After three tours in 3 different countries on 2 continents and an endless array of sights, smells, tastes, and other-worldly sensory experiences, I'm home! It all started with a week-long adventure in Morocco, from the beautiful blue ocean to the vibrant streets of Marrakech. Then, it was on to the Andalusian Region of Spain, where fellow food and wine lovers joined me at a remote hacienda nestled among 150 hectares of olive trees just 30 minutes from Seville's gorgeous and historic center. Just days afterward, I hosted another group for a fabulous excursion through Tuscany. Talk about wine paradise!
It's impossible to put these experiences in words, but this is where food can help paint the picture. Imagine a Moroccan couple graciously welcoming us into their home for a lunch of crunchy phyllo-like triangles filled with a local cheese, carrot, rosewater salad, vegetable tagine, and a spicy roasted chicken. As we indulged, a group of musicians played traditional Gnaoua rhythms and danced as we feasted. Our consummate hosts shared stories of their beautiful lives on the outskirts of the seaside village of Essaouira.
And the next stop, Sevilla in breathtaking Southern Spain, was equally magical! One of my favorite creations during our week together was a luscious dish called fiduà, made by toasting thin noodles in a paella pan and cooking them in an aromatic broth with prawns. Then we took it over the top, drizzling the dish with garlicky aioli that melted into savory deliciousness. This was the perfect lunch to fuel us all for an evening spent enjoying a private flamenco performance (and dance lesson!) while sipping Fino sherry and snacking on aged Manchego cheese and Jamón Iberico. The sounds of guitar, clapping, castanets, and footwork were mesmerizing as we gazed at the colorful swirl of handmade dresses and Mantón de Manilla shawls. What an evening!
Finally, my last stop was a week at my dear friend Valentina's centuries-old villa—complete with frescoes and exquisite antiques—perched in the rolling hills just outside Lucca in Tuscany. We filled the kitchen with simmering pots of homemade pasta to dress with fresh cherry tomato and golden guanciale sauce, enjoyed traditional Apertivo with local cheese, crostinis, and Nigronis, and savored leisurely meals surrounded by an orchard of lemon and olive trees. And there was never an evening after dinner that we didn't crack open a bottle of homemade Limoncello or some of the luscious Super Tuscan wines we'd discovered.
If these tales have your mouth watering, you are cordially invited to join me in recreating this sensory experience wherever you may be! Here are a few recipes to get you started:
Enjoy this adventure for your taste buds and I hope you can join me for a Culinary Tour soon!
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