Chef Massimo Bruno prepares fresh homemade pasta.
Sympatico.ca Travel's Zebunnisa Mirza & Helen Hewetson, MayDay Travel Marketing
GirlsGetaway.com's Dian Emery with Martha Chapman, Tourism Marketing International
Chef Massimo's kitchen studio
You think you know Italian food or have at least tasted good Italian food. But unless you have dined at Chef Massimo Bruno’s Supper Club, had the privilege of a privately hosted dinner with the gastronomic genius, or better yet, attended one of his Culinary Insider Tours in Italy, you haven’t tasted good Italian food.
Chef Massimo hosted a cozy dinner for 5 guests at his King St. East kitchen studio in YTO this month. “When you cook Italian, it’s about the philosophy,” he said. Although Massimo cooks with basic ingredients and uses simple recipes, his meals are rich in flavour.
I could hardly contain my “mmm’s” as I relished every mouthful. His homemade tomato focaccia was seasoned perfectly and the grape tomato and burrata cheese salad was refreshingly light. I inhaled the garlic and rapini pasta, and by the time the roast chicken arrived, all I could do was marvel at its perfection.
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Massimo has been hosting supper clubs in the city since 2009 and organizing culinary tours to Italy since 2010. This year, he’s teamed up with Alitours and his excursions are featured in their 2012 brochure. Having grown up in “the heel of the boot,” Puglia, Italy, Massimo hosts 8 day culinary tours of the area - and a small group of guests get to discover and experience the foods and culture of his homeland.
Some of the features of the tour include an outing to Massimo’s olive oil supplier where you can learn about the different types and which ones are the best to buy; a visit to his mozzarella man, where guests can try their hand at making the traditional buffalo milk cheese; and a home cooked meal from Mama Bruno at Massimo’s mother’s house.
Massimo has been in Canada for 10 years. “He has a Canadian life. He lives here and has a Canadian wife,” said Helen Hewetson of MayDay Travel Marketing. “But he has maintained a connection with Italy and guests get to see this on the tour.”
This year’s Culinary Insider Tour runs from September 12 to 19 and costs $2,900 per person, excluding air. Since the 2012 tour is selling out fast, the 2013 dates will be announced shortly. Agents interested in booking the trip can visit the www.massimobruno.squarespace.com.
