste of pasta dishes that even many Italians haven’t heard of. You’ll eat pasta in Roman institutions with local expert Katie Parla. In Puglia’s Bari, you’ll visit the “orecchiette ladies,” who roll out pasta all day in front of their homes, before Dan takes you on an investigative pasta crawl in search of his favorite version of spaghetti all’assassina (assassin’s spaghetti). Down in Lecce, deep in the Puglian heartland, you’ll spend the day cooking with chef and teacher Silvestro Silvestori, who runs his own cooking school. As we make our way on this trip from the Italian capital to the far reaches of pasta’s homeland, you’ll spend time with those upholding pasta tradition as well as those pushing this iconic dish into new realms, proving that indeed anything’s pastable.
Learn
Explore
Taste
Eat
Wander
Your itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Rome
Arrive in Rome, check in, and then get ready for a warm Roman welcome by our culinary ambassador to the city, Katie Parla. At one of her favorite restaurants, she’ll introduce us to the Roman way of eating, chat about pasta history and culture, and share anecdotes of feeding Dan Pashman (and Stanley Tucci).
Day 2
Culinary Tour alla Romana with Katie Parla
On a walking tour of Rome with Katie Parla, cookbook author and guide to the stars, we’ll visit classics just as Dan did while researching his book. We’ll also dig in at Katie’s favorite bakeries, gelato shops and much more. After a belt-popping day, we’ll relax in a picturesque piazza with aperitivi and light snacks in the evening.
Day 3
Rome to Bari
In the morning we’ll hop on the fast train to Bari. Our next destination is Puglia – land of the famous orecchiette pasta, ancient olive groves, and the birthplace of burrata. After arriving in Bari’s city center, we’ll settle into a waterfront hotel, our home for the next couple of days. We’ll have some time to relax in the afternoon before our big welcome to Puglia, a dinner hosted by Dan Pashman.
Day 4
Bari Pasta Crawl
Today will be spent in the Puglian gastro-capital, Bari, for a full day of investigating local pasta traditions (and a few other ones). On a culinary tour of the city center, we’ll stop by a classic bakery for a taste of their sublime foccacia and also walk through Bari’s lively fish market. We’ll then visit the famous “pasta ladies,” who spend their days rolling out fresh orecchiette on tables set up in front of their houses. For lunch, Dan will take us on a quest to discover his obsession, spaghetti all’assassina – assassin’s spaghetti – a pasta dish that was only recently invented, made by pan frying spaghetti in a spicy tomato sauce until the pasta is charred and crunchy. We’ll visit a couple of classic spots serving the dish, including Al Sorso Preferito, where the dish was invented and Ghiotto Panzerotto, Dan’s personal preference. There, we will meet the chefs in the kitchen and get the full backstory, as Dan reported it in his podcast, The Sporkful.
Day 5
Down in Lecce Pasta Workshop
Dan will accompany you for the trip south to the historic town of Lecce, where he found inspiration from a local chef and cooking instructor, Silvestro Silvestori. Silvestro will take us to the market and then back to his kitchen to lead the group in a cooking lesson covering Puglian classics, including the two dishes he cooked with Dan — ciceri e tria, a combination of fried and boiled pasta in a chickpea broth, and fava e cicoria, a puree of fava beans and crunchy, bitter chicory, doused in fresh local olive oil. Eventually, in the late afternoon we’ll make our way to the dinner table and enjoy the fruits of our labor in a farewell to Puglia meal together. We’ll toast our hosts, Silvestri and Dan, before heading back to our hotel for much-deserved rest.
Day 6
Arrivederci
Departure. Until the next time!
Meet the Crew
We are firm believers in the power of local knowledge. Our guides and the culinary masters and other artisans who are part of our trips all deeply reflect that. Meet some of our local heroes:
Dan Pashman
Katie Parla
Silvestro Silvestori
Chiara Garafolo
Pietro Lonigro
Where you'll stay
UNA Trastevere
This week’s focus on deeply local experiences and places is also well reflected in our choice of accommodation. We always select boutique and independent places, ones inspired by international standards while staying loyal to the area’s local heritage – that’s the balance we seek for more than a good night’s rest.
UNAHOTELS Trastevere is where sleek style meets Rome’s coolest neighborhood. You’re steps away from buzzing streets full of quirky cafes, trendy bars, and the best street art in town. The rooms are fresh, comfy, and designed for kicking back after a day of exploring. Plus, with its modern vibe and prime location, this spot makes your Roman holiday feel effortlessly chic.
Grande Albergo delle Nazioni Bari
The Jr Hotels Grande Albergo delle Nazioni Bari is the only five-star hotel in the heart of Bari. Near the city’s historic center and right off its seaside promenade, the hotel’s location makes it a perfect one for exploring Bari. The view from its terrace is a spectacular bonus to your stay.
Know before you go
Pricing and Accommodation
The total cost of this trip is $5,500. For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, an additional $700 will be due at the time of the final payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip. In Rome we’ll be staying in the stylish Una Hotel, located in the charming Trastevere neighborhood. In Puglia, the group will stay in Lama San Giorgio, a converted 19th-century estate set amid olive groves and lush vineyards.
Activity Level
Travelers should feel comfortable walking three to five miles each day and remaining on their feet for long periods of time. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on during a couple cooking workshops.
Arrival and Departure
You should plan to arrive in Rome by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime on Day 6 from our accommodation near Bari. Our hotel there can arrange transfer to the Bari airport. We’ll provide the option of booking additional nights at our hotels before and/or after the Trip, and are more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in each location on your own.
Inclusions
You should plan to arrive in Rome by 3 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime on Day 6 from our accommodation near Bari. Our hotel there can arrange transfer to the Bari airport. We’ll provide the option of booking additional nights at our hotels before and/or after the Trip, and are more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in each location on your own.
Exclusions
• Transportation and flights to and from Italy, including airport transfers. • Additional meals and drinks outside of Culinary Backstreets offerings, including one lunch, one dinner, and some alcoholic beverages. • If applicable, applying for an Italian visa (not required for U.S. citizens). • Travel insurance (recommended).
Dietary Restrictions
We encourage an adventurous palate! We try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, though in most cases ingredients can’t be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. Unfortunately, due to the traditional southern Italian diet, the itinerary isn’t able to cater to gluten-free, dairy-free, or vegan diets. If you have a particular food allergy or intolerance, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
Notes on Itinerary
Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.
Our Commitment to Safety and Sustainability
We have reinforced our commitment to sustainability and safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our trips while maintaining the quality of the experience. All of our experiences are designed to have minimal impact on the community and environment. For more details on our precautions, read here. Our cancellation policy is extremely flexible to deal with changes in travel plans.
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