January 2012

Dear Friends,

My wishes for all the best in 2012, success, happiness and health from the entire team at The International Kitchen! We are all very excited about our wonderful programs, and eager to share all of them with you.

We love our cooking vacations, and we are always looking to add wonderful new options, always something a little different! In fact, we recently added a new section on our Website; if you're looking to explore more than one region in Italy, please see our Multiple Regions section. Look for a French Multiple Regions section in the coming week as well.

We already have many new programs posted on our Website, and some in the works that will soon be posted on the site. Please call us at 800-945-8606 or write to info@theinternationalkitchen.com; we are here anytime to give you additional information or to help you choose the best trip for you, friends, and family.

Best,
Karen

February 2012

Dear Friends,

Our Web and Travel Coordinator is gearing up for her first trip to Italy, where she'll be doing site inspections and discovering new programs, so I've asked Liz to highlight what she'll be doing and seeing.

"I'm thrilled to be heading to Italy and getting to know some of our partners and programs better!

My travels first take me to Milan, where I'll be attending BIT 2012 (Borsa Internazionale del Turismo). At The International Kitchen, we regularly attend trade shows to make new contacts and discover new partners to work with from all over Europe! At BIT, while I'll be keeping my eye out for new Italian culinary vacations for you, I'll also be meeting with our partners behind the program A Culinary Adventure in Umbria and Cooking and Hiking in the Umbrian Hills, among others. They have a new program they've been putting together in Sicily; expect details about that program when I return.

Then I'll be traveling south to one of our newest Umbria programs, Discover the Umbrian Countryside, in the small comune of Montegabbione. Here, I'll be visiting and exploring the agriturismo, and of course trying the food from their local farms, which is all organic and freshly grown!

For my last few days, it's off to Florence, where I'll meet with our Italian office and check in on some of our best-selling programs, like A Classic Tuscan Table With Chef Claudio.

It promises to be a whirlwind but exciting trip to Italy, and I look forward to reporting back about everything I discover!"

I wish Liz a great trip!

Best wishes,
Karen

March 2012

Dear Friends,

In February, our Web and Tour Coordinator Liz visited Italy to check in with some of The International Kitchen's Italian culinary vacations. Here's what she has to say about what she saw!

"After leaving the BIT 2012 tradeshow in Milan, I headed south to visit one of our newest Umbrian programs, Discover the Umbrian Countryside. The agriturismo, led by a husband and wife team, was amazingly close to Tuscany -- in fact, I got off the train in Chiusi, which is on the border of the two regions. And the beauty of the surrounding Umbrian hills rivals that of Tuscany, even with some of the snow that still graced the hills in February!

Marina and Chef Gianluca treated me to a wonderful meal that night, full of traditional local produce, in their restaurant that is only open to guests of their B&B. Home-made foccacia and salami from the local butcher, who lives on the next hill over, started the meal. Then came some divine homemade pumpkin ravioli topped with a dash of pecorino and fresh bits of bacon, an amazing combination. The entree offered something new, too: steak from the famous white cow of the region, known as Chianina, paired with chick-pea curry puree and breaded cauliflower. Such a wonderful, filling meal, but it wasn't complete until a chocolate dessert!

Like Marina and Gianluca, the accommodations were also warm and inviting. They bought the farmhouse back in 2005 and extensively remodeled it, dividing it into two buildings, and outfitting it with environmentally-friendly, modern amenities. All eight rooms and ensuite bathrooms are bright and spacious with furnishings -- like the farmhouse's old doors as headboards -- that respect the farmhouse's history. The property too is stunning; it's spread across 14 acres of land, where Marina and Gianluca grow much of the produce they cook with for guests and classes, and the olives they use in the olive oil they produce on-site.

While visiting, I also got to visit some of the charming hillside towns that guests of The International Kitchen will see as well, including a castle, and classic Italian villages with narrow roads and hidden pathways. All in all, it was a fabulous visit, and I look forward to visiting again in warmer weather!

But my trip wasn't complete yet. I returned to Florence, and visiting Florence isn't complete without seeing Claudio, from our best-selling program A Classic Tuscan Table with Chef Claudio. Even on a Tuesday night, his small restaurant was packed with locals. After asking us what sort of food we were in the mood for, Claudio started bringing out delicious dish after delicious dish -- something he's well known for!

It was a fabulous trip, and I highly recommend giving Umbria a try -- or visiting Claudio just outside of Florence!"

I am delighted Liz had the opportunity to visit Umbria and Tuscany!

Best wishes,
Karen

April 2012

Dear friends,

Our Group & Incentive Specialist, Richard, recently returned from France, where he participated in a trade show and checked in with one of our most popular French programs. Here's what Richard has to say about his travels throughout Paris and the beautiful Loire Valley!

"I am just back from the French trade show “Rendez-vous en France” which was held this year in Paris. It was a great opportunity to see old friends and make new ones! I was first treated to an amazing 4 night “pre-tour” to the Champagne region, not at all far from Paris, in the towns of Reims & Troyes. We visited some of the most famous champagne caves and ate at some wonderful restaurants. It was truly a gastronomic delight and these two cities should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list!

The trade show itself was very informative. Keep your eyes peeled for a new chef in Paris whom we hope to have on our website under Paris one-day cooking classes very soon.

At the end of the show I took the TGV train into the Loire to visit Chef Sidney and Chef Alison at our amazing program A Culinary Adventure at Le Calabash Cooking School. Words cannot express! I am totally bowled over by this program. The relais accommodation is absolutely charming and has been lovingly restored by the owner, Isabelle. Most bedrooms are beamed, the dining room is lovely & comfortable, and the lounge has an impressive stone fireplace -- a great place to relax on chilly spring days!

The cooking school, Le Calabash, is only a 3 minute drive away in a tiny hamlet. Sidney and Alison have developed a fully equipped teaching kitchen as the heart of the school. We also visited the chateau of Chenonceau and had lunch at its gastronomic restaurant, Orangerie – exactly as our clients do on Tuesday during their culinary experience.

But the real thrill was cooking a simple dinner with Sidney and Alison that evening at the school. Sidney seared a beautiful duck breast from one of his local producers and taught me how to make risotto -- a simple recipe with chicken stock, mushrooms, white wine and cheese. The method was easy to learn and the end result creamy and delicious. Alison finished the meal with individual banana tart tatins with homemade ice cream & tuiles (which she taught me to make). It was a great evening of fun, good food & great companionship. I can’t wait to go back!"

I'm so glad Richard had a chance to experience one of our favorite programs. We know you will love it as much as he did!

Best wishes,
Karen