The Italian Riviera Culinary Tour for Dentists Only!
PORTOFINO, CINQUE TERRE, AND BEYOND | SEPTEMBER 14-20 , 2008
Join us for our first ever Dentists' Only Exclusive Culinary Tour to the Italian Riviera... Led by world-renowned expert on laser dentistry Dr. Robert Convissar, and James Beard-nominated cookbook author Micol Negrin & her husband Dino De Angelis!
We're proud to partner with Dr. Robert Convissar, named one of the "Top 100 Leaders in Dental Continuing Education" for the past three years by Dentistry Today Magazine, to offer dentists and their partners a unique opportunity to further their dental education while vacationing in one of Italy's most breathtaking regions and honing their culinary skills.
Designed with the busy (but gourmet) dentist in mind, this tour is open to a maximum of 24 participants, allowing for intimate learning sessions with Dr. Convissar and relaxing group activities both in and out of the kitchen.
Dr. Convissar will lecture three times (Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday) during our week-long culinary tour of the Italian Riviera, providing a select few dentists the rare opportunity to learn essential techniques of dental laser technology in a state-of-the-art auditorium at our hotel. The rest of our time will be spent enjoying the fabulous foods and wines of this glorious Northern Italian region. Shared activities will include hands-on cooking lessons, wine tastings, gelato classes, and sightseeing.
photos from recent trips | client testimonials | pricing & payment | detailed itinerary | travel information
We'll begin our journey in Rapallo, where we will stay at a four-star hotel with a splendid view of the sea. From there, we'll take day trips to Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Sestri Levante, the Cinque Terre, Camogli, Chiavari, and Genova.
And as we visit each of these places, we'll learn how to prepare local specialties from talented, passionate cooks; we'll sip rare wines vinified in terraced hillside vineyards above the breathtaking coastline of the Cinque Terre; we'll shop at colorful outdoor food markets; we'll meet cheesemakers and wine producers with a passion for their area's distinct offerings... and, of course, we'll dine at the Italian Riviera's best tables.
If you ever wanted to discover the hidden beauties and the unique specialties of the Italian Riviera, and learn all you ever needed to know about laser dentistry, this is the trip for you. Non-dentist partners will be happily busy exploring the region's rich culinary traditions while dentists learn both basic and advanced techniques of laser dentistry with Dr. Convissar.
We are accepting a maximum of 24 people on this once-in-a-lifetime tour, so book early!
To reserve, call 917-602-1519 or email us.
About RUSTICO COOKING
RUSTICO COOKING was launched in 2002 by Milan-born Micol Negrin. After obtaining a degree from Canada’s premier culinary academy, Micol moved to New York City and was the Editor and chief writer for The Magazine of La Cucina Italiana for six years. In 2005 she opened a cooking school in Midtown Manhattan, where she hosts cooking classes, wine tastings, cooking parties and team-building events.
Author of the James Beard-nominated Rustico: Regional Italian Country Cooking and The Italian Grill, both published by Clarkson Potter, Micol also writes for major publications (including Cooking Light and Bon Appetit).
Micol's husband, Dino De Angelis, earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from McGill University in Montreal and moved to NYC to do cutting-edge biomedical research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In 2006, Dino went into the family business full time.
After years of traveling across Italy in search of its most beguiling landscapes, heirloom recipes, and passionate cooks, Micol and Dino designed unique week-long culinary trips of their favorite Italian regions for small groups of Italian food and wine lovers.
RUSTICO COOKING also offers 3 other (non-dental) culinary tours:
May 11-17, 2008: Puglia & Basilicata
May 18-24, 2008: Tuscany & Umbria
September 25-31, 2008: Liguria - Italian Riviera
Testimonial: I think the Italian Riviera tour was one of the best vacations I have had in my life. It is hard to pick out a single highlight. The cooking lesson with Fausto was great, but I also particularly enjoyed the olive oil tasting, the wine tasting, and the trip to the candy factory. Really, each day was a treat. I am going to recommend the tours to anyone I know who enjoys cooking or is thinking of traveling to Italy. Julie Z., Rockville, MD
About DR. CONVISSAR
Learn About Lasers from the Dentist Who Wrote The Book on the Subject!
Dr. Robert A. Convissar, D.D.S., F.A.G.D. is a pioneer in the field of laser dentistry with over 19 years of experience using Nd.YAG, Diode, Erbium and CO2. He has authored three laser textbooks ("Atlas of Laser Applications in Dentistry"; "Lasers and Light Amplification in Dentistry"; and "Lasers in Clinical Dentistry"), published by W.B. Saunders and Quintessence, and over a dozen peer-reviewed papers which have been translated into eight languages.
Dr. Convissar has lectured internationally from London to Florence to Bangkok to Sydney to Hong Kong, and everywhere in between. Course content during the Italian Riviera tour will include all laser wavelengths, and will cover both introductory and advanced laser subjects. Dr. Convissar was named one of the "Top 100 Leaders in Dental Continuing Education" for the past three years by Dentistry Today Magazine.
His ground breaking laser treatments have been featured on NBC-TV News, CBS-TV News, the WABC Radio Network, and other programs. Dr. Convissar practices laser, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry in New York City with his wife and partner, Dr. Ellen Goldstein. Dr. Convissar also serves as Director of Laser Dentistry at New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens. Visit Dr. Convissar here.
Italian Riviera Tour Itinerary
September 14: Rapallo & Recco
- Morning check-in and welcome cocktail reception at a four-star hotel on the romantic seaside promenade in Rapallo.
- Seafood lunch at a nearby restaurant.
- Drive along the coast to the elegant city of Santa Margherita, where we'll watch the fishermen unload crates of fresh fish and stroll in Santa Margherita's medieval center.
- Cooking lesson at a renowned restaurant where we'll help the chef prepare his specialty, a cheese-filled focaccia that has made him famous across Italy. We'll also learn to prepare a towering seafood salad and a local pasta called corzetti.
- Leisurely aperitivo and sit down for a true Ligurian feast of cheese-filled focaccia, fresh pasta, seafood salad, and a classic dessert, all paired with Ligurian wines.
September 15: Rapallo & Portofino
- Dentists will join Dr. Convissar for a lecture on dental laser surgery.
- Meanwhile, non dentists will stroll the outdoor market in Rapallo, learning about local fruit and vegetable varieties, fresh and aged Ligurian cheeses, and more.
- Focaccia lesson at one of the city's best bakeries.
- Fresh pasta lesson with a master pastina (a woman who specializes in making fresh pasta).
- Lunch of freshly made pasta, stuffed Ligurian vegetables, and a homey dessert.
- After a little R & R for everyone, we'll all take a boat ride to the jewel-like port town of Portofino.
- Free time for strolling in Portofino's art galleries and shops, or a walk in the woods that connect Portofino to the splendid beach of Paraggi.
- Dinner at one of Portofino's most exclusive restaurants featuring just-caught fish and seafood.
September 16: The Cinque Terre
- Train ride to Vernazza in the Cinque Terre.
- If you're feeling sporty, you can hike to the next town; or, if you prefer a more laid-back visit, take the train to Manarola, where you have the option of joining me for lunch at a gorgeous restaurant facing the port.
- In the late afternoon, a brief walk will take us to Riomaggiore, the last of the Cinque Terre, along a promenade known as the Via dell'Amore ("Road of Love").
- We'll visit a wine producer whose dessert wine is one of Italy's greatest offerings, and enjoy a taste of his top-rated wines.
- We'll head back to Rapallo by train for a hearty dinner at one of our favorite trattorie and a good night's rest.
September 174: Sestri Levante & Chiavari
- Dentists will join Dr. Convissar for another lecture on dental laser surgery.
- Meanwhile, non-dentists will board our private bus for a drive through the Ligurian countryside to a nineteenth-century olive oil mill, where we'll learn how Liguria's famed olive oil is produced.
- Dentists will be picked up by private bus following the morming lecture and driven to the beautiful seaside town of Sestri Levante, where we'll all dine at a famous seafood restaurant.
- Visit to the Bay of Silence, Sestri's glorious little beach.
- Gelato lesson (and tasting, of course!) in the charming town of Chiavari, at the city's oldest pastry shop.
- Free time for shopping and a stroll in the town's medieval center.
- Return to Rapallo and optional shopping excursion at a salumeria for those who wish to stock up on cheeses, cured meats, olive oil, preserves, and more.
- Sumptuous seafood dinner in Rapallo.
September 18: San Massimo & Camogli
- Morning cooking lesson at a charming restaurant in the hills above Rapallo with chef Fausto, a local legend.
- We'll cook a multi-course Ligurian meal, learn all about Liguria's essential herbs, and then sit down to taste all we've prepared.... this will definitely be one of the highlights of our tour!
- Everyone will receive a complimentary apron and one of Fausto's cookbooks.
- Return to Rapallo for a little R & R, or Dr. Convissar's third and final lecture on dental laser surgery.
- Late afternoon drive to the classic fishermen's town of Camogli, where we'll meet Lilla, a local expert on the history of tuna fishing in Italy.
- Dinner at Camogli's best seafood restaurant, with a stunning panoramic view of the coastline.
September 19: Genova & San Cipriano
- Late morning departure for the port city of Genova, the region's capital.
- Optional lunch at a characteristic trattoria for a taste of chickpea-flour pancakes, vegetable torte, and more.
- Guided tour of Liguria's oldest candy-maker and chocolatier, a family company founded in 1780.
- Visit of Genova's outdoor market, where we'll shop, snack, and take in the sights and smells of old Genova.
- Dinner at a restaurant in the hills above Genova, where the house specialty is a rare figure eight-shaped pasta.
- If you still have room for it, you can enjoy traditional gelato at one of Rapallo's famed gelaterie before returning to our hotel.
September 20: Rapallo - Farewell Breakfast
- Farewell breakfast... why not join us for some sweet treats and cappuccino at Rapallo's best pasticceria?
- Check-out from the hotel.
Italian Riviera (Liguria) Travel Information
Closest Airport, Transfering to Rapallo, and More...
Rapallo, the town on the Riviera where we will be staying, is about 30 minutes away from Genova, the regional capital of Liguria. Genova is a connecting flight from most major North American cities, through Rome or Milan, perhaps even Nice (France).
You can reach Rapallo in three ways: by train from the main train station in downtown Milan (the ride is just over 2 hours and direct, provided you select the correct train; more info here); by private car from the Milan or Genova airport, which we can arrange for you if you like (cost is around $320 from Milan or $110 from Genova, depending on the exchange rate); or driving on your own.
Keep in mind that upon arrival in Italy, you will be jetlagged. You should plan on arriving in Italy no later than one day prior to the start date of the tour, so you can get over jet lag before we begin our journey together. You can request an additional night at our hotel in Rapallo prior to the start date of our tour (or after if needed) and pay the hotel directly for your additional night(s). Just let us know if you need additional hotel nights and we will contact the hotel in Rapallo directly on your behalf.
Plan on leaving Italy no earlier than the day after our tour ends. Most flights out of Europe are early in the morning and you would miss the last morning's activities if you book a flight out the same day our tour ends (you would need to be at the Bari airport by 8 am or earlier to catch a 10 am flight, and you would also be quite tired since we will not be returning to the hotel before 10:30 pm the evening before the tour ends).
Before booking your flights, please call 917-602-1519 or email us so we can review your travel itinerary.
To purchase travel insurance, visit here.
Photo Gallery: Italian Riviera Tour
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A FEW PHOTOS FROM OUR SEPTEMBER 2006 TOUR TO THE ITALIAN RIVIERA...
Fresh coursetti pasta at Pastificio Dasso in Rapallo; Micol with Maurizia Dasso after our pasta lesson.
Gathering rocks on the beach in Sestri Levante; freshly baked onion focaccia at Fausto's restaurant.
Did Fausto put flour on her nose? He feigns nothing, then puts a funny hat on another tour participant.
Roasted lamb chops with aromatic herbs and crispy potatoes at Fausto's.
A view of Camogli at sunset.
Mmmmm, which candy shall we try? A group photo in Genova before our farewell dinner. A FEW PHOTOS FROM OUR SEPTEMBER 2005 TOUR TO THE ITALIAN RIVIERA...
A panoramic view of Camogli during dinner at Ristorante Rosa; fresh produce at the morning market in Rapallo.
Two participants stop for a pose as they hike the Cinque Terre; the dazzling town of Manarola in Cinque Terre.
September is a great time for fresh porcini and other delicacies in Liguria; an inviting salumeria in Rapallo.
We were all kids in a candy store when we visited Romanengo's artisanal candy and chocolate factory in Genoa.
Sunset on the Riviera; chefs at work preparing farinata (chickpea flour pancake) in a classic Genoese restaurant.
A tour participant peeks at the wild strawbery tart we'll soon taste; chef Fausto's hats are always cause for fun... the shutters wouldn't stop when he came out wearing a Statue of Liberty cap after our lesson and lunch. A FEW PHOTOS FROM OUR
SEPTEMBER 2004 TOUR TO THE ITALIAN RIVIERA...
From left to right: Chef Marco shows an eager participant how to stretch dough for an authentic cheese focaccia in Recco; the group breaks into conga dancing during a cooking lesson in Fausto's kitchen above Rapallo.
From left to right: Chef Fausto gets some physical affection from two very happy cooks.
From left to right: Lunch on the terrace at Fausto's restaurant; a colorful platter of bruschetta.
From left to right: Two views of the quiet fishing town of Camogli.
From left to right: Making chocolate-hazelnut terrines; sunset in Sestri Levante, a breathtaking sight.
From left to right: Dimpling focaccia takes some doing, but the results are well worth the effort!
From left to right: Everyone indulges in a taste of sun-warmed, fresh-picked grapes in a vineyard; the gorgeous port town of Portofino.
From left to right: Maurizia, Rapallo's pasta queen, with an assortment of wild herbs for identification; Maurizia and Elena, nicknamed "the Fastest Hands in the West" by James, shape 10 pounds of pansotti in 5 minutes.
From left to right: The pasta demo turns into a hands-on lesson, as everyone wants to see how fast they can shape pansotti (it's no contest, and Maurizia and Elena win); Piero serves us a fresh fruit tart at our farewell dinner. AND A FEW PHOTOS FROM OUR MAY 2004 TOURS TO THE ITALIAN RIVIERA...
From left to right: Chef Marco Pernati demonstrates how to prepare an authentic cheese-filled focaccia in Recco; two happy tour participants knead dough in Fausto's kitchen in the hills above Rapallo.
From left to right: The quaint fishing town of Camogli; after we've all enjoyed a tasting of Vladimiro's excellent Ligurian wines, he treats his bulldog pup to a lick of red wine.
From left to right: Master baker Roberto proudly pulls a gorgeous focaccia out of the oven after demonstrating proper focaccia-making technique to our group; Elena, one of Rapallo's pasta experts, helps a tour participant shape classic Ligurian ravioli.
From left to right: The glorious bay of Portofino, with its crystalline waters and breathtaking hills; candied fruit at an old-fashioned confectioner's in Genova.
From left to right: A relaxing dinner in Portofino with participants from my two May 2004 tours. |
Pricing: Italian Riviera Cooking Tour for Dentists Only
Price per person, based on double occupancy: $4,350 for dentists participating in Dr. Convissar's lectures.
Price per person, based on double occupancy: $3,650 for partners not participating in Dr. Convissar's lectures.
Single occupancy available for an additional $550.
DEPOSIT Italian Riviera Cooking Tour for Dentists Only | September 14-20, 2008
$750 reservation DEPOSIT (non-refundable). Please read our cancellation policy before making your payment.
The following is included in the price:
- 12 hours of lecture on dental laser surgery with Dr. Robert Convissar
- comprehensive course materials provided by Dr. Robert Convissar
- all land transportation during tour
- train from Rapallo to Vernazza
- train from Riomaggiore to Rapallo
- boat to Portofino
- 6 nights at a luxury 4-star hotel in Rapallo
- 6 buffet breakfasts
- 5 lunches with wine
- 6 dinners with wine
- 5 cooking lessons, including a gelato lesson and tasting
- wine tasting
- visit of traditional olive oil mill & guided olive oil tasting
- visit of nineteenth-century candy factory
- Ligurian cookbook
- apron
- complimentary hands-on cooking class at RUSTICO COOKING, NYC
- full-length color video DVD of our cooking tour
The following is not included in the price:
- airfare
- 1 optional lunch
- transport to and from airport
Note: price is subject to change without notice as a result of international currency fluctuations that may affect the cost of air/land/sea transportation, hotels, or other related services.
A $750 non-refundable deposit is required to hold a reservation for tour at time of reservation; please call 917-602-1519 or email micol@rusticocooking.com, or
pay your deposit online using your credit card (see above) or send a check payable to:
RUSTICO CULINARY TOURS LLC
300 East 71st Street
Suite 4M
New York, NY 10021.
FINAL PAYMENT
Payment in full is required at least 90 days prior to departure. No credit cards accepted for final payments, only checks and money orders.
REFUNDS
In the event that we must cancel a trip, you will be given a full refund of all deposits and payments. We do not give refunds of deposits or final payments for tours that commence as scheduled, including for unused portions of the tour. We do give credit for cancellations as noted below.
CANCELLATION POLICY
In the event you cancel your tour for any reason, we allow credit for payments (but not the non-refundable deposit) in the following way:
- 100% credit for future tours given with 90 days notice.
- 60% credit for future tours given with notice of 60 to 89 days.
- 30% credit for future tours given with notice of 30 to 59 days.
- No credit given for cancellation less than 30 days prior to start date of the tour.
- All cancellation credits are good for one year from the start date of the originally scheduled tour.
We strongly encourage trip insurance (contact your credit card company for additional information, or click here).
For information on our May 2008 cooking tour to Tuscany & Umbria, please click here.
For information on our May 2008 cooking tour to Puglia & Basilicata, please click here.
For information on our May 2008 cooking vacation to Liguria (not exclusively for dentists), please click here.