Leisurely days in Modena

Neither of us had ever visited Modena and we chose to spend a few days here on a culinary whim.

How so?

Last month, Allan spent a good portion of our flight from JFK to Rome watching a Master Class offered by Chef Massimo Bottura, who runs three acclaimed restaurants in Modena.

Since we’d shelved our plans for walking the Camino this year, and had time to spend in Europe before returning home on a transatlantic cruise in October, we decided to search for a Home Exchange stay in Modena, and hopefully eat at one of Chef Massimo’s restaurants.

Once we confirmed Home Exchange, we signed up for Osteria Francescana’s waiting list, but that didn’t work out. We did, however, snag a reservation at Franchestta58, and loved sampling the tasting menu there for lunch one day.

We spent the rest of our time leisurely ambling around the city, enjoying a gelato here, a trattoria meal there, exploring museums, playing games in our Home Exchange apartment, whatever caught our fancy…

Tomorrow we fly from Bologna to London, and on Friday we’ll board the Anthem of the Seas to cruise the Canary Islands.Read more