Posts Tagged ‘Germany’
What would Christmas be without all the traditional food and drink we enjoy? In the spirit of the holidays, here’s a look at some of the goodies that are traditionally enjoyed around the world.
FRANCE: Buche de Noel (a Genoise or other sponge cake, baked in a large Swiss roll pan)
USA: Pumpkin Cake (with cinnamon and ginger, frosted with cream cheese frosting) I know there are many who would agree with this one, but pumpkin sounds more like a Halloween and Thanksgiving treat to me! My favorite Christmastime sweet treat is gingerbread!
SPAIN: Nougat (made with sugar or honey, roasted nuts)
HUNGARY: Beigli (roll of sweet yeast bread with a dense, rich, bittersweet filling)
ITALY: Panettone (is a type of sweet bread loaf originally from Milan)
SWEDEN: Pepparkakor (heart-star and goat-shaped gingerbread biscuit)
UNITED KINGDOM: Christmas Pudding (steamed pudding, with dried fruit and nuts, usually made with suet)
PORTUGAL: Pain Perdu (French toast made with bread and eggs, milk, sugar and cinnamon)
GERMANY: Lebkuchen (large cookies made of honey)
This is the text of an article I wrote for WhereI’veBeen.com that was published on their site today. Enjoy!
1. France: This country has a long history of excellent wine-making, and many newer wine-producing regions have learned from the French techniques and used them to produce their own wines. The varied regions of France produce abundant varieties of wines, sparkling wines, and champagnes. Amongst France’s best-known wine-producing regions are: the Loire Valley, Alsace, Champagne, Burgundy, Beaujolais, and Cognac. Visitors to France will have a wonderful opportunity to explore and enjoy the products of this world-renowned wine destination.
2. Italy: The sunny slopes of the Italian countryside are known to produce some of the best wines in the world. Whether you explore the hills of Tuscany and enjoy a glass of Chianti, or prefer Asti from the northern regions or the sweeter taste of Marsala from southern Italy, this country has something to please everyone’s wine palate. Known mostly for red wines, Italy also produces some excellent white, sparkling, and fortified wines. And of course, good Italian food enjoyed in a pristine, authentic setting will only make your wine taste better!
3. Germany: Germany’s wine regions are so numerous that they are more often referred to as “wine routes,” or areas wherein travelers or visitors can follow one particular route and expect to find several wineries, whether large or small. Germany’s proximity to the Alsace region of France has resulted in a number of French and German wines that share some common characteristics. Similar to other wine-producing regions of the world, some of the best German wines come from small-scale, “boutique” vintners and estate wineries, all of which travelers can visit if they wish, although they may need help from locals or a destination specialist in order to find the location and arrange the visit. Germany is also renowned for its beer production, something that is often of interest to wine lovers. Since fine German cuisine makes use of both good wine and beer, Germany is a destination no culinary traveler should miss!
4. Australia: Avid wine lovers should definitely plan a visit to the land “Down Under.” This amazing destination offers you the delights of the Hunter Valley, Barossa Valley, the Adelaide Hills region, and the McLaren Vale region, just to name a few. The vistas in these regions are varied, all vast and beautiful, with gourmet dining and luxury accommodations to complete your ideal wine tour vacation. You can take a sunrise balloon ride over the vineyards. You can even enjoy your newly-discovered Australian wines with a bush lunch (picnic) in the Outback!
5. South Africa: Cape Town is the gateway to some of the most breathtakingly scenic wine-producing lands in the world, many of them within an hour’s drive, and others a longer journey through spectacular landscapes. Each of the regions has its own unique character, as do the wines produced there. The well-developed Western Cape includes historic villages, charming guest houses, gourmet restaurants, and world-class golf courses. Travel along the coast, enjoying the spectacular scenery of the famous Garden Route. A wine tour of the Western Cape and Garden Route will prove to be a delightful experience for all.
Adrienne Mitra is the owner of Celebrations International Travel, a full-service agency focused on serving a number of niche markets, including culinary travel, cruises, tours, all-inclusive resorts, and group travel. Adrienne and her family are avid world travelers, and they are especially proud of the custom work they do for clients.
Culinary Travel is an Adventure!
Posted on: February 1, 2010
As a follow-up to my last post, I’d like to expand upon the adventurous nature that culinary tours can take on.
I don’t mean that every culinary traveler would necessarily want to embark on a strenuous hike or go bungee jumping (although we can certainly work that into a culinary tour if that’s what they want).
Culinary travel in the truest sense of cultural immersion tends to evoke the adventuresome spirit in many travelers. For example, how often do travelers on your average sightseeing tour to Japan get to witness traditional cormorant fishing by the Ukai fishermen, done by firelight? In India, travelers have the opportunity to stay overnight in an ancient palace and fort that has been converted into a hotel. In Vietnam, you can take a cycle or walking tour through bamboo thickets to a rural village to see the threshing and harvesting of rice and get a glimpse of what modern-day village life is like.
In northern France, culinary travelers may want to visit the Cointreau Museum in Angers and tour the salt fields of Guerande. In Germany, you can visit a farm to explore the origins of authentic Black Forest ham, spend the night at a hotel with rooms constructed of hollowed-out wine barrels, and marvel at the beauty of medieval castles and rolling vineyards while you enjoy some of the best German beers and wines. In Italy, culinary travelers can enjoy a visit to a working Agriturismo, where five restored farmhouses sit amongst a grove of olive trees and a vineyard. The Agriturismo produces amazing wines, olive oils, and cheeses.
In many culinary destinations, travelers have the opportunity to visit with local families to share a meal and learn their cooking techniques. Especially for travelers looking for something that’s unique and not touristy, I can’t think of a better way to experience a destination, its people, and its culinary traditions.
These are just a handful of examples of the adventuresome nature of culinary travel. Contact us to learn more and start planning a culinary adventure of your own!
A tweet from @travelstour caught my attention just now, publicizing this article on foods named after places.
This article intrigued me for a number of reasons. First, it was a fun challenge to see what I could add to their list. I posted a comment with the following:
Carolina BBQ, Texas BBQ, Georgia peaches, Maryland blue crabs.
If I took more time, I think I think of quite a few more.
Second, this article got me thinking: Identifying signature foods with certain places has everything to do with the very existence of culinary travel as a specialty travel niche. If places were not culturally and historically identified with certain foods, culinary travel specialists like myself would not have much to talk about, would we?
Just off the top of my head, here are just a few examples featured in our own custom culinary tours:
French Champagne and Calvados, German Chocolate, Peking Duck, Edo-Style Sushi, Phad Thai, Chianti, and Rajasthani Thali
Indeed, we live in a very diverse, interesting, and tasty world!
Here is the text of an article I wrote that was published on WhereIveBeen’s “Your Daily Escape” yesterday. Please note that the picture I’ve included here is different than that pictured on WhereIveBeen.com, and the links herein our for Celebrations International Travel’s site.
This tweet was WhereIveBeen’s announcement of my article:
Enjoy!
International Flavor: An Introduction to Culinary Travel
By Adrienne Mitra
Celebrations International Travel
Culinary travel is an emerging trend amongst ardent travelers and food and wine lovers alike. What exactly does the term “culinary travel” bring to mind? As with any type of specialty travel, the variety of trips that could fall into the culinary travel category are as countless and unique as the travelers themselves: a weekend getaway visit to a special event like the Lobster Festival in Maine; a wine connoisseurs’ cruise; a tour of the Napa Valley vineyards; or hands-on cooking classes. What all of these culinary travel options have in common is this: The focus is not on simply having travelers eat their way through their destinations.
In my mind, the idea most intrinsic to culinary travel is that it provides travelers with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culinary heritage and traditions of their destination. Excellent food and drink can be found anywhere in the world without necessarily having to travel. However, because food and its associated traditions are an intrinsic part of life, culinary travel is about experiencing a destination’s cuisine, culture, history, people, and way of life.
With this outlook, at my agency, Celebrations International Travel, we endeavor to create culinary travel that is unique and includes a variety of activities and experiences. We do this by combining elements of traditional sightseeing and cultural highlights with culinary-focused components to create customized tours. The culinary-focused components can be anything, depending on what the destination is best known for. For example, many culinary tours involve components that highlight the region’s renowned wines and classic cooking.
As a premier wine destination, your options in Tuscany are endless. For example, travelers can stay at a villa in the countryside with its own renowned chef. From this “home base,” travelers may choose to visit several wineries and sightsee in different parts of Tuscany. The winery experiences include not only wine tasting, but also olive oil, grappa, and cheese samplings. Guests have the opportunity to witness the wine-making, olive oil pressing, and cheese-crafting processes, take leisurely guided walks through the vineyards and olive groves, and enjoy visits with the local vintners and farmers. Germany is another great destination for wine connoisseurs, where travelers can choose to spend the night in a hotel room built in a hollowed-out wine barrel after a day of exploring the vineyards (pictured below)! Guests may also enjoy a meal in the peaceful surroundings of a vineyard, grove, or farmhouse, with the venue’s signature wines as the centerpiece.
Stay in a hotel room built out of a wine barrel on our Germany culinary tour!
Speaking of meals, culinary travelers can enjoy hands-on cooking classes highlighting local specialties and ingredients. Sometimes the classes are held in culinary schools; other times they are hosted by well-known restaurants, villas, or bed-and-breakfasts. Whatever the venue, travelers will find themselves learning first-hand from culinary experts. In many instances, the “students” will assist the chef-instructor in gathering the ingredients to be used, either in an on-site garden or during a visit to a local market. The chefs introduce their guest students to the ingredients and guide them in the preparation of a gourmet meal that the entire group will enjoy at the conclusion of the lesson. These cooking classes give culinary travelers an excellent opportunity to try their hand at making pasta and other Italian favorites, learn the many uses of fresh Italian herbs, and enjoy a scrumptious meal that they helped create! Similarly, in Germany, guests may get to make an authentic Wienerschnitzel, learn various ways of incorporating fine German beers into traditional dishes, or try making Spaztle noodles. Best of all, cooking classes always end with a chance to sample the specialties made in the class!
There are many notable culinary destinations around the world. Domestic highlights include Napa and Sonoma, New England, the Louisiana Bayou, and the Hawaiian Islands. Internationally, France, Spain, Peru, Chile, China, Japan, Thailand, India, and Australia are some culinary hotspots to consider. No matter what destination you choose to explore from a culinary perspective, you are sure to find that a variety of activities and experiences await you.
An Introduction to Culinary Travel
Culinary travel is an emerging trend amongst ardent travelers and food and wine lovers alike. What exactly does the term “culinary travel” bring to mind? As with any type of specialty travel, the variety of trips that could fall into the culinary travel category are endless: a weekend getaway visit to the Lobster Festival in Maine; a wine connoisseurs’ cruise; a tour of the Napa Valley vineyards; or cooking classes in Italy. What all of these culinary travel options have in common is this: The focus is not on simply having travelers eat their way through their destinations.
In my mind, the idea most intrinsic to culinary travel is that it provides travelers with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culinary heritage and traditions of their destination. Excellent food and drink can be found anywhere in the world without necessarily having to travel. However, because food and its associated traditions are an intrinsic part of life, culinary travel is about experiencing a destination’s cuisine, culture, history, people, and way of life.
With this outlook, at my agency, Celebrations International Travel, we endeavor to create culinary travel that is unique and includes a variety of activities and experiences. We do this by combining elements of traditional sightseeing and cultural highlights with culinary-focused components to create customized tours. The culinary-focused components could be anything at all, depending on what the destination is best known for.
As an example, our Tuscany sample itinerary suggests that travelers stay at a villa in the countryside with its own renowned chef. From this “home base,” travelers visit several wineries and sightsee in different parts of Tuscany. They also enjoy hands-on cooking classes followed by a meal in which to enjoy their culinary creations. In Japan, our sample itinerary suggests a visit to a sake factory, a stay in a traditional Japanese “ryokan,” similar to a bed-and-breakfast, where travelers will enjoy a variety of different styles of Japanese dining. In France, the sample itinerary includes a visit to a salt mine and a stay in a chateaux, where guests gather fresh herbs from its herb garden, and assist the chef in preparing lunch. In some destinations, travelers have the opportunity to visit with local families, where they will learn to prepare and sample traditional dishes.
We try to make the cultural activities on our tours just as varied. For instance, in Vietnam, travelers have the opportunity to see a traditional water puppet show. They can also enjoy cruising the Mekong and Perfume Rivers, on the way to visit a restaurant and cooking school. Upon arrival at the cooking school, they accompany the chef-instructor on his daily visit to the local market, where he will introduce guests to the traditional ingredients used in Vietnamese cooking. In Australia, we suggest a Sydney Harbor cruise and a visit to the Koala & Wildlife Park. In Germany, we suggest a visit to a Wine Museum and an overnight stay in a hotel whose rooms are constructed of wine barrels!
We strive to make our tours unique, combining culinary-themed elements with sightseeing and cultural activities. Every effort is made to avoid the stereotypical “bus tour” image often associated with escorted touring. With our approach to culinary tours, travelers will always have something interesting to see and do. Best of all, Celebrations International Travel customizes every tour to suit your family or group’s specific needs and preferences. We work with your travel dates, interests, and budget to create a culinary tour that’s uniquely yours. There’s no better way to experience the world and all its culinary treasures!
I’ve chosen to combine these two countries in this entry because I’d like to share with you a bit about my own experience celebrating the holidays in the French/German border region.
I was hosted by a number of families while in France, and have traveled in Germany as well, so my memories are numerous and varied. Spending Christmas with in a family’s 132-year-old ancestral home was quite an experience, complete with a live Christmas tree lit with real candles set in a room with wooden floors, no less! On Christmas Eve, we were treated to a perfect, homemade Yule Log, or “Bouche de Noel and mulled wine with holiday spices (similar to apple cider enjoyed by many families in America), amongst other festive foods. The authentic German glockenspeil was the only one I’d ever seen.
I also found holiday shopping to be quite a different experience, with the Christmas markets in both France and Germany. These seasonal markets are an age-old tradition that remind me more of a street festival than simply stalls full of goods. Most of the time, I enjoyed simply munching or sipping holiday goodies while browsing through the market in the crisp winter air.
I think anyone with a passion for the holidays and tradition would enjoy this unique experience. Some avid travelers even make their way to Europe each year just to shop at the Christmas markets! Whether you’d like to do that, or just love travel and good food, contact us to explore the possibilities. Our custom culinary tours may interest you, or other types of travel that Celebrations International Travel services may inspire your own travels.
Best Wishes and Happy New Year!
Meilleux Voeux pour la Nouvelle An!
A Travel Pro Dares to Dream
Posted on: August 24, 2009
This is an article I wrote that was published today by Travel Research Online, a resource for travel professionals. I write columns for consumers as well as industry-related articles whenever possible.
Enjoy!
A Travel Pro Dares to Dream
June 26th, 2009 . by Adrienne Mitra
As travel agents, much of our time is spent planning clients’ trips, solving logistical challenges, and researching. I am often drawn to itineraries or locales my clients choose, resulting in a long list of “someday” trips I’d like to take. When it comes to my “dream trip”, there is no question: a cruise around the world, complete with a land tour component in each major city.
My goal for this trip would be to experience the countries, cultures, histories, peoples and cuisines of the world first-hand, not just to sightsee. With that in mind, I have a strong preference for shore excursions that provide travelers with a tangible experience to treasure, rather than whirlwind bus tours that leave travelers with little more than a panorama of discombobulated images. Unfortunately, working in a full land tour in each area is next to impossible, but since I am dreaming…
I wish I could combine all the wonderful ways to explore Alaska into a single tour. In Hawaii, I imagine an inter-island tour encompassing the sunrise over Mount Haleakala, touring the natural wonders of Molokai, an authentic Hawaiian luau, and leisure time on Poipu Beach. Next would be visits to the pristine islands of the South Pacific. In Australia and New Zealand, apart from seeing the Great Barrier Reef, the Outback and the major city highlights, I would tour some of the best estate wineries, visit Kangaroo Island, and witness the ritual of the fairy penguin parade on Philip Island.
After that, my tour of exotic Asia, land of my family’s heritage, would begin. I would immerse myself in all the unique sights, events, culinary delights, and possibilities for one-of-a-kind experiences the Asian countries have to offer.
Continuing westward, I would want to visit my husband’s native India. To avoid extensive overland travel, I would insist on flying to the most popular destinations from the port city and touring fully escorted, possibly requiring a multi-night stay in each given city.
The opulence of modern Dubai, navigating through the Suez Canal, and visiting the ancient wonders of Egypt would all present opportunities for new adventures, the conclusion of which would be our entry into the Mediterranean. Having traveled extensively in this region, I would plan more unique, less touristy experiences. For example, enjoying authentic paella cooked over an open fire on a beach in Spain or a walk through a lavender field in Provence.
Sailing north, I would like to spend a significant amount of time exploring northern Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltics, and Russia. I would be tempted to debark from our oceanliner in Bergen, and take Hurtigruten’s 12-day round-trip voyage to experience the Norwegian Fjords, no matter what time of year. And when it comes to Russia, I’m not sure the overnight in St. Petersburg would do it justice, especially during White Nights.
Owing to the fact that I would eventually have to come home, after concluding the tour of Europe, I would set sail back across the Atlantic to Nova Scotia. Hopefully I would arrive in time for the fall foliage, which I haven’t seen in years. Then it’s down the eastern seaboard, paying homage to my childhood origins in the south before heading to parts of South America for experiences new and different, then transiting through the Panama Canal, and finally ending my journey back in Los Angeles.
Would this be a dream trip or my ultimate challenge as a travel professional? Both. As there is no single supplier or cruise that can offer this type of voyage, most of this trip would have to be pieced together—if it even could be. But a girl can dream, right? And, should something like this ever come to fruition, I believe I would be my own toughest client indeed.
Adrienne Mitra is the owner of Celebrations International Travel, Inc., an independent agency focused on serving a number of niche markets, including culinary travel, cruises, tours, and group travel. Phone: (480) 272-6020
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