Festive Foods

Tour Hosts Review By Leigh Posted on Science

Since the dawn of man, celebrations have centered on feasting. While pre-industrial man celebrated the success of a major kill or the yearly harvest (a natural reason to eat, drink and be merry – at least while the food lasted), today’s festive celebrations focus on traditional holidays and personal benchmarks. 

The holiday season, more than any other, always brings to mind family and friends gathering together to share good food and good times. This month’s hosts make travelers feel at home and part of the family no matter what time of year their journeys takes place. Some offer cooking schools in their homes, others lead tours that visit the best local destinations for food and drink and some create epicurean travels made to order.

No matter the city, country or type of experience, they all have a few things in common: a passion for sharing the love of their regional cuisine and a dedication to expanding its reach. Luckily for us, many have chosen to share cherished recipes for this issue.

This month's tour hosts review:
Cellar Tours Pick of the Month
Location: Spain and Portugal
Specialty: Wine and culinary tours
Why We Like Them: Two killer web sites with lots of information and tons of recipes, combined with a fantastic newsletter makes researching and planning a wine tour in this region a real pleasure. Cellar Tours offers a number of set departure dates as well as one-day excursions and can customize arrangements for individual and groups. Wine schools, culinary professionals and corporate executive groups are just a few of Cellar Tours’ clients. Trips include visits to the local culture’s art, architecture and history highlights for the perfect cultural immersion.
Article: Spanish Dessert Recipes
 
To Grandmother's House We Go Cooking Tours
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico and Sorrento, Italy
Specialty: Local cuisine with noted chefs
Why We Like Them:  Begun as an attempt to reconnect with the Sunday dinners hosted by her grandmother, To Grandmother's House We Go has evolved from local New York City trips to include both Sicily and Oaxaca. Tours are limited to 10-12 people and include cooking classes with noted chefs, such as Susana Trilling and Wanda and Giovanna Tornabene. Accommodations are always charming and much love and effort goes into planning local excursions. Keeping tradition alive, Susan’s dedication is sure to bring a smile on the faces of grandmothers everywhere.
Article: Oaxaca: Cooking in "the most Mexican of cities"
 
Mama Margaret & Friends Cooking Adventure in Italy
Location: Italy
Specialty: Guided cooking tours and custom designed trip planning
Why We Like Them: As the author of Your Guide to 133 Decadent Cooking Holidays in Italy, Mama Margaret has visited dozens of cooking schools throughout Italy and can design a custom- planned trip to meet any need. Also with scheduled group departures and independent tours, guided or self-drive itineraries, there’s a program to fit any traveler needs. Her “Cooking & Spa Lovers' Adventure” promises to be a delight. I encourage everyone to experience an Italian “health” spa. It is a much different experience from the U.S. Great food and wine will just heighten the indulgence factor.
Article: Cooking Tours in Italy
 
Toscana Mia
Location: Chianti, Italy
Specialty: Cooking and language school welcoming kids
Why We Like Them: This is the first company that I have found that offers cooking classes for children as well as adults. Bambini under 10 have their own kitchen with shorter tables for mixing and creating at their own level, while older children can easily join in with the adults. Choose from single-day classes or choose a two, three or five-day live-in program where you become part of the family. Toscana Mia also offers language classes and for the diehard Italophile, you can even combine both for a truly total-immersion experience.
Article: Chianti’s Festive Recipes
 
Blair House Cooking School
Location: Texas, USA
Specialty: Cooking school and Bed and Breakfast
Why We Like Them: Blair House offers a different themed class each month. Scheduling choices include workweek and weekend options to fit every student’s needs. For those cooks wishing a more intense tutorage, or who can’t make the scheduled times, individual two-day seminars are available. The bed and breakfast accommodations, with or without cooking classes, promise great food and fun in Texas.
Article: Holiday Cooking, Texas-Style
 
New Orleans Cooking Experience
Location: New Orleans, USA
Specialty: Creole cooking vacations and half day classes with local chefs
Why We Like Them: Located in a 1790’s indigo plantation, the House on Bayou Road Inn, the school offers a wide variety of class options that allows the Creole cuisine lover a chance to receive hands-on training right in the heart of the city. Classes are held in the inn’s newly renovated kitchen and the garden is home to many fresh herbs and vegetables used in the recipes. The vacation programs include excursions around the city, dinners out at some of New Orleans best restaurants and a stay at the inn.