Food N' Wine Vacations Blog

Italy is rich with historical significance and there exist infinite possibilities for those on a Food Vacation to experience Italy. To engage in an adventure for all the senses, immerse yourself in a region known for it's fabled history, stunning local artistry, breathtaking vistas, true artisan cheeses, wines which embody the very sunshine dappling the vineyards, and local culinary examples with flavors that dance on the palate. That region is Umbria.

For those on a Food Vacation, Umbria offers an intimate perspective of all things essentially Italian. Stroll Spoleto's cobbled streets, as saints and majesties before you, and imagine the walled settlement as it was centuries ago. Climb the hills of Todi, where legend has it Hercules faced down his fire-breathing foe, Caucus, and witness vistas of heart-tugging beauty.

Assisi, rich in Christian history, is the birthplace of much-venerated saint, Francis of Assisi. The Basilica of Saint Francis D’Assisi houses stunning frescos, and galleries along humble streets showcase the areas celebrated art. Breathtaking views abound as you wind along the lofty streets of Assisi on your Food Vacation in  Umbria,Italy.

The fanciful town of Bevagna beckons you within it’s city walls.If the timing is right, you’ll be treated to a taste of medieval Italy by way of one of the famed street festivals. In Montefalco, those on a food and wine tour Italy will sample wines from the oldest, and still operational, winery in Umbria. A sumptuous luncheon proffers celebrated local fare, along with wine made from grapes grown under the Umbrian sun.

On a Food Vacation in Italy you'll meet Umbrian cheese makers, artisans who craft local treasures which evoke images of rolling hillsides and long lazy days. Famed Umbrian truffle farms offer a chance to discover these precious culinary gems for yourself. The chocolate of Perugia is a work of art. Once you taste this sensuous repaste, perhaps one you’ve created yourself, under the tutelage of a master chocolatier, your deepest chocolate desires will be sated.

Umbria opens it’s arms in welcome, enfolding you into a region whose history and pride spans bloodlines and borders. Your Food Vacation in Italy becomes your own unique experience, foretold by the ages, philosophers, statesmen and majesties alike, and one you will cherish for a lifetime. Your enchantment cannot be bound by a single visit as you relive your experience again and again.

Want to see a sample itinerary in Umbria?

Cooking in Tuscany is an exciting adventure. Your stay at a historic Mill and Inn provides an authentic backdrop for immersion in the Tuscan lifestyle, and underscores the saying “Chi Mangia Bene Vive Bene”, “Those who eat well, live well”. 

Your vacation begins with a traditional feast in the company of your hosts. Get to know those with whom you’ll be sharing this once-in-a-lifetime experience and familiarize your palate with the textures and flavors of honest Tuscan cuisine. 

With daily tours of neighboring towns and villages such as Cortona, Arezzo, and Pienza, you’ll get a sense of the culture which surrounds your Cooking in Tuscany vacation. Montepulciano is renown for it’s pork,  lentils and honey, and Pienza for the cheese. Come learn, explore and create as you experience your own personal renaissance. 

The Tuscan sun renders a wealth in fresh fruits and vegetables. Fertile grazing land provides an endless buffet for livestock. Learn how to create meals enhancing the delicate nature of eggplant, tender, leafy greens, and tomatoes ablaze with flavor. Showcase regional meats and fish and learn the Tuscan secret of  using herbs and spices to enhance without overpowering. 

You’ll discover how Cooking in Tuscany utilizes the freshest, most abundant local fare, as well as olive oils, wines and vinegars, likely, from your hosts’ own groves and vineyards. Cooking in Tuscany is an art and you’ll soon put your own mark on the culinary canvas. 

Begin your Cooking in Tuscany tutelage on your second day under the supervision your hostess and renown local chef.Carefully selected recipes showcase the region’s favorites. Tender stuffed eggplant served with a confit of tomato, almond and basil , ribollita, the traditional potage , saltimbocca, prepared with pork fillet and a masterful infusion of herbs, You’ll bake crusty Tuscan bread, and traditional biscotti cantucci as a sweet ending. 

Day three introduces techniques even the more accomplished among you may not have mastered. Wild herb pie, with a parmesan sauce, zuppa di farro, a traditional soup incorporating an ancient grain, a rich and succulent lamb in Tuscan bread and finally, berry cake alongside a delicately-textured mascarpone mousse. 

Day Four provides a break.   Instead of cooking in Tuscany, you’ll learn the art of cheese-making from authentic cheese artisans.  The center of your evening meal will be a sampling of regional cheeses. 

The fifth day of your adventure in Cooking in Tuscany is a full day indeed! Begin with a trip to the local market to procure regional delights. Return with your hosts to a private wine-tasting at their very own cellar. Learn the best way to enhance your palate through regional wines. 

Your lesson takes place in a restaurant owned and operated by your hosts. Here, you’ll learn Cooking in Tuscany involves creativity. Bread becomes a salad in pansanella, pici pasta, a traditional pasta of Siena, is accompanied by a sauce of fresh tomatoes and aromatic herbs. Tagliatelli is topped with flavorful duck sauce, and  ravioli of nettles and ricotta is perfectly enhanced by a simple sage butter. You’ll learn long-held Tuscan secrets of turning the best of the huntsmen’s largesse into a traditional stew called scottiglia. 

Tuscany boasts a breathtaking coast and on your final day of Cooking in Tuscany,  you’ll prepare regional dishes showcasing it's bounty . Learn to make a simple fish broth, prepare tender-sweet scallops wrapped in bacon, with a puree of potatoes and bay leaves. Gnocchi, an Italian staple, can incorporate many flavors. Master the art of gnocchi-making with a ricotta rendition served in a seafood and saffron sauce. A casserole of monkfish and scampi, and a napoleon of custard, pears and pine nuts rounds out your Cooking in Tuscany farewell dinner. 

You’ll say “ciao” to your hosts with a promise to return to the beautiful Inn and the Tuscan countryside. Perhaps you can’t take Tuscany home with you, but you can take the experience. On any given day, when your heart is beckoned to return to the kitchens of the Famiglia Baracchi, retire to your own kitchen and recreate your adventure of Cooking in Tuscany. 

Rolling hills dotted with centuries-old homes, sit amidst sun-drenched olive groves and grapevines laden with promise. Cafes beckon the traveler and offer a bit of respite, along with an excellent glass of regional wine and dishes of local fare. Tours in Tuscany provide memories which will last a lifetime.

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   The Tuscan region, renown for it’s fine contributions to the world, is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. It’s easy to see where the inspiration came from for Tuscany’s art and culture, which impacts the world to this day. Medieval towns and cultural strongholds such as Florence and Siena are rich with art, music and history.

From seaside towns to rich river valleys, Tuscany provides diverse farming opportunities which have, for centuries been recognized as some of the best areas in which to grow olives, varietal grapes, premium grasses on which dairy cows graze, and many of the fruits and vegetables of the region. Gifted home cooks and skilled chefs alike find many ways to entice the tourist in the true Italian tradition.

Local Food Specialties

Traditional Tuscan foods are very simple. Herbs and produce hale from well-planted kitchen gardens. Tours in Tuscany provide visits to family dairy farms which produce some of the world’s finest cheese like pecorino Toscana, a sweet and mild cousin of the pungent pecorino Romano.?Marzolino, a creamy variety, made from sheep’s milk, is used in many local dishes.

Crusty bread would likely be offered accompanied by local olive oil. Beans are a staple and the region’s most popular export, besides Chianti, is surely Pasta Fagioli. Honey is a local favorite and mushrooms, and truffles, abundant. You’ll just as likely be served wild boar as local livestock from small family farms. You’ll experience a cooking lesson from a local chef, and probably be pulled into a kitchen or two in the name of Italian hospitality.

One of a Kind Wineries

Most recognized for superior reds produced in Chianti and Montalcino, wines such as Luce, Brunellos, Campo ai sassi, and Seansanos, along with Chianti are equally impressive. Tours in Tuscany family wineries offer a kinship which grows with each sip.

Don’t by-pass the lovely regional white wines seen on tours of Tuscany. Verniccia di San Gimignano may be the most famous bianco, or white, of the region, however any of the whites will stand up on their own.

A Lifetime of Memories

Joining in tours of Tuscany offers a chance to truly live the Tuscan lifestyle. Get to know the locals and you’ll become one with the region, returning home knowing how to live la dolce vida. Or, perhaps you’ll extend your tours in Tuscany indefinitely.