Carlo Lenoci teaches Italian at a number of language schools around Edinburgh. He also teaches our Italian language learning holidays throughout Italy, and, as our guests love him so much, we thought we would find out a bit more about him! “Everything was perfect for me; I loved the villa, and Carlo, our teacher, made…
Flavours Blog
Italian food, lifestyle and culture blog - by the Flavours Holidays team.
Top 5 Reasons to Learn a Foreign Language
How often do you hear yourself lament that you wish you knew another language, or that you had taken advantage of the opportunity to learn back in your school days? I know that I say it almost every time I travel to a foreign country, and probably more often than that if I’m honest! But,…
Celebrity chef Rick Stein visits Bologna and enjoys dinner cooked by our favourite chef!
We are so excited to see the wonderful chef, Mario, featured on Rick Stein’s Long Weekends in a recent episode set in beautiful Bologna. Before opening his own restaurant, Scacco Matto, Mario used to teach on our cooking holidays in Bologna and is a long time friend of Flavours Holidays. In his BBC programme, Rick…
The Top 10 Highlights Of Andalusia
What does Andalusia conjure up in your imagination? Sun, flamenco, sea, white villages, fiery Spanish passion, Seville oranges perhaps. This diverse region in southern Spain has long been a place for holidays with its long hot summers, beaches and delicious food. Having always based our activity holidays in Italy, we are branching out and finding…
Piedmont’s Top Produce Everyone Should Try
According to Lonely Planet, this year Piedmont (Piemonte in Italian) is the top region to visit in the world. Amongst the beautiful rolling hills and grape vines of the Langhe region, Piedmont has three products from the region that we think you should know about. The Flavours team decided to make our own list of…
The 7 Big Advantages of Solo Travelling
Travelling is always beneficial. Advantages of travelling are never ending; it broadens your horizons. You get out of your comfort zone, meet new people, share new experiences and make new memories. However, solo travelling does a lot more wonders than travelling alone. There is no other feeling as amazing as travelling alone. It makes you…
6 Top Tips To Cook Your Pasta To Perfection
Once you have your pasta, either freshly-made or bought-dry, there are some tips that we need to discuss about cooking your pasta. There are some myths out there that won’t help your pasta at all to develop that beautiful and glossy shine when mixed with pasta sauces. But don’t worry! Flavours Holidays are here to…
The Interesting History Of Pasta In Italy
The word ‘pasta’ is an Italian word meaning ‘paste’, referring to the paste like pasta dough made from egg or water and flour. However, before pasta was all over the world, pasta was called ‘maccaronaro’, which means ‘kneading dough with energy’. And even before that, pasta was called ‘Itriyya’ in Arab countries to refer to…
Holiday Ideas for Single Travellers
Whether it’s your first foray into solo travel, or your twentieth trip, the excitement of going it alone is always there. Deciding for yourself on your destination and activities is thrilling. It usually involves a bit of nervousness, too, come the morning of travel. But we think that makes it even more rewarding. Overcoming the…
The Best Solo Travel Destinations in 2019: Italy
Solo travel is on the rise. According to Mintel research, 17% of UK adults took a holiday on their own in the last five years, and the numbers are rising. We’re not surprised; over 70% of Flavours guests travel on their own, and word is getting out that travelling to Italy alone is an ideal…
Unusual Grapes: a selection of our favourite white wines from Italy
Looking for a dry white wine? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by everything that is on offer. Which is why we have put together a list of our favourite wines. It contains wines from each of our Flavours Destinations and each wine displays characteristics typical of its region. Fiano Fiano is a wonderful grape variety…
Foodie Friday – How to make Tortellini
Tortellini… pasta parcels filled with meat, herbs and spices that melt in your mouth. Traditionally they are served in a wonderfully rich meat stock, resulting in comfort food at its best. As always is the case with Italian food, homemade is the only way to go. In the UK, supermarkets offer rubbery versions but nothing beats the real thing.
Cookbook Review – ‘Veneto’ by Valeria Necchio
Flavours guest Gabrielle enjoyed cooking from ‘Veneto’ by Valeria Necchio. The recipes reminded her of time spent in Tuscany on one of our Cooking Holidays! Recipes from an Italian Country Kitchen I have really enjoyed reviewing this lovely cook book! With its chapters divided into sections of ‘Then’, ‘Now’ and ‘Pantry’. I can see myself…
Cookbook Review – ‘Sharing Puglia’ by Luca Lorusso
Flavours guest Linda joined us in Sicily last year, and is about to learn the ins and outs of Puglian cooking later this year – what better time to review Luca Lorusso’s ‘Sharing Puglia’! In the last decade or so, Puglia, that lies in the heel of Italy and which has long provided cheap holidays…
The Breads of Italy – Guest Post
Italian foodie Line is an expert on all things Italian – she’s shared her top 7 Italian breads with us and the do’s and don’t’s of this Italian staple! Bread is a wonderful food. It is something that plays a big part in virtually every food culture. The Italians love their bread too. They may…
Who goes on a Flavours Holiday? Interviewing our Pilates guest, Caroline
Retired art teacher, Caroline, 65, talks to us about how her recent Pilates holiday in Sicily gave her a new lease on life: Why did you choose a Pilates holiday? I had a hip replacement operation earlier this year, and needed something to help me get back my strength and mobility. Plus it was in…
Cookbook Review – ‘Simple Cooking’ by Antonio Carluccio
After joining us in Tuscany, Flavours guest Trish tested out some of Antonio Carluccio’s recipes from his classic book ‘Simple Cooking’: I was really looking forward to this book, as I love Antonio’s cookery programmes and am a fan of Italian cooking. It is beautifully presented and has plenty of illustrations. Just the sort of…
Cookbook Review – ‘Aquacotta’ by Emiko Davies
After joining us in Tuscany and Amalfi, Flavours guest Eirlys has reviewed Emiko Davies’ book ‘Aquacotta’, testing out some recipes from Tuscany’s secret Silver Coast: My interest in the book was peeked as it covers an area of Italy I don’t know but its terrain of sea and forest is very similar to where I…
Who goes on a Flavours holiday? Interviewing our Cooking guest, Heather
With five Flavours cooking holidays under her apron, Heather tells us what she loves about Italy – and why she diets before each trip! You’ve done five cooking holidays with Flavours now, mostly with your husband – what keeps bringing you back? Well, part of the appeal is Italy itself: the sheer beauty of the…
Who goes on a Flavours holiday? Interviewing our painting guest, Vicky
Vicky was nervous about her first painting holiday. Three Flavours Holidays later, Vicky tells us why she keeps coming back for more. What sort of painter are you? ‘Keen amateur’ would sum me up quite well, I think. I painted quite a lot in my youth, then for one reason or another stopped pretty much…
Painting In Italy – Hugh Tuckerman’s Most Inspiring Locations
Today, we speak to one of our fantastic painting tutors, Hugh Tuckerman, to discuss his favourite painting spots in Italy to visit with our groups. With wonderful painting holidays to Tuscany, Amalfi and Sicily, there are so many stunning landscapes, scenes and locations to inspire our guests – it was no small task to narrow…
The Flavours Team’s Comfort Foods
The days are getting longer and, although it is still very early in the year, we are anticipating the coming months of spring. However, it’s still cold for the team up here in chilly Edinburgh, and we thought we would share with you the delicious comfort foods that keep us going through the cold, dark…
Top Tips for spending a weekend in Venice
If you’re looking for a city short break that will enchant and inspire, then look no further than Venice. This ancient city that seems to float on water is full of both world-renowned sights, and hidden gems that never cease to amaze. The Flavours Team spent a weekend exploring Venice, so read on for their…
Cookbook Review – ‘Made in Sicily’ by Giorgio Locatelli
Flavours guest Lynda perfected her Puglian cooking skills on a Flavours holiday. Since then she’s been testing out some of Sicily’s finest recipes from Giorgio Locatelli’s popular book. If, like me, you already have something in the order of 150 cookbooks, then you may wonder whether you need yet another ‘Italian’ cookbook. But if you’ve…
Who goes on a Flavours Holiday? Interviewing our photography guest Maggie
Maggie was determined to find out what all those fancy settings on her new Nikon actually did. Could a Flavours Holidays photography holiday in Tuscany be the answer? What sort of photographer are you? Well, I love taking photographs, particularly on holiday, but before my week in Tuscany I’d never even taken my new Nikon…
5 Reasons to Book a Photography Holiday
Are you a keen photographer at home, but not sure how to take your skills to the next level? Or have you always wanted to take your camera off the ‘auto’ setting and really learn the secrets behind capturing that perfect landscape shot? If so, a photography holiday is the perfect way to improve your…
Cookbook Review – ‘Gennaro’s Italian Bakery’ by Gennaro Contaldo
Flavours guest Gillian mastered the dishes of Amalfi on her cooking holiday last year, and has been testing out some of Amalfi-born Gennaro Contaldo’s best baking recipes from ‘Gennaro’s Italian Bakery’ this week. If Gennaro had not become a well-known chef, he would probably have been a baker. He still has a passion for, and…
Our Top 3 Romantic Destinations in Italy
Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse for a romantic short break away with a loved one. Take a look at our top 3 romantic destinations across Italy! Verona The home of Romeo and Juliet, you can’t find a more romantic city over Valentine’s day than Verona – the city hosts a 4 day Valentine’s Festival!…
Foodie Friday: Venice Carnival’s Frittelle
Venice’s world-famous Carnival (or“Carnevale”) is one of the biggest celebrations in Italy! In the past, the Carnevale was much more than a masked festival – the citizens of Venice spent the few weeks enjoying the hedonistic pleasures and lavish feasts that were characteristic of the Carnival. Palaces opened their courtyards to host grand celebrations – there was…
Interview with our new photography tutor, Tony
Meet Tony, one of our talented photography tutors at Flavours. We chatted to him all about his passion for photography, and his favourite Flavours holidays so far! What first drew your interest in photography? It started back in the 1950’s when I was about 5 or 6 years old, my Dad was a keen photographer…