The delectable food holidays to get your tastebuds tingling
What's the first thing you get excited about when you've booked a holiday? It might be the beaches, the culture, the landscapes, or the museums, but it's likely that the local food is high on your list, too.
For the foodies among us, researching the best restaurants, must-try delicacies and local cooking classes always gets our taste buds tingling and get us excited for our trip.
If good food and cooking is your thing, there's no lack of holidays that have a focus on all things gourmet. How about learning how to make Puglia's distinctive ear-shaped pasta, orecchiette, from local signoras in their homes? Or sampling farm-to-table produce in the Sicilian hills?
With Prima's special food holidays, you can rest assured that a lot of the planning is taken care of, with knowledgeable local guides to show you the best restaurants, from Michelin starred spots to hidden-gems that tourists often miss.
There are the well-known food destinations like Italy's Bologna and France's Bordeaux, where you can tuck into some of Europe's most celebrated dishes.
But there are more under-the-radar culinary experiences to enjoy in Europe too, like learning how to forage for truffles in Slovenian Istria — before sitting down for a truffle-themed homestead dinner to try them, of course!
And let's not forget - there are plenty of fab foodie holidays to enjoy here in the UK too. On a UK staycation, you can celebrate yummy British produce, like fresher-than-fresh seafood in Cornwall or Wye Valley cheeses, while making the most of glorious country views.
Whether you're looking to stay n the UK, or travel further afield, take a look at these delectable holidays to find the right foodie escape for you.
Sail along the Douro tasting wines as you go
Good food goes hand in hand with good wine, and one of the best places in Europe for wine tasting is Portugal's scenic Douro Valley. The Alto Douro is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and there are over 200 historic wine estates here, known locally as quintas. Many of these atmospheric estates open their doors to guests for wine tastings, cellar tours, and farm-to-table dining.
Prima's eight-day Douro tour will take you to several enchanting medieval hilltop villages and vineyards to taste the fine vintages made here. You'll also spend time in Porto, sip Port wine in Vila Nova de Gaia, and visit Favaios, where Moscatel is made. A highlight will be lunch at the historic Quinta Avessada, where the owner will give a talk about the production process before offering you a taste of a few wines.
Savour delicious farm-to table Sicilian food
Alongside its standout natural landscapes and glittering sea, Italy's largest island is home to some of the most diverse cuisine in the country. Sicily's position in the Mediterranean meant it was once a busy trading hub, occupied at different points in history by everyone from the Normans to the Arabs. This tumultuous history is reflected in its food, which has Greek, Spanish, French, Jewish, and Maghrebi influences.
Join Prima on an eight-day tour of the island to discover its diverse dishes. A foodie highlight will be lunch a traditional 'agritourism', a rural house serving farm-to-table produce. Here, you'll learn more about the fresh local produce and, more importantly, get to taste it. The trip also includes visits to Agrigento's ancient Greek ruins in the Valley of the Temples, tour of Piazza Armerina's Roman villa and much more.
Learn how to hunt for truffles in Slovenia
While Italy is celebrated around the world for its food, there are some European spots which fly more under the radar when it comes to their cuisines. One of those is Slovenia, which has recently gained a reputation as an underrated foodie gem. It helps that the landscapes here are some of the lushest, with its Alpine peaks, thick forests and Adriatic coastline.
In fact, the diversity of these landscapes has influenced the country's food, with excellent seafood, organic wines and flavoursome meat dishes all on offer. Discover all of this diversity on Prima's six-day tour of Slovenia. Discover craft breweries in the medieval town of Kamnik, taste wines in the Vipava Valley, sample olive oils among fragrant olive groves and learn how to hunt for truffles in Istria. You'll also get the chance to dine at Strelec, a Michelin-star restaurant in Ljubljana Castle.
Learn how to make orecchiette from a local signora in Puglia
We love Italy for its delectable pasta dishes. Pasta comes in all shapes and sizes across Italy and in sunny Puglia, the traditional pasta is ear-shaped. Orecchiette means 'little ears' and in Puglia you'll find this quirky pasta served up with all variety of rich sauces. Orecchiette alla Pugliese, the region's signature dish is made with broccoli rabe, plenty of olive oil and Italian pork sausage.
On Prima's mouthwatering six-day tour of Puglia you'll learn how to make orecchiette by hand from a local signora. You'll also visit a
masseria, a traditional stone farmhouse -for a cookery masterclass, so you'll definitely come away cooking like an Apulian. There's also the chance to get to known the region's intriguing archeology, from the quirky Trulli of Alberobello to cave houses in nearby Matera.
Enjoy a delectable six-course dinner on a luxury train trip to Edinburgh
There's nothing like tucking into a carefully-crafted meal while appreciating spectacular views, from clifftop dining, to watching the world go by in an Italian piazza. How about savouring a memorable dinner while watching the heavenly Scottish countryside unfold from the window of a luxury train? Hop on board the Northern Belle and that's exactly what you'll do.
Prima is offering a unique day trip on this carefully-restored 1930s train. You'll be treated to a three-course brunch as you travel from York to Edinburgh, enjoying a talk from Dickie Arbiter LVO, King Charles and Queen Elizabeth's Press Secretary. On arrival in Edinburgh you'll visit the Royal Yacht Britannia with Dickie, before reboarding the train for a an unforgettable six-course dinner on your way home.
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Cruise the Venetian Lagoon with a top chef
Venice is a beloved Italian holiday destination thanks to its world-famous art museums, exquisite architecture and fascinating history. As if that wasn't enough, the cuisine of the Venetian Lagoon holds its own. With its vast Adriatic coastline, it's not surprise that the seafood here is top notch, and seeing the daily catch on sale at the lively Rialto Market is a great way to immerse yourself in local Venetian life.
You'll have the chance to visit the Rialto Market as well as the market in nearby Chioggia on Prima's Venice cruise. Celebrated chef and MasterChef judge, Monica Galetti will join you on your visit to Chioggia as well as giving a talk and Q&A on your luxury ship. the cruise also includes exclusive access to the impressive St Mark's Basilica after dark and a tour of Torcello's basilica with an art historian.
Tuck into a tasting menu at the Tudor Farmhouse in Gloucestershire
As much as we love the sunny shores of the Med, it's not always necessary to travel abroad for an unforgettable gourmet holiday. There are plenty of cosy boltholes in the UK that promise excellent food and warm hospitality. Gloucestershire is one of the best spots in the country for delicious produce, and has become quite a hub for independent food producers who supply local restaurants with organic ingredients.
Get a taste of this with Prima's offer for a two-night stay at the Tudor Farmhouse, which sits at the meeting point of the Wye Valley and the Forest of Dean. Food at the Tudor Farmhouse is taken very seriously and you'll discover homely yet inventive dishes made using ingredients sourced from within a 20-mile radius in Gloucestershire, Monmouthshire and Herefordshire. You’ll enjoy breakfast each morning and dinner both evenings, with a tasting menu on one night.
Cruise Bordeaux and the Medoc with a Michelin-starred chef
From Arcachon oysters fresh from the bay, to Périgord black truffles and creamy Rocamadour cheese, southwest France is a real hotspot for gourmands. And that's without even mentioning the wine, which hardly needs an introduction, with Bordeaux being one of the world's most revered wine regions. Join Prima on an eight-day gourmet cruise along the Garonne, Dordogne and Gironde rivers and you'll get to indulge in these fine wines for yourself.
Enjoy sampling of Sauternes at the Château Royal de Cazeneuve in Cadillac and a tasting in the cellars of a Grand Cru estate. Joining you for part of this French foodie adventure is Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge who'll host a cooking demo and answer some of your questions in a Q&A session. You'll also taste fresh oysters from the Médoc salt marshes and visit the lively farmer's market in Libourne.
Taste the produce of Bologna and Modena and join a cooking class
Bologna has earned the cheeky nickname, La Grassa - ie 'the fat one' for good reason. This is the home of one of Italy's best-loved culinary exports; the rich and hearty Spaghetti Bolognese, but there's more to taste on a trip here. The capital of the Emilia-Romagna region is the home of spiced mortadella sausage, tortellini and Pignoletto white wine.
Join Prima to discover the culinary highlights of Bologna and nearby Modena. Taste some world-famous dishes on a special guided tour and visit to a local Parmesan factory, a Balsamic vineyard, and a family-run Parma ham producer. You'll enjoy a hands-on cooking lesson with a welcoming local host, who'll show you how to make the most of the flavoursome local produce to create fantastic Italian dishes at home.
Escape to a snug Cornish shepherd's hut and dine at Rick Stein's pub
Another of England's finest foodie corners is lovely Cornwall. Who doesn't love a warm, flaky Cornish pasty and a generous portion of fish and chips, after all? And while there are plenty of casual, seaside snacks to enjoy here, certain parts of the county have also gained a reputation in recent years for fine dining and more formal fare.
Chef Rick Stein has put the harbour town of Padstow on the map with his collection of excellent restaurants, from the chic St Petroc's Bistro to the cosy Cornish Arms and his flagship Seafood Restaurant. Prima has a special offer for a two-night stay at Rick Stein's Shepherd's Huts, nestled in the grounds of the Cornish Arms. You'll enjoy a three-course dinner at The Cornish Arms, breakfast each day, and some extra tasty treats depending on the season.
Stay at Rick Stein's St Petroc's and enjoy a three-course à la carte dinner
Another Cornish foodie getaway awaits at St Petroc's, Rick Stein's sleek bistro with rooms in the heart of Padstow. You'll be perfectly placed here for a scenic beachside stroll - choose from the golden sands of Hawker's Cove and St George's Well Cove, or head to nearby Rock for some sailing or celeb-spotting. And of course, there are plenty of gourmet inclusions.
You can look forward to a three-course lunch in The Seafood Restaurant, a three course à la carte dinner in St Petroc's Bistro, a bottle of Rick Stein's Spanish red or white wine, plus cheese and charcuterie in Ruby's bar. You'll also receive a signed copy of Rick's newest book Food Stories, which includes 100 recipes inspired by his travels around the British Isles, so you can learn to cook like Rick in your own kitchen.
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