A Culinary Tour at Don Alfonso: Part 1, Beginnings
Filed Under Destination Features
When journalist David Sharos contacted us wanting a cooking vacation in Italy that was above and beyond anything he had experienced before, we knew just where to send him: Don Alfonso 1890. The history of Don Alfonso 1890 goes back - not surprisingly! - to 1890, when Alfonso Costanzo Iaccarino founded the restaurant. Decades later it was reimagined and renamed by his grandson (another Alfonso) until it became one of… Read
Post
The Culinary Traditions and Altars of Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Special Occasions
What is the Day of the Dead? It is a popular and long-standing Mexican celebration of the deceased that occurs over Halloween (All Hallow's Eve), All Saint's Day (November 1), and All Soul's Day (November 2). This is the period when the threshold between the living and the dead is seen as at its "thinnest" and most permeable. The holiday is celebrated throughout Mexico and in communities of Mexican heritage… Read
Post
Welcome to TIK's New Look!
Filed Under What's Up at TIK
We have been working for over a year on our new website and we could not be more thrilled with how it turned out. For years people have been telling us that 1) our old website did not accurately represent how awesome our trips are, 2) that it was hard to search and book online, and 3) that we need more pictures! We think the results take care of all… Read
Post
Mardi Gras Treats
Filed Under Food History, Special Occasions
It's Mardi Gras, the last day of Carnival in European countries, the day before heading into the austere Lenten season. This generally means indulging one last time before swearing off the good stuff like sweets, alcohol, and meat. There are tons of fabulous Mardi Gras treats - many of them liquid - to be found around the world. We're feature a few of our favorite Mardi Gras pastries. Celebrate Carnevale… Read
Post
Tamales, Tamales!
Filed Under Food History, Special Occasions
The tamal or tamale dates back to as early as 7000 BC in ancient Mesoamerican history when Aztec women would tag along as cooks during battles. Because battles were long and far from home, sustainable food that was portable and easily heated was required and because tamales could be premade in large quantities, they quickly became popular. According to history, tamales were originally buried in hot ashes. Later the Aztecs… Read
Post
Tiramisu
Filed Under Food History, Recipes
Tiramisu is the king of Italian sweets, and the popular dessert is one you'll often encounter on our cooking vacations in Italy. And it is actually quite easy to make! While there are variations on the recipe for tiramisu, and its history, it's thought to have originated in Treviso, a small town 30 minutes from Venice in Italy's Veneto region. More specifically, a restaurant in Treviso stakes claim to the… Read
Post
A Recipe for the Epiphany: Galette des Rois from Normandy
Filed Under Food History, Recipes, Special Occasions
For Christians January 6 marks the day of the Epiphany, the day that commemorates when the three wise men visited and gave gifts to the Christ child. As with many religious holidays, are are distinct culinary traditions to go with it, most famously the galette in France. Learn to make the galette on a cooking vacation in Normandy. In the U.S. the Epiphany galette is better known as the "Kings'… Read
Post
Discover the Secrets behind Culatello with our Italy Culinary Tours
Filed Under Destination Features, Food History, Travel Tips
Only at our Italy cooking vacations, particularly Flavors of the Real Italian Countryside and Foodie Tour of the Via Emilia: Parma and Bologna, do you get a real understanding of how cured meats are traditionally made from farm to table. For centuries, aging cellars and curing techniques have been in practice throughout Emilia Romagna, and today, you can see it for yourself at our programs’ property, Antica Corte Pallavicina. With… Read
Post
A Visit to our Cooking Passport to Provence Cooking Vacation
Filed Under Destination Features, Travel Tips, What's Up at TIK
Before my 2014 trip to France for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur travel convention I was very happy to see that the itinerary for our group of 64 international tour operators included a visit to Hostellerie Berard, home to our Cooking Passport to Provence cooking vacation. Our clients have given us such great feedback on this culinary program over the years that I was excited to see first-hand what all the fuss… Read
Post
Luxury and Millionaires at Cook Under the Tuscan Sun
Filed Under Destination Features, What's Up at TIK
Luxury is a somewhat elusive and definitely subjective adjective. I have just returned from four nights at our culinary vacation, "Cook Under the Tuscan Sun." The property for this program is a Relais & Chateaus hotel with a Michelin star restaurant. So, there is no question that the word "luxury" would apply. But, it is not the pristine luxury you might find at the Four Seasons or the Peninsula: it… Read
Post