Favorite Italy Culinary Vacations: A Food Lover’s Paradise

In this series of blog posts, we reminisce about some of our favorite cooking vacations in Italy and all over the world. Today, TIK founder Karen Herbst remembers visiting our program A Food Lover’s Paradise in Norcia, located in the medieval town of Norcia, Umbria.

“If you choose to come to Umbria, be assured that you will be treated like family! In fact, this beautiful Relais & Chateaux hotel is owned by a family, and they consider every visitor to be a welcomed relative!

“I have spent some time in Umbria since I started this business and have always loved the hilly region. However, I never knew the town of Norcia well until we started working with the Bianconi family.”

Check out all our cooking vacations in Umbria.

“To say this town is obsessed with all things food is an understatement! The program has it all: outstanding lessons with the hotel chefs; a gorgeous boutique hotel; wonderful excursions to local food producers and towns; and truffles, truffles, truffles!

“And, of course, there is always someone from the Bianconi family present to make sure that your every wish and need is accommodated.

“This is a wonderful part of Italy… like Tuscany without the crowds, the attitude, or the prices, with a promise fulfilled of a unique, authentic, personal experience in a gorgeous region of Italy with everything, and, I mean everything, at the highest quality. I must end with a memory of the visit to the pig farm, a treasured experience for me, and the memory always brings a huge smile to my face!”

Read more about this culinary vacation here: A Food Lover’s Paradise in Norcia.

You can also opt for the more active itinerary, Cooking and Walking in Umbria, at the same property.

By Peg Kern

Find more photos, videos, food facts, and travel stories from The International Kitchen on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube.

Sign up to receive our newsletter, which includes travel tips, recipes, promotions, and information on our best cooking vacations.

Originally published September 14, 2012.