Recipe for Sicilian Sardines "a Beccafico"
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes Italy
Sicily is one of our most popular destinations, and it's no wonder when you consider the amazing and diverse gastronomy that you will find on the island. The coastal areas obviously will give you more fish and seafood dishes, including a lot of different preparations of one of the Mediterranean's prized fish: the sardine. In the US sardines are found in tins, and not exactly considered a gourmet food. But… Read
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What to See in Naples: Top Three Sites to See
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips Italy
Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are among our top destinations, and frequently our travelers ask if they should also take time to visit Naples. Our answer is always a resounding yes. The sprawling southern metropolis is unlike other parts of Italy. Whether you visit it for a day or a week, you will see a completely unique Italy full of culture, history, food, and friendly people. I'm not saying there… Read
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Melanzane alla Parmigiana (Recipe for Eggplant Parmesan)
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes Italy
What is "parimgiana?" You will see this word on recipes and menus in Italy, but what exactly is it? In a nutshell, it means it is a dish made with a tomato sauce and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (or a similar substitute). When you see "alla" incuded in the name of an Italian dish, it generally means "in the style of." Some classic examples, besides melanzane alla parimgiana, are pasta alla norma,… Read
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Highlights of the Sicilian Baroque on our Sicily Cooking Vacations
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips Italy
The Italian Baroque was one of the most florid and proliferous art movements in what is modern-day Italy, lasting from the late 16th to the early 18th centuries. Its famous art and architecture are particularly known for their grandeur, drama, and exuberance. The Sicilian Baroque, however, is its own movement. Although related to the wider Italian Baroque, the Sicilian baroque was developed on the island in the 17th and 18th… Read
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Best Day Trips from Florence by Train
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips Italy
Florence is one of our most popular destinations for our cooking vacations and culinary tours. We offer a wonderful 5-night Florence for the Food Lover tour, but we also offer custom private ours in Florence for any amount of time. Frequently travelers add extra days in Florence either to our Florence tour or to any of our Tuscany cooking vacations. It's such an amazing city to explore! Small enough to… Read
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How to Fill Out the Passenger Locator Form to Visit Italy or France
Filed Under Travel Tips France, Italy
Recently several of our tour destinations required a special form be completed to enter the country. This was a new requirement that was started due to COVID. Italy removed this requirement as of May 1, 2022. France's Foreign Ministry site says that passengers "may" be required to fill out the form, which might indicate it also will soon be suspended. Here are the instructions should it once again become necessary… Read
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