A Must See on Any Foodie's Travel Bucket List: Bordeaux
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips
Paris and Provence tend to be the two most-requested destinations when booking a cooking vacation to France. But one foodie destination that is increasingly drawing attention is situated in the country's southwest: Bordeaux. Known for its legendary wines and surrounding stunning vineyards, the historic city is becoming more of a tourist destination in no small part to the La Cité du Vin, an immersive museum that's been called an amusement… Read
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A Pork with Grapes and Wine Recipe from our Napa Valley Guide
Filed Under Destination Features, Recipes
Napa Valley might be best known for its wine, but it's also a great destination for a foodie tour. During Napa Valley food and wine tours with The International Kitchen, you'll be treated to gourmet dishes paired with local wines. In other words, matches made in heaven! You'll also have a true insider - Diane di Filipi - as your guide into this part of the country, making it a… Read
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6 Often Over-Looked But Not to Miss Cooking Vacations
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips
We often get inquiries about destinations that people hear about a lot… places like Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast in Italy, and Provence in France. While we adore those regions very much, there are some other places that hold special places in our hearts, ones that are too often overlooked. Many of these are off the beaten path, but that only makes them more unique. Whether you've traveled a lot,… Read
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5 Tips for Dining Out in Italy
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips
Food, of course, is a staple wherever you go. But the customs that come with dining are different just about everywhere you go too. For starters, when visiting Italy, it's worthwhile to know that dinner tends to be later there than in the U.S., and often starts anywhere between 7:30 and 9pm. (And this is true of much of Europe too). It's also important to make reservations whenever you can… Read
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How Do I Choose a Cooking Vacation?
Filed Under Travel Tips, What's Up at TIK
One of our favorite ways to discover a place: through it's food of course! We know that when it comes to travel and food there are so many opportunities to explore, so much so that it can be a bit overwhelming when it comes to deciding on a trip! But with more than 20 years of experience in culinary tourism, we're happy to help you figure out what YOU are… Read
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Christmas Eve Memories and Traditions Around the World
Filed Under Special Occasions, What's Up at TIK
While the Christmas season begins well before December 24 in many parts of the world -- December 8 in Italy, the Day of the Immaculate Conception; and December 6 in France, the Feast of St. Nicholas, for example -- it's Christmas Eve that marks the beginning of the major Christian holiday for many. For my family growing up, it meant heading over to my Irish grandmother's house where she'd always… Read
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Christmas Muffins from Chef Katerina in Greece
Filed Under Recipes, Special Occasions
We love our Greek cooking vacations, and think anything Greek is sure to please. And when it comes to the Christmas holiday in Greece, there are traditions galore -- and many of them surround food! Many of them too relate to keeping bad spirits -- known as "kallikantzaroi' - away. These kallikantzaroi, as the stories go, get in through the chimney and make trouble by doing things like putting out… Read
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Praline Macaron Recipe
Filed Under Cooking Videos, Recipes
Macarons aren't only delicious, but they're also a beautiful dessert, one that often graces tables around France come the holiday season (and all year round for that matter). They can be used as part of other desserts, like a Buche de Noel (Christmas log) or enjoyed all on their own. While they may take some time to master, they're well worth it… Here's just one of our favorite recipes come… Read
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Le Réveillon in France for Christmas Eve and a Roasted Fig Recipe
Filed Under Destination Features, Recipes, Special Occasions
The French know gourmet cuisine, which is why we feature so many culinary vacations in France. This is no more evident than on the holidays. Le Réveillon is one of the biggest meals of the year, and it's served on Christmas Eve following midnight mass. Yes, you read that right - it takes place after midnight; hence the word 'réveillon' means 'awakening' as the dinner often goes into the early… Read
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Ile Flottante (or Floating Island) Recipe on a French Cooking Vacation
Filed Under Recipes, Special Occasions
When it comes to Christmas celebrations in France, a lot of traditions revolve around food, and you can learn them on a French cooking vacation with The International Kitchen. A lot of those French food traditions revolve around dessert. After all, Provence has their 13 desserts for Christmas Eve! In terms of classic French desserts come the holidays, it's often the Buche de Noel (or Christmas Yule Log) that's talked… Read
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