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 Karen Herbst was for many years a
research editor for Playboy Magazine, followed by a stint as a producer and director for five talk shows at CBS radio. She then left
the full-time work force to raise her family of three sons. Upon her return in 1983, she chose to enter the travel industry, where
she specialized in small group travel to Italy and France. In 1994 she decided to combine her travel experience with her lifelong
passion for food and wine to create the The International Kitchen. She has personally handpicked the chefs, locations and excursions
and works to ensure that every International Kitchen experience is unique, professional, and richly rewarding. Karen is recognized
as one of the innovators of culinary travel, and, as an authority, is an advisor and frequent speaker to industry and professional
groups. (She was a featured speaker at the Annual Symposium of the International
Culinary Tourism Association, held in Helsingborg, Sweden in September 2006.)
She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Italian Travel Promotional Council, a non-profit organization working in
conjunction with the Italian Government Tourist Office, as well as a member of the Slow Food Organization and the James Beard
Foundation.
In 2004 Karen was the honored recipient of the La Medaille d'Argent du Tourisme, the French Silver Medal of
Tourism awarded by the French government. In 2008 The International Kitchen was given the coveted award
of "Best Special Interest Product" by the French Government Tourist Office. Karen is a member of
the prestigious organization of Les Dames des Escoffier, the only organization of its kind:
a world wide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality.
The invitation-only membership, composed of 27 individual chapters across the United States and
Canada, is highly diversified and reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and
hospitality. Karen is also a member of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, an international gastronomic association
dedicated to both professionals and non professionals worldwide who appreciate cuisine, wine and dining.
Email to info@theinternationalkitchen.com.
 Margaret (Peg) Kern is a native of Ohio who received her BA in
Italian from Columbia University and her MA and Ph.D. in Italian Literature from the University of Chicago, where she taught language
and literature courses prior to joining The International Kitchen in 2004. She enjoys an obvious love for Italy, especially Rome, where she
lived for over three years. Another of her favorite Italian regions is Sardinia, where she has passed many summers exploring the local
food, culture, and beaches. She is passionate about travel and cooking, and her other hobbies include home improvement, reading, and
writing. Although her knowledge of Italian culture makes her especially suited to helping plan your culinary trip to Italy, she is also
proficient in French and has traveled extensively in France, especially Provence. She is an expert in our culinary vacations and would
be happy to help you plan your trip!
Richard is welcomed to The International Kitchen as our Group and Incentive Travel Specialist. He will
bring to this new department his many years of experience, in sales for Alitalia Airlines and most recently
his association with a large Midwest tour operator specializing in Italy and Europe. He discovered his love
for Europe and travel with his first French class in high school. This blossomed into a love of French and
Italian history, about which he is very knowledgeable, along with an associate degree in the liberal arts.
Over the years, Richard has also developed an interest in cooking, and particularly baking which he claims to
be extremely therapeutic! He has an easy and open manner, a quick sense of humor and is always on hand to give
any assistance. We are delighted he has joined our "family."
 Tuscan
born and bred, Jeanette Benedetti Boylan brings to The International
Kitchen a love of good food and her culinary skills acquired at her Nonna's
side. In fact, she was featured by the Chicago Sun Times for her famous
Italian home cooking; if you were lucky, you were one of those honored
with a dinner invitation! As Sales Manager for Alitalia Airlines, Jeanette
traveled the world gaining an extensive appreciation for a wide variety
of cuisines. She was also able to indulge her love of opera, working
in the Artistic Administration Department of the Lyric Opera for a number
of years. Jeanette was the recipient of a coveted award from the province
of Lucca, acknowledging her as an Italian born American who has achieved
notable success in her chosen field of business, and she was one of the
founding members of the Chicago chapter of the Accademia Italiana della
Cucina, an association honoring authentic Italian restaurants, and is
also a member of the Chicago Sister Cities International Program for
Milan. Jeanette's charm, warm smile and big heart are rivaled only by
her love and appreciation of good food! Click here to see
Jeanette's recent food review in the "At Play" section of the Chicago Tribune (September 27, 2007)!
 Sharon
brings extensive financial expertise that she has gathered through over 30 years of her accounting career.
She is delighted to be a part of The International Kitchen, as it reflects her love of
travel, art, multi-cultural interests, and did we mention the wonderful food? Sharon's upbeat spirit and contagious
laughter is greatly appreciated by the rest of the office.
Currently her favorite cities are Florence and Sant' Agata sui Due Golfi, where she toured with The
International Kitchen staff.
But what does Sharon love more than art, travel and food? Her beautiful granddaughter,
with whom she spends as much time as possible! And if being a grandmother didn't keep her busy
enough, Sharon is also the Oak Park/Near West Suburbs Chapter Coordinator for Project Linus, a non-profit
organization that provides blankets and afghans to comfort children in need.
Charles Blair is a native of the United Kingdom who has lived in the
United States for many years. He holds advanced degrees from the
University of Chicago, where he is employed as Co-Director of the
Digital Library Development Center. In addition to his technical
expertise, Charles has traveled extensively in Europe, making him a
valuable asset in our product development. His appreciation of Italian
culture and tradition is enhanced by his study and practice of Italian
Renaissance swordsmanship.
 Charlene comes to The International Kitchen with skills both as a chef and travel coordinator. She was born to an Italian family where food was always the center of the family. After earning her BA in Art History at the University of Wisconsin, Charlene spent a number of years working as a travel agent specializing in personal itineraries to Europe, South America, Africa and Asia as well as six years working as a chef with a well-known Chicago caterer. We welcome Charlene and know her talents and enthusiasm will be a great asset to the company.
After having studied Digital Photography and the Fine Arts, Neil whisked off on a
career as a videographer for the National Geographic channel in Washington D.C., opening
doors he never dreamed of, taking him around
the world shooting video and photography. It was there he realized that still-photography
was his true passion. Later, when offered a position as a Professor of Studio Photography
at Bradley University, he gladly accepted.
A year later, Neil felt as if there was still more for him to achieve.
He moved back to sweet home Chicago, and for the past seven years
Neil has spearheaded Stronghold Photography. Stronghold primarily
caters to the needs of designers, advertisers and marketing specialists,
providing a wide range of photography and imaging needs.
Neil concentrates mainly in the realm of food photography.
His passions has graced him with the opportunity to travel
the world shooting eclectic food for a variety clients.
In addition to Neil’s almost unhealthy passion for creating
images and traveling the globe, he also enjoys playing disc
golf, reading, mountain biking, and anything chocolate.
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Cooking Vacations 
An avid traveller, Leonardo Balli has explored countries across the globe but always
returns happily to his hometown of Florence, Italy. Leonardo has been involved in different aspects
of the travel industry since attending a special Italian High School for Tourism. He lived in London
for a number of his formative years and has worked in all aspects of hotel and resort management - from
porter, part of a summer animation team, to Director. For an Italian tour operator he has led small and large
groups abroad and even managed summer operations on the island of Crete. He has been owner and director of
Geo Firias Tour Operator since 1995 and is proud to be a close collaborator with The International Kitchen
since its inception. Leonardo works to ensure top quality, control, service and of course cuisine (!) for
all International Kitchen programming in Tuscany. When not travelling Leonardo enjoys spending time with his
daughter Olympia, going to the movies and listening to music from his wonderful terrace overlooking the Tuscan
hills. His favourite city (other than Florence)?
London. A destination he still has yet to visit ? Chile.
Ele was born and raised in the countryside outside of Florence, where she still lives with
her family.
Her passion for local traditions and interest in tracing her ancestors'
biographies are part of her everyday life: she is currently working on a special degree on the
History of
Tuscany at Florence University. As well, she works for the Geo Firias office (The International
Kitchen's local representative and office in Florence), where she
takes an active part in creating our cooking packages. Ele is also an accomplished singer
and songwriter!
She hopes
to have the opportunity to help people understand that Tuscany is something more than a tourist
destination:
each town has an own story to tell through its art, its food, its inhabitants. Through her work
she hopes to provide you with the essential instruments to be a good listener to these stories:
you don't need anything more!!
An academic year of college brought Elizabeth Namack, originally of Sarasota, Florida to Italy. In Florence
she fell in love: with the culture, art, history, cuisine, and you guessed it - with her future husband. Needless
to say she has not left since! Working in tourism is the perfect way for her to combine her warm personality and
intellectual interests. With Geo Firias she works on developing specialized tour itineraries and accompanies groups
sharing her knowledge and passion for all things Italian with guests. In addition to a diploma in painting restoration
from the Italian Institution Palazzo Spinelli, she holds a BA in Art History from Smith College and a MA in the same
subject from Syracuse University. When not working for Geo Firias Elizabeth enjoys cooking,
hiking the Italian countryside and Iyengar yoga.
Elena has spent over 3 academic years in 4 different continents to achieve
her BA in environmental sciences. Working as a researcher for Food Science
Australia in Sydney, Middle East and North Africa gave her a rounded
experience and authentic pleasure in sharing and working within foreign
cultures. Her interest in holistic medicine and healing plants brought
her back to Florence, her hometown, in pursuit of of medieval alchemies
and herbalists. After a MA in Promotion of food heritage in Tuscany and
licensing as an official cheese taster, she has been working since 2004
to create tailor-made gourmet tours and accompany groups. Elena is
delighted in welcoming The International Kitchen guests and giving
them a glimpse into the Tuscan lifestyle at the table! Are you ready
to become a wizard in the kitchen?
Ronald Holden, director of wine tours for our sister company, 
A native of New York but a citizen of the world, Fred is the author of nine books
(and is now writing a biography of Michelangelo), was the
performance manager of the Metropolitan Opera and has directed opera at La Scala.
Among his books are the best-selling Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera
and Classical Music 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Classical Music, both of which are
considered the standard texts for learning these art forms. Other people know Fred for his peerless
knowledge of Italian food and culture. He is the author of five Italian cookbooks and has been a
finalist for the James Beard award, the Julia Child Cookbook award and the IACP cookbook award.
His definitive Italy for the Gourmet Traveler received a new, entirely updated edition in May 2007 from Kyle Books.
Fred appears frequently on television and radio. He is known to millions of listeners worldwide through
his regular appearances on the Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network and the Met’s transmissions
on Sirius Satellite Radio. He has cooked frequently on the Television Food Network as well
as “Live with Regis and Kathie Lee,” and morning programs throughout America.
Before joining The International Kitchen, he led very
popular and highly-praised opera seminars and tours for Smithsonian Journeys.
We could not be more pleased to have Fred lead The International Kitchen's Opera and Cuisine tours!
Randy joins The International Kitchen team
based out of New York. A graduate of Washington University in St. Louis,
Randy studied and worked at a vineyard in the Loire Valley and fell in love
with French culture and
cuisine. In addition to being an avid amateur chef
and wine lover, Randy has worked extensively in the
fashion and design world in San Francisco and
Manhattan. She joins the team as a Sales Specialist
covering the New York metro area and is the proud
mother of Hannah Herbst.
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