With a writing career spanning over a decade, Liz SanFilippo Hall has written about everything from the correct way to assemble a Chicago-style hot dog to the intricate flavors and plating styles of Michelin-star European restaurants. Liz loves discovering new places and flavors to share with her readers, whether it’s the sandy shores of Lake Michigan and the foodie town of Traverse City or the vineyards and small towns of France. She hopes her stories inspire people to travel, try new dishes and ingredients, and learn about the history and culture of a place through its food and meeting the locals.

A graduate of The University of Chicago’s Master’s in Humanities/Creative Writing, she has a knack for combining research with her personal travel/food stories. Some of her most memorable food and travel experiences include slurping fresh French oysters at a market in Cognac, hunting for black truffles in the stunning Umbrian countryside, heading off the beaten path of the Amalfi Coast to find a Michelin-starred restaurant only known to locals, visiting the largest underground church in all of Europe, exploring the catacombs of Paris, and touring the vineyards of Northern Michigan, which is on the 45th latitude just like France’s Côtes du Rhône wine region.

In addition to her blog posts on The International Kitchen, her writing has been featured on CBSLocal.com and Hot Doug’s: The Book, among other sites and publications. She also writes about parenting, self care, and how to travel with kids (and maintain your sanity) on her personal blog, www.OopsandDaisies.com. She currently writes in the western suburbs of Chicago, where she lives with her two young children, husband, and stubborn bulldog named Kafka.


Posted

October 11, 2012

By Liz SanFilippo Hall

Tuscany Cooking Class: The Market in Figline Valdarno

Filed Under  Destination Features, Travel Tips

One of the many wonderful things about a Tuscan cooking vacation is discovering foods particular to the region, and even the produce of a specific town. Other than getting into the kitchen and cooking, the best way to discover these foods is going to the source: the market where the chefs find and choose the produce and foods they plan on cooking with. That's why so many of our culinary… Read
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Posted

October 4, 2012

By Liz SanFilippo Hall

Peru's Culinary Festival Mistura Features the Country's Best Cuisine

Filed Under  Destination Features, Special Occasions, Travel Tips

Peru has been in the news lately for its amazing culinary offerings, making it a prime South American destination for foodies and cooking vacations. We asked our partners in Peru, from Taste of Peru, to talk about a culinary festival they recently had, Mistura. In both words and pictures, they talk about how much fun this country has with their delicious food. "Mistura is Peru's international culinary fair that offers… Read
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Posted

September 18, 2012

By Liz SanFilippo Hall

Interview: Chef Carmen | Sorrento Cooking Vacation Packages

Filed Under  Destination Features, Interviews, Travel Tips

Our chefs, and their passion for cooking, are the heart of all of our vacations. In this series of blog posts, hear the chefs in their own words as they talk about their background, their love of food, and what they hope you gain from your next culinary vacation. For Chef Carmen at our Amalfi Coast cooking vacation Sorrento Cooking Adventure, cooking is all about passion and love. We think… Read
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Posted

August 30, 2012

By Liz SanFilippo Hall

The Famed Palio Horse Race on a Tuscany Vacation Package

Filed Under  Destination Features, Special Occasions, Travel Videos

Karen marked Siena's Palio off her travel bucket list this August, which she considers one of her most unforgettable travel experiences. Now Elisa, a Sienese of the contrada Istrice, from our Tuscany office talks about her memories and history of the grand event! "I had the pleasure of being at the Palio in August with Karen, and she asked us to write about the event, which is a horse race… Read
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Posted

August 16, 2012

By Liz SanFilippo Hall

Paris Cooking Class: A Visit to Les Halles Market District

Filed Under  Destination Features, Food History, Travel Tips

The market in Les Halles may not be as famous as the original one — nicknamed the "Belly of Paris" by Emile Zola — but it continues to be a place frequented by locals, great for learning about French culture, and perfect for picking out ingredients for a French cooking class. For centuries, the Les Halles market was a labyrinth of alleys packed with vendors hawking meats, vegetables, and fish.… Read
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