This Week at TIK

July 8, 2022 | By Peg Kern

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What’s going on this week at TIK? Although we have plenty of people who do like to do our culinary tours in Italy over the winter (and destinations to accommodate them), our travel season really kicks in starting in April. Right now we have 5 friends celebrating one of their 60th birthdays in Tuscany, at one of my favorite Tuscan villas. What could be better than that?

But in addition to our friends partying and cooking up a storm in Tuscany, here are other destinations our culinary travelers are enjoying this week: Ikaria (Greece), the Amalfi Coast, Emilia Romagna, and the Loire Valley. And personally I wish I were with them for each!

And this weekend we have travelers starting itineraries in Brittany visiting the Borromean Islands in Italy’s Lakes region as well, as well additional travelers in Tuscany, Andalusia (Spain), Provence, the Dordogne (France), and more Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast.

In fact, one thing that seems to hold true for our 2017 season is that people are branching out. Of course certain countries and regions are always popular, but this year we’re selling a few more of our “Hidden Gem” destinations, and we couldn’t be happier, as we think sometimes these make the most authentic and memorable trips.

So what are people doing today?

Today our group birthday revelers at a Tuscan villa is enjoying a cooking class where they will prepare a full Tuscan meal such as homemade tagliatelle pasta, wood-oven roasted pork, and apple tart. They will have some free time this evening to enjoy the gardens, have a glass of wine on the terrace, relax in the library, or play a game of billiards! Tomorrow they are off on a full-day excursion to the Cinque Terre.

At Mediterranean Cooking Experience on the Amalfi Cost our travelers are at Mount Vesuvius (don’t worry – no eruptions today!) visiting a winery for a wine tasting and lunch. The volcanic ash gives the terroir a distinctive character that comes forth in the wine. And this evening? They are off to dinner at Don Alfonso, one of the most famous restaurants in Italy.

Our friends Cooking Under the Tuscan Sun are today enjoying a cooking class with Chef Silvia making stuffed zucchini blossoms, “gnudi” of ricotta with baby vegetables and saffron sauce, Tuscan chicken, and cantucci with Vin Santo for dessert. Later they have reserved massages at the gorgeous spa, and then they will head for the family’s winery where they will have a guided visit before a wine tasting dinner at the Michelin-star restaurant.