France Culinary Tour: Visiting Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips
One of the best ways to see Saint-Rémy-de-Provence is simply to wander the narrow, winding boulevards. Stroll under the plane trees, and stumble across charming squares and boutiques. Enter the ancient city center through an archway in the 14th century wall. And, of course, be inspired, just as Vincent van Gogh, musician Charles Gounod, and novelist Marie Gasquet once were when they lived in this Provencal town. The Wednesday market… Read
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Fourth of July: Italy's History With Fireworks
Filed Under Special Occasions
As you get ready to take out the grill and cook an all-American meal this Fourth of July, know that there's one part of the holiday that didn't start as an American tradition: fireworks. While fireworks aren't something you'll necessarily learn about during one of our cultural and culinary vacations, it does have some history that relates to Italy, even though the origin of fireworks dates back to China's Han… Read
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European Vacations: What Are UNESCO World Heritage Sites?
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips
When browsing through our 90+ cooking vacation itineraries, you'll often see us refer to beautiful UNESCO World Heritage sites. But what does this mean exactly? And why are they worth a visit on your next European vacation? (As well as trips to other continents for that matter?) The World Heritage Committee is a division of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Formally established in the early 1970s,… Read
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Italy Cooking Vacation: Celebrating San Giovanni Feast Day
Filed Under Destination Features, Special Occasions
Much of Italy is celebrating today as June 24 is San Giovanni Feast Day, which honors John the Baptist. But every city has their own way of celebrating this public holiday. From the parades and fireworks in Florence, to floating lamps on Lake Como, traditions abound, many of which you can learn about and discover during an Italy cooking vacation. The holiday is particularly popular in Florence, since John the… Read
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Puglia Cooking Vacation: What are Trulli?
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips
Puglia may be one of the lesser known regions in Italy, but it has a beauty and charm all its own. The beauty comes in part due due to trulli (or the singular trullo), which are cone-shaped structures located all over the Itria Valley, including Bari, home to our Puglia cooking vacations. What makes these stunning prehistoric buildings so unique is not just how they look but how they're built.… Read
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Sicily Cooking Vacation: Cooling Off With a Granita
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Travel Tips
One of my friend's mantras when she visits Italy is: "a gelato a day." And with the amazing array of flavors -- from amaretto to stracciatella to strawberry -- it's easy to follow that "rule." But the country of Italy has other just as delicious and flavorful desserts (with less calories) for a hot-weather day. For one, during your next Sicily cooking vacation, grab a traditional granita, which is an… Read
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Dinner Dish: Greece Cooking Vacations - Hare Stifado Recipe
Filed Under Food History, Interviews, Recipes
Our Greek cooking vacations, like many of our culinary tours in Europe, aren't just about making food. They're also about discovering the origins of recipes and the history of the region. Here, Chef Katerina of our Greek culinary vacations talks about her own family's traditions with a very special dish: hare stifado. "My grandfather was born on the island of Siros around 1900, we are not sure exactly when. Αt… Read
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Dinner Dish: Greek Cooking Vacation - Ladolemono Sauce
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes
If you're cooking fish or any kind of meat and want to kick the dish up a notch, consider a sauce called Ladolemono, which hails from Chef Katerina's kitchen and our top selling cooking vacation in Greece, Greek Cooking Odyssey. Like most other Greek recipes you will experience on our Greece cooking vacations, the ingredients in this sauce include olive oil as well as lemons and oregano. In fact, in… Read
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Dinner Dish: Lucca Tuscany Cooking Vacation - Tortelli Lucchesi
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Recipes
As a region known for its cities and countryside, Tuscany is rich in gastronomy traditions, which you can discover in the city of Lucca on our Tuscany cooking vacation. One of the most well-known dishes in Lucca is tortelli lucchesi (or known locally as "tordelli lucchesi"), which is a bright yellow pasta made with wheat flour and eggs. You can make this dish, among other gastronomic specialties, during our Tuscany… Read
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French Cooking Class: How to Read a French Menu
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips
Whether you're eating out in a French bistro, cafe, or restaurant, navigating the menu can be a bit overwhelming as you're presented with so many delicious options. While you'll learn more about making a full French menu during a cooking class, such as with Chef Frederic in Paris, here are some tips on how to make sure you're ordering what you think you are! For starters, the French have a… Read
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