A History of Tiramisu
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips Italy
Most people when asked to name an Italian dessert will answer "tiramisu"! I was once in Italy with family and the waiter offered us "torta di mela," the Italian version of apple pie. We responded that we didn't come all the way from the U.S. for apple pie, and could we please have some tiramisu! Italians actually make a lot of different and diverse desserts, many of them regional specialties… Read
Post
Italy Culinary Tours: Discovering the Beauty of the Umbrian Countryside
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, What's Up at TIK Italy
When planning a food and wine tour to Italy, Tuscany is often one of the regions that comes to mind, with its rolling hills, vineyards for miles, famous Chianti wines, and, of course, the historic city of Florence. While it is definitely worth a visit (or two), it's eastern neighbor, Umbria, deserves some attention too, and we offer some of our best culinary tours of Italy in this region. Landlocked… Read
Post
Ferragosto: Italians on Holiday
Filed Under Destination Features, Special Occasions Italy
Perhaps the single most popular time for Italians to take a vacation the week of "Ferragosto," the summer holiday that falls on August 15. This is the time when shops and restaurants close, people head to the beach or the countryside, and all of Italy is on holiday. Although it might seem like a European version of a Labor Day picnic, the origins of the holiday purportedly go back to… Read
Post
Italy Culinary Trips: Recipe for Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms
Filed Under Destination Features, Recipes Italy
Summer always brings to mind fried zucchini blossoms and one of our favorite culinary vacation destinations... Tuscany! I've had the pleasure of being to Tuscany many times, have enjoyed amazing meals cooked there, frequently using the freshest of seasonal ingredients. Asparagus in the springtime, eggplant in the summer, mushrooms in the fall... Italy is a smorgasbord of wonderful produce! Discover all our cooking vacations in Italy. Our chefs are passionate… Read
Post
All About Olive Oil
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Travel Videos France, Greece, Italy, Spain
This week we'll be talking about some of our special themed itineraries such as olive harvest week! Our most popular destinations are in the Mediterranean basin, where olive oil reigns supreme. In fact, some scientists actually classify the Mediterranean region according to the preponderance of olive trees! (So where there are no olive trees you are no longer properly in the Mediterranean region). I don't know how scientific we want… Read
Post
5 Places to Visit in the Winter
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips France, Italy, Mexico, Vietnam & Cambodia
We may be in the midst of Summer -- and all the heat that comes with it -- but it's also the time of year to start thinking of your Winter travels, especially in November and December… and whether or not you want to escape the cold or embrace it. Here are five wonderful overseas destinations for cooking vacations in order of coldest to warmest. So either dust off your… Read
Post