Blog

Updated

February 21, 2024

By Peg Kern

Recipes from Sarteano: Pici al Ragù Toscano

Filed Under  Kitchen Tips, Recipes Italy

Meet Chef Chiara, the culinary instructor behind our Authentic Tuscan Cooking in the Val d’Orcia Valley and this recipe for Pici al Ragù Toscano! Chef Chiara left her career in journalism after genetic testing revealed her intolerance for many staple ingredients in Italian cuisine. She embarked on a mission to create flavorful alternatives for herself and others with dietary restrictions. She would become an accomplished Chef and author of the… Read
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Updated

February 20, 2024

By Peg Kern

What to See in Normandy France

Filed Under  Destination Features, Travel Tips France

We love all the regions where we offer cooking vacations, but some locations really stand out! Normandy is certainly one of those places, offering amazing regional cuisine, fantastic local food products, and interesting cultural and historical sites. Normandy is perhaps most well-known for its place in military history, but it is its culinary traditions that stand out to us. From its rugged coast that hugs the English channel to the small hamlets that… Read
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Updated

December 20, 2023

By Peg Kern

Gluten and Dairy Free Christmas Cookies: Recipe for Italian Amaretti

Filed Under  Food History, Recipes, Special Occasions Italy

Almond-flavored cookies are popular in Italy in general, and even more so around the holiday season. This super easy recipe for Italian amaretti is naturally gluten and dairy free, making it a go-to around the holidays for those with dietary restrictions without sacrificing the flavor! Amaretti Cookies in Italy There are many different types of almond cookies in Italy. These amaretti are slightly crunchier than ricciarelli, a popular Tuscan almond… Read
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Updated

December 20, 2023

By Peg Kern

Visiting Rocamadour in the Lot Department of France

Filed Under  Destination Features, Travel Tips France

Today we are going to talk about one of France's most beloved and most stunning sites: Rocamadour. Located in the southwest of France, in the Lot départment of the Occitanie region, Rocamadour is a centuries-old religious pilgrimage stop, a UNESCO world heritage site, and a remarkable example of medieval building. What Is Rocamadour? Rocamadour is a tiny village in southwest France, built over the Alzou River gorge. Although Rocamador has… Read
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Updated

February 21, 2024

By Peg Kern

Will International Flight Prices Go Down in 2024?

Filed Under  Travel Tips, What's Up at TIK

As you've likely experienced firsthand in recent years, airline ticket prices have experienced significant fluctuations, catching the attention of globetrotters, industry experts, and even specialized travel companies. Our culinary travel company, The International Kitchen, has also noted these shifts, as they've greatly impacted our clientele and their ability to enjoy everything worldwide cuisine has to offer. The current international flight pricing trends highlight a mix of hopeful dips and challenging… Read
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Updated

September 20, 2023

By Peg Kern

Why Visit Trastevere in Rome

Filed Under  Destination Features, Travel Tips Italy

I love to travel, and I especially love to travel to Italy. I've described elsewhere why Rome is my favorite, and perhaps no other neighborhood beckons to me like Trastevere. Trastevere literally means "across the Tiber" (Tevere is the name of the Tiber River in Italian). It's a very descriptive name, as it is the part of Rome that likes just across the Tiber from the historical center. Known for… Read
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Updated

September 28, 2023

By Peg Kern

How to Stay Cool in Europe during a Heat Wave

Filed Under  Destination Features, Travel Tips

You've probably read the headlines just like we have: record heat across Europe is throwing a wrench in some travelers' plans. But summer is still the time many of our clients are able to travel. So how can one survive the heat and stay cool when temperatures are soaring? If you find yourself in Rome or Athens and the temperatures are in the triple digits Fahrenheit, what can you do… Read
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Updated

May 25, 2023

By Peg Kern

Recipe for Greek Chicken Souvlaki

Filed Under  Food History, Recipes Greece

When summer rolls around, it is time to pull out the grill. My family loves anything cooked on the grill, and it's a lot more fun to hang out in the back yard drinking a beer while cooking than it is to be stuck in the kitchen on a nice summer day! One of my go-to recipes for grilling out is Greek chicken souvlaki. It is perfect for a family… Read
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Updated

March 3, 2023

By Peg Kern

Moussaka Recipe from Our Poros Island Cooking Odyssey in Greece

Filed Under  Food History, Recipes Greece

In our family our kids call moussaka "Greek lasagna," and it does bear a lot of resemblance to its Italian cousin. Both are layered, baked dishes, both feature a meat and tomato sauce along with a béchamel (at least authentic Italian lasagna–pasta al forno–does). But moussaka eschews the pasta layers for layers of delicious eggplant and potato. The meat is more pronounced, and the top layer of thick, creamy béchamel… Read
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Updated

January 21, 2023

By Peg Kern

Recipe for Picarones from Peru

Filed Under  Destination Features, Food History, Recipes Peru

To whet your appetite for our newest tour, Exploring Andean Cuisine in Peru & Bolivia, we are featuring a classic Peruvian dessert: picarones. These fried treats may look like a donut (or an onion ring!) but they have a unique flavor this is all their own due to the inclusion of pumpkin, squash, or sweet potato (or all three). Picarones have an obvious relationship with the classic Spanish buñuelos, but… Read
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