Food and Wine Tours in France - A Guide to Provence Wines
Filed Under Destination Features, Wines & Spirits
With over 300 days of sun and a mild climate, the region of Provence has, quite possibly, some of the best weather for a cooking vacation. But this wonderful climate also provides the ideal conditions for grape growing and winemaking, which is why the Greeks began to grow grapes in this vibrant southern France region in 600 BC. Today, Provence is not only the oldest winemaking region, but it also… Read
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Italy Vacation Packages in Piedmont: Meet Francesca
Filed Under Destination Features, Interviews
While discovering the culture of a place often includes stopping at all the local sites, from wineries to cathedrals, what makes a trip the most memorable are the experiences you'll create. In large part, those experiences are about the people you'll meet, since an Italy vacation package is only ever as good as the people making sure you have the trip of your dreams. That's one reason we're so thrilled… Read
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A Wonderful French Recipe for the Winter: Duck Confit
Filed Under Food History, Recipes
Long before the days of refrigeration, cooks had a different way of preserving their foods, particularly meats, to last them all Winter long. While it's no longer necessary to preserve meats through smoking and curing, these methods lend themselves to particularly delicious dishes. Browse all our cooking vacations in France. The same can be said for confit. In the past, confit meant placing duck legs into jars of duck fat… Read
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Dessert Dish: Delighting in Millefoglie in Western Tuscany
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History
The origins of Italy's millefoglie dessert actually hails from France, where the dish is known as millefeuille, which is French for a thousand layers or leaves. That translation is actually a wonderful description for this layered dessert that is made with a flaky puff pastry, whether you're in Italy, France, or a number of other countries. In Italy in particular, the dish can be made with either savory or sweet… Read
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Chicken Galinha à Africana
Filed Under Recipes
While Chef Sidney calls the Loire Valley home today, he grew up in the plains of Zululand in South Africa. That's why it's no surprise that African cuisine and flavors still hold a special place in his heart. This particular dish, chicken galinha à Africana, is also referred to as Portuguese chicken, because the Portuguese from Mozambique and Angola brought it to South Africa and infused the dish with African… Read
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Christmas Markets in Italy, France, and Spain
Filed Under Destination Features, Special Occasions, Travel Tips
When people think of Christmas markets, Germany often comes to mind. After all, not only does the country of Germany have a number of them every December, but Christkindlmarkets — inspired by the German tradition — abound throughout the United States as well. But there's also some fabulous Christmas markets in other parts of Europe, too, although not nearly as expansive. Not only do all of these markets feature food… Read
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Black and White Nougat: Christmas Desserts in Provence
Filed Under Food History, Special Occasions
Nougat may not necessarily date back to France — depending on who you ask they may even say Italy or Spain — but there's no question that it's an important part of the holidays for the French. That's because both nougat noir (black) and nougat blanc (white) are two of the 13 Christmas desserts of Provence, which are all traditionally served on Christmas Eve. See our Best of Paris culinary… Read
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Recipe for an African Dish: Putu Pap (Maize Porridge)
Filed Under Food History, Recipes
An African barbecue isn't complete without putu pap, which is also known as Krummelpap or "crumbly porridge," because it's a staple dish of South Africa, particularly in Cape Town. This recipe comes from Chef Sidney, who for many years taught our clients at his cooking school. Putu pap is made from maize and just a little bit of water, making it a dry, crumbly dish. But it's also a delicious… Read
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A Cooking Class With Chef Reine Sammut in Provence
Filed Under Destination Features, What's Up at TIK
In late October, I traveled to Provence for the annual PTC tradeshow. It was a chance to meet with suppliers we've worked with for years as well as make connections with possible new partners throughout France. Afterwards, we took a whirlwind trip throughout France, and I was fortunate enough to stop in Cadenet, France to see Chef Reine Sammut and her stunning property. The best part of all? Along with… Read
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5 Reasons to Visit Turkey for a Cooking Vacation
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips
As a melting pot of cultures and traditions, there is no other country like Turkey in the world. It's been ruled by the Ottomans as well as the Romans, but it's been inhabited since Neolithic times. As such, the things to see and do in Turkey are immense. In Istanbul, visitors can discover a treasure trove of stunning architectural wonders, like the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, and the Blue Mosque,… Read
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