Five Unforgettable Culinary Experiences with Insight Vacations
One of the best things about traveling is getting the opportunity to try new foods and experience local specialties. However enjoying great culinary experiences means more than just dining in great restaurants, it is also about discovering the history of your destination and connecting with the local culture.
When you travel with Insight, premium dining is at the heart of every itinerary. From cooking classes with local chefs and dining in people’s homes to exploring cities through taste with expert led food tours, you’ll discover a whole new layer of the places you visit. Plus, with those that are also MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, you can make a positive impact at the same time. To give you an idea of what is on offer, we’ve selected five of our favourite culinary experiences to tantalise your taste buds.
Read more about Premium Dining with Insight Vacations.
1. Enjoy a cooking class in Lisbon, Portugal
Flaky, crispy and utterly delicious, the pastel de nata is a succulent emblem of Portugal’s flamboyant food scene. Originating from the monasteries of Lisbon in the 18th century, this delightful pastry features a rich, creamy custard nestled within a buttery, layered crust, often caramelized to perfection.
Guests on our Country Roads of Portugal, A Women-Only Tour get the chance to not only taste this treat, but to immerse themselves in the Portuguese culinary arts with a Pastéis de Belém cooking class. Led by a professional chef, in this interactive session, you’ll discover the secrets to creating the signature crunchy puff pastry and sweet filling. Not only feel proud with your new cooking skills, you’ll also get to savor a piece of Portuguese culinary heritage with every bite of your new creation.
2. Take a walking food tour in Asheville, USA
We believe that to truly understand the culinary essence of a place you have to try a bit of everything. And that’s exactly what our food tours offer. A smorgasbord of culinary delights, introduced by those who know them best.
Head to beautiful Asheville on Spectacular National Parks of Eastern USA and you’ll start the day with a tour of the famous Citizen Vinyl Record press factory to work up an appetite before Asheville’s dining scene takes center stage.
Enjoy a fun, educational and tasty walking food tour showcasing Asheville’s culinary gems, in particular the region’s renowned farm-to-table, local flavors. Visit acclaimed eateries and indulge in exceptional food and drink pairings crafted by some of Asheville’s most celebrated chefs, brewers and mixologists.
3. Dine-at-home in Sarajevo, Bosnia
True homecooked food is hard to beat, and it doesn’t get any more authentic than when served in someone’s home. Not just a culinary delight, but a privilege to see so closely into someone’s life, which is exactly what is offered with our Dine-at home experiences.
A vibrant city with a complex history, in Bosnia’s capital Sarajevo on Treasures of the Balkans you’re treated to the warmest of welcomes and the most delicious of dishes as you join a local family for dinner. In this country every welcome is celebrated with coffee (in fact, everything is decided over coffee), marking the start of this unique opportunity to learn about Sarajevo history and Bosnian lifestyle and culture.
Amongst the dishes you may well be offered the most famous soup in traditional Bosnian cuisine, is Bey’s Soup or Begova Čorba made from okra. Expect to taste Baklava for dessert, layers of filo pastry filled with chopped nuts and held together by syrup or honey. Your hosts will be happy to answer any questions about the dishes and their preparation, so the chefs among you can enhance your cooking repertoires at the same time.
One of our MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences, your visit helps advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 10 & 11: Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities.
SAVE UP TO $2,000 PER COUPLE* ON YOUR FIRST PREMIUM TOUR.
Plus receive latest offers, travel inspiration, and discover how your travels will make a positive impact. Together, WE MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. Subscribe Now4. Dine Farm-to-table on Mount Vesuvius, Italy
For the curious traveler, a visit to the ancient historical sites of Italy is a must. It is, of course, also the land of sensational cuisine. One of the most visited Italian landmarks is Pompeii, the opulent Roman town that was preserved by layers of ash from the fatal eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79. Join us on our Best of Italy tour and enhance your Pompeii visit with a most unique Farm-to-table lunch at Casa Barrone, on the slopes of the volcano.
Here on the slopes of the volcano, the fertile volcanic soil creates a unique ecosystem, and here you can find the rare and endangered Piennolo tomato, which only thrives in these specific conditions. Casa Barrone is a small, family-run farm, and one of the world’s few producers of this exceptional tomato, with each harvest sustainably farmed and lovingly tended by the family.
More than a meal, you’ll have the opportunity to go behind-the-scenes. During your visit meet family members and learn about the farm’s operations, including their low-impact cultivation methods that help preserve local biodiversity. After the tour, you’ll get to munch on the distinctive flavors of the Piennolo tomatoes along with other local produce during a delightful farm-to-table lunch.
This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land, ensuring that the delicate balance of this ecosystem is maintained for generations to come.
5. Taste Navajo tacos and pow wow dancing in Page, USA.
Amongst the sound of drums and song, Experience the vibrant spirit of Navajo culture at Red Heritage, a Navajo-owned Native American Performing Arts Theater in Page, Arizona. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience invites you to enjoy an enchanting evening of traditional performances while savoring delicious tacos and beverages.
Owned by a local Navajo family, here talented local dancers showcase colorful powwow dancing, flute playing, and live drum music. As local tribal members take the stage, you’ll be captivated by the colorful powwow dancing, mesmerizing flute playing, and the rhythmic beat of live drum music that resonate with the essence of Navajo heritage. Each performance showcases the immense talent and dedication of the community, providing insight into their rich cultural traditions.
By participating in this unique experience, you contribute to the preservation of Navajo culture and the advancement of UN Global Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. Your presence at Red Heritage not only celebrates the artistry of the Navajo people but also helps sustain this impactful venture for future generations.
Feeling inspired to follow your taste buds around the world? Superior dining is a hallmark of our premium tours.
About Leanne Williams
I'm a writer, editor and interview specialist with a lifetime's love of travel. There’s nothing more inspiring to me than meeting, and writing about, the world's leading destination experts and travel industry insiders. The thing I love most about writing for Insightful is that I'm always learning something new.
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