Cooking
or culinary holidays, vacations, tours in Italy, France
and USA:
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SHORT
BREAKS : COOKING HOLIDAYS : COOKING VACATIONS
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Beverly
Gruber's Gourmet Traveler
. . . culinary tours with the personal touch
Gourmet Traveler specialises in small, personalised
culinary tours, of between six to twelve people, to
many regions throughout Italy, with occasional forays
into France . . . like traveling with a group of good
friends.
 Over
fifteen years ago Beverly Gruber fell in love with Italy
and decided to share her passion for this wonderful
country with others - thus was born Gourmet
Traveler.
Beverly
is a trained chef so her contacts in the various regions
are with her fellow professionals who like nothing more
than to share their intimate knowledge about the region
and its artisan producers - insider views that are simply
not available to the average visitor. Local instructors
/ chefs / authors will teach you the secrets of their
regional cuisine. You learn all about the food of the
region first hand from people who know it intimately
. . . and so they should as they are residents of the
area!
Because
Italy is about much more than food, Beverly strives
to offer you a complete experience through her network
of Italian friends, all of whom are eager to share their
love of country and rich traditions.
To
maximise the experience Beverly employs expert professional
guides for museum and city tours. During your tour you
will also have the opportunity to visit culturally significant
sites such as Pompeii, the Vatican, Uffizi, Ostia Antica,
Greek temples and much more. In addition local events
such as festivals, musical performances or private parties
are included.
We
stay in immaculately restored villas or inns with completely
modern facilities and en suite baths and whenever possible
cooking classes are held in homes where you catch a
glimpse of Italian life.
The
trips are a combination of food, fun, wine, people,
entertainment, shopping, exploring, dining and laughter
. . . making good times even better.
If
it is the culinary tour with the personal touch you
are after . . .
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Northern Italy > < Southern
Italy > < France >
< USA >
<
contact details >
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CULINARY
TOURS IN NORTHERN ITALY
CLICK ON HOLIDAY TO VIEW DETAILS
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CULINARY
TOURS TO RIVIERA ~ CINQUE TERRE |
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The
Road Less Travelled
 If
you are tired of crowds, seen enough museums to last
a lifetime and want to explore some of the lesser known
areas and cuisines of Italy . . . this is your trip!
You will be visiting a region still not on everyone's
itinerary - lovely Liguria and its scenic seacoast.
While
it is not yet a household name some of its sites conjure
up visions of remarkable beauty, mystery and remote
access: Vernazza, the Italian Riviera. Indeed on this
trip you will visit the Cinque Terre - literally meaning
five lands - five villages perched along the
sea coast with spectacular views and an unhurried lifestyle
that give glimpses into Italy's less hurried past.
Everyone
will meet at our seaside hotel on the Italian Riviera,
amd during your stay you will have a series of classes
designed for fast, easy and simply delicious dishes
taught by a multilingual Italian Chef. There will be
culinary tours to artisan producers, wine tastings of
some wines you will not find anywhere else, visit a
vineyard and olive oil mill and local outdoor markets.
All
of this while enjoying some of the most beautiful scenery
Italy has to offer - small villages clinging to rocky
cliffs overlooking blue seas - a feast for all the senses.
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Example
Culinary Tour Itinerary ~
available Spring and Fall
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For
information or help see Gourmet Traveler web
site
-
click
here 
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CULINARY
TOURS TO TUSCANY |
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The
Tastes of Tuscany
 There
is probably no region of Italy so well known as Tuscany
- the rolling hills, the beautiful hill towns, the home
of the Renaissance, the food, the wine, the people all
combine to make this a truly memorable experience.
It is said that Italian cooking is a triumph of ingredients
- our task is to search out the finest producers of
what we know to be the best Italy has to offer. Tuscany
is rich in artisans producing the flavours we long for:
- pecorino
cheese
- peppery
green olive oils
- glorious
wines
- Vin
Santo
- grappa
- plus,
plus, plus.
You will spend a week in the heart of Tuscany in a restored
villa, in the hills surrounding Florence, with breathtaking
views overlooking the city, yet with easy access to
the Chianti countryside. You will visit artisan producers,
have cooking classes, tastings, culinary excursions
and learn about 'the best of Italy'.
- Cheesemaking
- Cooking
Classes
- Winery
Tour / Tasting
- Market
Tours
- Grappa
Tour / Tasting
- Balsamic
Tour
- Olive
Oil Frantoio Tour
- Tour/Demonstration
- Leathermaker
- Artisan
Tours: Custom shoemaker, watercolorist
While most meals are included, care has been taken to
leave time for you to explore Florence on your own and
enjoy its famous museums and restaurants.
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Example
Culinary Tour Itinerary ~
available Spring and Fall
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For
information or help see Gourmet Traveler web
site
-
click
here
The
"Green Heart" of Italy
 South
of Tuscany and north of Rome sits a gleaming jewel of
a region known as "The Green Heart of Italy"
- Umbria. And green it is - the rolling hills and rich
verdant countryside invite you to stop a while, relax
and enjoy the treasures contained within.
And
what treasures they are - chocolates, truffles, olive
oil, Wine, sausages, pasta, cheeses - an amazingly rich
culinary heritage. In addition there are the artisan
traditions carefully nurtured by the passionate Umbrians:
Deruta ceramics, exquisite hand-loomed linens, gold
artists and many more.
A
real bonus is that Umbria is still relatively undiscovered,
uncrowded and unspoilt - everyone is proud and happy
to share their artistry with us. The enthusiasm is contagious.
Speaking
of enthusiasm, it all starts with your hosts - it will
be difficult for you to find more hospitable people.
They are bursting with excitement to show you the best
of Umbria. You will stay in their exquisitely renovated
country inn just outside the city of Perugia. This is
a country inn like non-other . . . beautiful gardens
and grounds, large gorgeous rooms, meeting room, sauna,
swimming pool, laundry and as electronically sophisticated
as you could ask with satellite TV and the internet
- it is all there.
Culinary
Excursions and Events:
-
Chocolate Festival - an opportunity to indulge your
chocolate fantasies (October)
- Tour
famous Perugina Chocolate Museum - and tasting
- Tour
cheese producer - cheese and yogurt demonstration
- Tour
antique olive oil mill and museum
- Sausage
Tasting - Umbria is renowned for its wide variety
of sausages
- Ultimate
Truffle Experience - a truffle meal extravaganza par
excellence!
- Special
cooking class from a local Nonna (grandmother) who
shares family recipes
- Cooking
Classes at a nearby professional school - including
a chocolate class
Other
exciting excursions:
-
Assisi - guided tour of this famous city
- Deruta
- demonstration of the famous majolica ceramics
- Gubbio
- jewel of a hill town
- Norcia
- home of sausages and truffles
- Perugia
- hand-loomed linen weaving demonstration
- Spoleto
- music center
As
you can see - Umbria has it all.
For
information or help see Gourmet Traveler web
site
-
click
here
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CULINARY
TOURS TO VENICE CARNIVAL |
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Venice
Carnival!
 Venice
is a a city of magic at anytime but nothing compares
to it during the fabulous celebration known simply as
Carnival. Parades, masks, elegant costumes, a unique
city with waterways for streets, a history rich with
past intrigues, power and pageantry. A city steeped
in traditions, such as lace making, glassblowing, prosecco,
seafood, risotto, unique architecture, casinos, water
taxis, pigeons, music, art and, of course, the dashing
gondoliers in their sleek black gondolas. Venice is
indeed magic.
During
Carnival the streets are alive with people in costume,
music drifts in from the street musicians, magicians
entertain on street corners, bands parade down the streets,
jugglers, elegantly masked citizens of the world are
everywhere. St Mark's Square teems with life - vendors,
dancers, singers, all manners of artisans are represented.
You
will experience some wonderful culinary events: prosecco
tasting, pub tours, Venetian pastries hot from the oven,
and other products unique to the area. You will take
culinary tours and have cooking classes in a beautiful
old Venetian Palace with a Venetian lady who happens
to be an extraordinary cooking instructor . . . and
the best tiramisu you will ever taste. The Costumed
Grand Finale is an experience you will never forget,
complete with mimes, singers and an extraordinary dinner.
Special
visits to renowned artisans of Venice are also part
of your experience - the ninety year old glassblowing
maestro, still actively blowing glass , the
paper maker demonstrating his ancient art, the pasticceria
demonstration of traditional donuts and sweets, the
magic mask maker, the wood carver and, of course, the
many activities of Carnival !
Your
lodgings will be a charming, recently renovated, three
star hotel just three blocks from St Mark's but on a
quiet courtyard. Rooms are light and airy, with private
bath. Breakfast included.
For
information or help see Gourmet Traveler web
site
-
click
here
The
Magic of Venice
~ this is a custom tour with dates arranged for
4 or more
 Venice
is a unique city with waterways for streets, a history
rich with past intrigues, power and pageantry. A city
steeped in traditions, such as lace making, glassblowing,
prosecco, seafood, risotto, unique architecture, casinos,
water taxis, pigeons, music, art and, of course, the
dashing gondoliers in their sleek black gondolas. Venice
is, indeed, magic.
You
will manage to squeeze in time for some wonderful culinary
experiences - prosecco tasting, pub tours and other
products unique to the area. You will take culinary
tours and have cooking classes in a beautiful old Venetian
Palace with a ninth generation Venetian lady who happens
to be an extraordinary cooking instructor.
Special
visits to renowned artisans of Venice are part of your
experience - the eighty-eight year old glassblowing
maestro, still actively blowing glass . The
paper maker demonstrating his ancient art, the pasticceria
demonstration of traditional donuts and sweets!
The
hotel where you will stay is a charming, family owned
three star hotel with easy access to St Mark's but located
in a quiet neighbourhood, within easy walking distance
to the vaporetto. Rooms are light and airy, all with
private bath.
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Example
Culinary Tour Itinerary ~
available Spring and Fall
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For
information or help see Gourmet Traveler web
site
-
click
here
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CULINARY
TOURS IN SOUTHERN ITALY
CLICK ON HOLIDAY TO VIEW DETAILS
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CULINARY
TOURS TO AMALFI COAST |
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Cooking
in Paradise
 South
of Naples is an area ranked among the most beautiful
in all of Italy - the Amalfi Coast. Lush mountains and
steep rocky cliffs which drop to the edge of the deep
blue sea. As you drive along the serpentine road the
scent of orange and lemon blossoms hangs in the air.
Gardens, vineyards and roses, with cascading purple
and pink bougainvillea, are everywhere.
The
loveliest of all the towns of the Amalfi Coast is Ravello,
home base for this week in paradise. Ravello is perched
high above the sea with one hundred and eighty degree
panoramic views that will take your breath away. The
friendly people of this area are eager to share their
wealth. Once you have experienced this Mediterranean
way of life, you will return over and over.
And
the food! Who has not heard of the famous pizza, mozzarella,
limoncello, seafood and, of course, the ubiquitous tomato?
This is truly a culinary paradise and the centre of
it all is the wonderful chef and teacher Mamma Agata.
She is a dynamo of activity whose warmth will capture
your heart. She makes or raises everything used in the
classes - chickens, eggs, vegetables, fruits, marmalades,
olive oil, wine - the best of everything. She is so
modest you would never guess she hass cooked for luminaries
such as Jackie Kennedy and Henry Kissinger. The cooking
classes are held in her three hundred year old country
house located on a cliff top one thousand feet above
the sea, with magnificent views. As Mamma is fond of
saying "simplice" equals simple and wonderful.
Excursion
opportunities are fabulous: You will visit Pompeii,
Naples, Positano, Amalfi, see hand-pulled mozzarella
being made, visit a limoncello producer, olive oil,
ceramics.
The
hotel is a beautiful, four star hotel, offering panoramic
views of the Amalfi Coast. It is located just a few
steps from the centre of Ravello. The swimming pool
is wonderful. Rooms are light and airy, all with private
bath. The weather is balmy even in November when average
temperatures are in the sixties.
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Travel
day to Italy
