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Where Travelers Eat and Drink
November 11th, 2009

Last week I mentioned in my blog that I had solicited the help of some contacts on the LinkedIn Slow Food group. I had such an overwhelming response that it required part two and possibly part three to pass along all of their wonderful suggestions for food and drink-related travel!

While the last blog was more formal in nature (or at least as formal as I get in my blogs), much of their feedback was so descriptive – and delicious – that I thought I’d let it speak for itself. Here are some quotes from my contacts on the trips they’ve taken or are planning. Enjoy!

“Our company Savory Adventures hosts one-week luxury trips to Italy which focus on the food and wine. We hunt for white truffles in Piemonte, dine privately underground in the Cantine of Monferrato, take private yachts to Capri, and dine and (if desired) learn to cook with chef Dolce Debbie, who is on TV across the US on the syndicated Daytime TV show, on Tampa Bay Fox, and other local and national media. All meals, all wine, all transportation (other than air) is included, and we stay in villas frequently rented by the stars. Manuela Rivetti of La Spinetta frequently visits our villa, giving us the first tasting of the year’s Moscato. Each guest is issued an Italian cell phone upon arrival, allowing them to visit nearby towns and call our limo when they are ready to return.”  - Barry Frangipane, Savory Adventures

“I own an Italian Specialty Food Store and we are taking our first group trip to Italy next fall for a cooking vacation in the Piedmont. Should be a fun trip, we are renting a whole villa/agriturismo and just doing cooking activities for a week! I’m excited for the trip and if anyone has any suggestions for things to do/see in the Asti/Alba area I would appreciate hearing about them.”  - Nichole Joyce, All Things Italian

“We flew to Bilbao, Stayed in St. Sebastian and drove through the wine regions to Zaragoza and then Barcalona (5days). Pinxto bars are great in Basque country, people go to 3-5 in one night enjoying the signature dishes which they can help themselves to from the bar, before leaving you tell the waiter how much you have eaten. Its like bar hopping by with great wine and amazing snacks.” - Baida Ayyar

“Austria is a country I’ve not often seen mentioned by foodies, but has a tremendous tradition of great food. (Vienna anyone?) ??A few years ago my wife and I, along with her sister and husband, took a little driving tour starting in Kufstein, going south then east and coming back up to Vienna. We started in the mountains and then went through wine and castle country. It was gorgeous, and the food and wine were terrific wherever we went. I especially like the food down in the southeast which is influenced by its proximity to Hungary, Slovenia and Italy. It was common on a menu to find schnitzel, polenta, and goulash with gelato and sacher torte for dessert. ??One standout was in a little town called Riegersburg in Styria. A gorgeous castle with vinyards running up the side of the hill to the walls of the castle, and a great little hotel in town, the Gasthof Fink. They’ve been awarded all kinds of awards for food and wine, and deserve every one. In the near area are all kinds of wineries, hot spring spas and even a chocolate factory. We stumbled upon it and only got to spend one night, but I would love to go back.”  - Andrew Midkill

*Andrew has more suggestions from Austria that I’d love to share! For those interested, let me know and I can send it along. Or it might be in part three of this series!