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There is nothing more festive than food. A good
meal with friends, old or new, allows the traveler the opportunity to discover
the distinct character of a region and her cuisine. Whether it is the familiar
tastes of Tuscany, classic French cuisine, or the new foodie locals like Croatia
or Granada, Spain, culture and cuisine go hand in hand.
As the holiday season again grows near, the
thought of families gathered to enjoy the culinary treats of generations makes
the mouth water. Austrian strudel, Chocolate Chaud, Vasilopita,
Bûche de Noël,
all fabulous sweets to temp the taste buds and promise delightful dreams.
Whether your culinary desires run to learning new
cooking techniques and recipes or just indulging in new epicurean discoveries,
this month’s Hosts offer both cooking classes and the opportunity to taste and
explore without getting your hands dirty. Discover the tapas of Spain, local
B&B’s in France, “slow food” in Croatia and the country cuisine of Italy.
Culinary treats await the curious and hungry traveler in the most unexpected
destinations.
This
month's tour hosts review:
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Good Tastes of Tuscany
Pick of
the Month |
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Location: Italy
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| Specialty: Cooking school and wine tasting classes |
| Why
We Like Them: Housed in the 13th century Villa Pandolfini, classes
are led by Florentine natives Lisa and Maurizio. Their collaboration date back
to 1990. Maurizio’s expertise in Italian viticulture and Lisa’s lifelong passion
with the secrets of Tuscan cuisine ensure that their Tuscan cooking class is an
exceptional cultural experience highlighting the delights of the classic Tuscan
kitchen. Choose single day, multi-day or weeklong classes.
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Herzerl Tours division of Omnifics Assoc.,
Inc. |
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Location: Austria |
| Specialty: Culinary, music and Christmas tours |
| Why
We Like Them: Small intimate groups and customized tours allow travelers
to meet the locals and experience Viennese culture up close. If your interests
are a culinary Taste of Vienna, Mozart’s musical celebration or the fabulous New
Years Ball, Herzerl Tours will create an Austrian treat to remember. |
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My Croatia |
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Location: Croatia |
| Specialty: Culinary tours and accommodations in Croatia |
| Why
We Like Them: “Slow Food,” winemaking and truffle hunting, what more can
one want from a culinary vacation. Experience Croatia; from the island of Vis,
to the villages of Dalmatia and the hilltop towns of Istria and explore a whole
new world. All tours are personally designed and accommodations range from
boutique hotels, family-run B&B’s to self-catering apartments. Whatever your
idea of the perfect holiday, My Croatia can help you create your personalized
experience while you discover the links between the region’s food, wine and
culture. |
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Article:
Croatia - The new foodie frontier |
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Arte Culinaria |
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Location: Italy |
| Specialty: Cooking school and accommodations in the Veneto |
| Why
We Like Them: Learn to cook the cuisine of the Veneto while staying
in a converted farmhouse at the foot of the Dolomites. Offering 3-day and full
week classes, Arte Culinaria limits its class size to a maximum of four people
to insure a fully flexible, hands-on experience and the opportunity to customize
classes to the students’ desires. |
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Article:
Crossing the Culinary Rubicon |
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West Wind Tours |
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Location: France |
| Specialty:
Custom and group wine and culinary tours to Bordeaux and the
Dordogne Valley |
| Why
We Like Them: Combining a small group size (max 6 people) with stays
at family run B&B’s West Wind Tours insures the traveler gets a true sense of
the land and her people. Enjoy a hands-on bread baking class using a 200
year-old oven, taste the wine of Bordeaux at a food and wine paring dinner and
explore the prehistoric and medieval jewels of the Dordogne Valley. Custom
arrangements offer a number of other options as well. |
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Article:
French B&B Vacations |
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All Ways Spain |
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Location: Granada, Spain |
| Specialty: Activity weekends |
| Why
We Like Them: Offering pre-designed Activity Weekends, visit Granada
with a focus on Flamenco, ceramics, food and wine, photography, walking or
create your own plan with their freestyle weekends. Which ever you prefer, All
Ways Spain will be there to guide and assist in all your needs. And don’t miss
the special 200th anniversary of Trafalgar’s victory over Napoleon, a special
trip that includes Seville, Gibraltar and Wellington sights in between. |
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Article:
The art of tapeando, Granada-style |
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