The Umbrian Table
4654 Upton Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55410
(612) 822-2782
michael@historicitaly.com

View The Photo Album:

Photo Album

Be a part of our tours:

Harvest 2008, Nov 2 - Nov 12 2008

Site info and credit

Photos and Text - Michael Rostance

Web Designer - Chuck Rostance

Umbrian Table Hosts


Michael Rostance     Michael Rostance is the Executive Chef at Broders’ Pasta Bar in Minneapolis. He has been cooking for over 25 years, and for the last 17 specializing in authentic Italian regional cuisine. He teaches regularly at local cooking schools and during many of his trips to Italy. Karin Rostance Michael has been a member of The Slow Food Society since 1999, joining while on his first tour of Umbria. Karin Rostance is a design consultant at Room & Board in Edina, Minnesota. She has a keen interest in art, anthropology, food, music and people. Michael and Karin were restaurant owners on the Island of Hydra in Greece in the 1980’s when they made their first visit to Italy on their honeymoon. They knew that they would have to return.

Richard San Marzano     The Umbrian Table was founded by Barbara il Forte and Richard San Marzano in Spoleto, Umbria in 1995. Barbara has since moved on, but Richard, a well known painter, whose work has been exhibited in New York, Chicago, Sydney and in galleries around the world, continues to share his knowledge of the food, wine, art, architecture and the history and culture of the region with our clients. Richard has strong family ties in Umbria and spent a good portion of his childhood there. He brings to the Umbrian Table a mixture of worldly sophistication and childlike wonder.

    Michael and Karin met Barbara on a tour to Umbria in 1999. They had an instant rapport. In 2000 they were introduced to Richard, formed a partnership and the Umbrian Harvest series was born. This year will mark their 7th tour together.