Dining in Orvieto

Gourmet Getaways was off on another excusive tour this fall and brought fifteen eager travelers.  The tour began in Orvieto, which was our base for the next four days.  We visited such towns as Torgiano, Deruta, Montefalco and Norcia and included wine tasting, visiting the ceramic factories in Deruta, olive oil tasting and more! Our food and wine, while in Umbria, was beyond our expectations.  It began with a meal in Orvieto , Venusos, which is located in the piazza steps from the Duomo.  The chef uses all local and fresh ingredients.  Each of the three dishes were paired with local Umbrian wines, which only enhanced the experience.  We enjoyed every mouthful! Luca’s  philosophy is: “Life is too shore to drink bad wine.”   I highly recommend this trattoria in Orvieto.

Our other dining experience while in Orvieto was at the Champagneria, behind the Duomo. We enjoyed a twelve course tasting lasting three hours! We toasted another great night filled with wonderful food and champagne.   Velia and Gianluca were great hosts.  Velia is a fantastic chef![gallery columns="2"]

It was another wonderful ’food’ experience!

Cooking in Orvieto with Velia DeAngelis

During my most recent trip to Italy with my daughter, we traveled to Orvieto, my favorite medieval town, and took a cooking class with Velia DeAngelis at Compagnia dei  Buongustai, which is a cooking school located in Orvieto.   Her cooking partner, Maurizio di Mario, owns a pastry shop in Orvieto(more about that later) and we cooked sooo much gooood food that we did not need to have dinner that evening.  We started with making stuffed rolls made with sausage and cheese, then on to liver pate, home made pasta, rolled and stuffed eggplant, stuffed boneless chicken thighs and a fruit tart and cookies that were just heaven. Velia taught us how to make fresh pasta the old fashioned way using a rolling pin!  She made it look so easy.  It was so light and tender. 

The rolled eggplant stuffed with arugela, cherry tomatoes and ricotta salata was so tasty and tender.  A vegetarian would be thrilled with this dish!

Last year,when I took my group to her Champagneria we each left with a taste of her fruit tart.  Well this class she taught us how to make it and I will definitely give it a go!  It was so buttery, tender and flaky.     The secret  is using the highest quality of butter!  Thanks to my daughter and her hi tech camera here are a few pictures of the delicious tart.

Taking a cooking class with Velia is a real treat.  She is so funny and a very creative chef that you will come away with a full stomach and desire to recreate these recipes when you return.  Remember the secret is in the ingredients.

If you would like to take  a cooking class with Velia just contact Gourmet Getaways and we would be more than happy to make the arrangements!  You will be sure to have a wonderful time.

A Visit to La Champagneria Orvieto

During my tour of Umbria this October with my group of twelve people we visited my friend’s, Velia DeAngelis, Champagneria in Orvieto, located behind the Duomo in Piazza Marconi 2. This delightful champagne bar serves the most delicious appetizers and has a wonderful selection of champagnes.  We could have stayed here the entire evening!  We came a little on the early side because we had dinner reservations for later that evening but next time I will definitely skip the dinner.  No need for dinner when you can indulge in all the wonderful appetizers at this bar.  We had everything from roasted olives to stuffed foccaccia and more!  Velia DeAngelis is a fantastic chef!  She uses only the freshest of ingredients.  Two hours of pure indulgence!  As  we departed that evening, we all spied the fruit tart on the bar counter.  She happily sliced off a piece for each of us.  We all marveled at the buttery and tender crust and the savory fruit filling.  It was beyond compare!

It was a great way to start our busy week exploring Umbria, it’s food and especially it’s wines.

When I return to Orvieto, which I hope is soon, I am definitely returning to La Champagneria Orvieto.  I encourage you to go to this bar and tell them Gourmet Getaways sent you.  You will not be disappointed.[gallery columns="2"]