|
Tasty Tuscany
Pick of
the Month |
|
Location: Italy – Tuscan between Pisa and
Florence |
| Specialty: Tuscan Cooking classes and
accommodations in an ancient country house |
| Why
We Like Them: Tasty Tuscany focuses on the art of food,
wine, art and their relationship to the countryside and
effect on life. Recipes feature the best of Italian cooking
for all areas of the country based on the season's best
produce, most ingredients are grown right on the 80- acre
farm. Courses include walking and art excursions, craft and
market visits. Only eight guests can be entertained at any one
time. Even if your passion is not cooking, Tasty Tuscany
offers
separate accommodations and excursions as well. |
| |
|
Everyday Gourmet Traveler |
|
Location: Italy, France |
| Specialty: Multi-day group tours visiting various cities
|
| Why
We Like Them: Bev Gruber arranges and leads
small group journeys with a focus on the specific region's culinary specialties.
Incorporating food, wine, shopping, cooking, art and entrainment, these
tours provide a great overall view of the destinations they visit. |
| |
|
Mexican Home Cooking School |
|
Location: Mexico – Tlaxcala near Puebla |
| Specialty: Mexican home-style cooking classes in
bed and-breakfast accommodations. |
| Why
We Like Them: Señora Estela Salas Silva
learned the classic Mexican recipes from her grandmother and
started in the restaurant business at age 9. Both she and
her brother, Rogelio Salas Silva, have operated restaurants
in both San Francisco and Mexico City. Guests stay in her
“hacienda-style” home and learn right in her kitchen,
truly experiencing the region's way of life. Classes consist of
2-½ hours instruction per day, in groups no larger than
four people. Located in Tlaxcala, 45 minutes from Puebla, ample
time is available to explore Puebla, a fascinating city and
last month’s Heritage Site Pick. |
| |
|
Green Cuisine Ltd |
|
Location: England near the border of Wales |
| Specialty: Cooking school and
organic farm in ancient
farmhouse on the Welch border
|
| Why
We Like Them: Courses focus on cooking and
eating healthy, and feature organic products grown on the
property’s ground. The school is located in an ancient farm
house that has been restored, Green Cuisine also operates a hotel and
restaurant. Most courses are 2-3 days and include
accommodation at Penrhos Court. Green Cuisine's web site has lots of
great recipes, a couple of fun articles and stories, and also
a shop when you can purchase all types of organic-related
products. |
| |
|
Wine & Dine Tours and Events |
|
Location: USA - California |
| Specialty: Napa Valley wine and food tours with great
off-the-beaten-path features |
| Why
We Like Them: They focus on areas of Napa and
wineries that day trippers would never find. Imagine dinner
deep in a winemaker's cave, complete with music and candlelight.
Or how about a short lecture on the role of oak barrels in the
winemaking process, including tastings of wines aged in
three American oaks
from different states and three French oaks, with a
discussion of their effects on
the wines? They can provide custom planning for groups and
individuals, or you can join one of their scheduled trips. |
| |
|
French Wine Explorers |
|
Location: Various locations through France |
| Specialty: Wine tours lead by
sommeliers and wine
experts |
| Why
We Like Them: The company offers a wide variety
of trips, each with a focus on a specific area which allows
for in-depth understanding of the different regions and
their wines. With private access to chateaus and the
winemakers themselves, participants can experience the
subtleties of each vintage firsthand. Gourmet meals and
luxurious accommodation complete the experience. |
| |
|
Epicurean Food and Wine Tours |
|
Location: Australia -
Victoria |
| Specialty: Personalized
day trips
from Melbourne to Australia's prime wine regions |
| Why
We Like Them: A great
selection of day trips to discover the food and wines of Yarra Valley,
Mornington Peninsula and along the Great Ocean Road. The trips include fantastic
scenery, small towns and even a wildlife sanctuary. Multi-day trips and
accommodations can be arranged. |
