Recipe for Sicilian Sardines "a Beccafico"
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Italy
Sicily is one of our most popular destinations, and it's no wonder when you consider the amazing and diverse gastronomy that you will find on the island. The coastal areas obviously will give you more fish and seafood dishes, including a lot of different preparations of one of the Mediterranean's prized fish: the sardine. In the US sardines are found in tins, and not exactly considered a gourmet food. But… Read
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Travel Trends for 2023
Filed Under Travel Tips, What's Up at TIK
We don't have a crystal ball, but we do keep our finger on the pulse of travel nation, and we've been noticing some expected travel trends for 2023 that we'd like to share. Some of these are based on our decades of experience in travel, including following rough travel periods like post-9/11 and during the 2006 recession. Others are based on what we're hearing from travel colleagues: other tour operators,… Read
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What to See in Naples: Top Three Sites to See
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, Italy
Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are among our top destinations, and frequently our travelers ask if they should also take time to visit Naples. Our answer is always a resounding yes. The sprawling southern metropolis is unlike other parts of Italy. Whether you visit it for a day or a week, you will see a completely unique Italy full of culture, history, food, and friendly people. I'm not saying there… Read
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Melanzane alla Parmigiana (Recipe for Eggplant Parmesan)
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Italy
What is "parimgiana?" You will see this word on recipes and menus in Italy, but what exactly is it? In a nutshell, it means it is a dish made with a tomato sauce and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese (or a similar substitute). When you see "alla" incuded in the name of an Italian dish, it generally means "in the style of." Some classic examples, besides melanzane alla parimgiana, are pasta alla norma,… Read
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10 Tips for a Hassle Free Trip
Filed Under Travel Tips, What's Up at TIK
You may be hearing about flight cancelations, long lines for tourist attractions, understaffing at hotels, and a host of other hassles that might affect your trip. We have a lot of culinary travelers on the ground these days in Europe and beyond, and so far (knock on wood!) the reports of travel catastrophes has been hugely exaggerated. There is always the chance of flight schedule changes, delays, cancelations, and other… Read
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Three Alternative Destinations to Visit on a Cooking Vacation with TIK
Filed Under Destination Features, Croatia, Peru, USA
When most people think "cooking vacation," they think of Italy and France. And those countries have been out top destinations for the past 28 years! But we have many other amazing destinations that you can try on our tours, and some of them might be a bit unexpected. Whether you are traveling solo, as part of a couple, or with a small group of family or friends, we have many… Read
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Recipe for Moroccan Harira (Chickpea and Lentil Soup)
Filed Under Food History, Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Morocco
Harira is one of my favorite Moroccan dishes. There are many variations but they all include legumes (usually lentils and chickpeas), tomato, onion, turmeric, and herbs. It is sometimes thickened with egg or a slurry (a mixture of flour and water, called a tedouira in Moroccan cuisine), although it will thicken on its own if left overnight. Harira is a dish traditionally served during Ramadan, but can be enjoyed throughout… Read
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Highlights of the Sicilian Baroque on our Sicily Cooking Vacations
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, Italy
The Italian Baroque was one of the most florid and proliferous art movements in what is modern-day Italy, lasting from the late 16th to the early 18th centuries. Its famous art and architecture are particularly known for their grandeur, drama, and exuberance. The Sicilian Baroque, however, is its own movement. Although related to the wider Italian Baroque, the Sicilian baroque was developed on the island in the 17th and 18th… Read
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Best Day Trips from Florence by Train
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, Italy
Florence is one of our most popular destinations for our cooking vacations and culinary tours. We offer a wonderful 5-night Florence for the Food Lover tour, but we also offer custom private ours in Florence for any amount of time. Frequently travelers add extra days in Florence either to our Florence tour or to any of our Tuscany cooking vacations. It's such an amazing city to explore! Small enough to… Read
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Quick and Easy Meals: Summer Steak Tacos
Filed Under Kitchen Tips, Recipes, Mexico
One of my favorite meals in summer are tacos. You can throw anything on the grill and turn it into a delicious taco. While steak tacos usually call to mind carne asada, these steak tacos use flank steak marinated in a chipotle lime marinade and then cut thinly into strips. This marinade can be adapted for other meats as well, or for fish or shrimp to make seafood tacos. And… Read
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