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Since the dawn of man, celebrations have centered on
feasting. While pre-industrial man celebrated the success of a major kill or the
yearly harvest (a natural reason to eat, drink and be merry – at least while
the food lasted), today’s festive celebrations focus on traditional holidays
and personal benchmarks.
The holiday season, more than any other, always brings to
mind family and friends gathering together to share good food and good times.
This month’s hosts make travelers feel at home and part of the family no
matter what time of year their journeys takes place. Some offer cooking schools
in their homes, others lead tours that visit the best local destinations for
food and drink and some create epicurean travels made to order.
No matter the city, country or type of experience, they all
have a few things in common: a passion for sharing the love of their regional
cuisine and a dedication to expanding its reach. Luckily for us, many have
chosen to share cherished recipes for this issue.
This
month's tour hosts review:
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Cellar Tours
Pick of
the Month |
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Location:
Spain and Portugal |
| Specialty:
Wine and culinary tours |
| Why
We Like Them: Two killer web sites with lots of information and
tons of recipes, combined with a fantastic newsletter makes
researching and planning a wine tour in this region a real
pleasure. Cellar Tours offers a number of set departure
dates as well as one-day excursions and can customize
arrangements for individual and groups. Wine schools,
culinary professionals and corporate executive groups are
just a few of Cellar Tours’ clients. Trips include visits to
the local culture’s art, architecture and history highlights
for the perfect cultural immersion. |
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Article: Spanish Dessert Recipes |
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To Grandmother's House We Go
Cooking Tours |
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Location: Oaxaca, Mexico and
Sorrento, Italy |
| Specialty:
Local cuisine with noted chefs |
| Why
We Like Them:
Begun as an attempt to reconnect with the Sunday dinners
hosted by her grandmother, To Grandmother's House We Go has
evolved from local New York City trips to include both
Sicily and Oaxaca. Tours are limited to 10-12 people and
include cooking classes with noted chefs, such as Susana
Trilling and Wanda and Giovanna Tornabene. Accommodations are always charming
and much love and effort goes into planning local excursions. Keeping tradition
alive, Susan’s dedication is sure to bring a smile on the faces of
grandmothers everywhere. |
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Article:
Oaxaca: Cooking in "the most Mexican of cities" |
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Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking
Adventure in Italy |
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Location: Italy |
| Specialty: Guided cooking tours and custom designed trip planning |
| Why
We Like Them:
As the author of Your Guide to 133 Decadent Cooking
Holidays in Italy, Mama Margaret has visited dozens of cooking schools
throughout Italy and can design a custom- planned trip to meet any need. Also
with scheduled group departures and independent tours, guided or self-drive
itineraries, there’s a program to fit any traveler needs. Her “Cooking &
Spa Lovers' Adventure” promises to be a delight. I encourage everyone to
experience an Italian “health” spa. It is a much different experience from
the U.S. Great food and wine will just heighten the indulgence factor. |
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Article:
Cooking Tours in Italy
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Toscana Mia |
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Location:
Chianti, Italy |
| Specialty:
Cooking and language school welcoming kids |
| Why
We Like Them: This is the first company that I have found that
offers cooking classes for children as well as adults.
Bambini under 10 have their own kitchen with shorter tables
for mixing and creating at their own level, while older
children can easily join in with the adults. Choose from
single-day classes or choose a two, three or five-day
live-in program where you become part of the family. Toscana
Mia also offers language classes and for the diehard Italophile, you can even combine both
for a truly total-immersion experience. |
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Article:
Chianti’s Festive Recipes
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Blair House Cooking School |
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Location:
Texas, USA |
| Specialty:
Cooking school and Bed and Breakfast |
| Why
We Like Them: Blair House offers a different themed class each
month. Scheduling choices include workweek and weekend
options to fit every student’s needs. For those cooks
wishing a more intense tutorage, or who can’t make the
scheduled times, individual two-day seminars are available.
The bed and breakfast accommodations, with or without
cooking classes, promise great food and fun in Texas. |
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Article:
Holiday Cooking, Texas-Style
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New Orleans Cooking Experience |
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Location: New Orleans, USA |
| Specialty:
Creole cooking vacations
and half day classes with local chefs |
| Why
We Like Them:
Located in a 1790’s indigo plantation, the House on
Bayou Road Inn, the school offers a wide variety of class
options that allows the Creole cuisine lover a chance to
receive hands-on training right in the heart of the city.
Classes are held in the inn’s newly renovated kitchen and
the garden is home to many fresh herbs and vegetables used
in the recipes. The vacation programs include excursions
around the city, dinners out at some of New Orleans best
restaurants and a stay at the inn.
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