Tired of a hectic daily life? Come to a cooking holiday to Umbria!

Umbria is known as “the green heart of Italy”, which comes as no surprise when you consider the natural excellence of the land; it offers a unique variety of natural landscapes with its rivers, lakes, mountains and natural reserves. The beauty of its land and of the fascinating small towns that are full of history cannot leave you indifferent. Umbria’s mix of marvellous landscapes, waved by green hills, allow you to relax and connect with nature: the perfect recipe for taking a break from your daily routine, to focus on yourself and on what really matters in life. 

Umbria is in fact famous for being the region related to spirituality. Even when Christianity was not yet common in Italy, Umbria was full of intellectual centres with various pagan religions. With the advent of Christianity the region became a cradle of spiritual and devotional movements. The lives of many spiritual figures, among others St. Frances, St. Clare, St. Valentine, (who were born in Umbria), St. Benedict, St. Augustine and St Margaret are linked with the region, with most of them finding the perfect shelter for their spiritual retreats in Umbria. It is not only religious people that have been fascinated by Umbria, many painters and artists, from Perugino and Pinturicchio to Gerardo Dottori and Alberto Burri, and many great poets and writers, among them Virgilio, George Byron, Herman Hesse and Giosuè Carducci, could not fail to be inspired by the charm of this region that seems to be able to reach, with a gentle but decisive touch, everyone’s heart. 

If you are thinking that this would be the perfect place for a painting holiday, Flavours can absolutely confirm that. Umbria not only has beautiful landscapes, it is also rich with its interesting regional cuisine. For this reason Flavours, always aiming for the best, could not avoid offering cookery holidays in Umbria. The hearty cuisine of the only peninsular region without access to the sea mostly focuses on products of the earth: vegetables, legumes and meats, especially pork meat and game. Pork and wild boar are used for sausages, hams and lots of distinctive types of cured meat products that are particularly renowned: for example the Norcineria (named after Norcia - Nursia, a lovely town in south eastern Umbria).

Umbrian sausages are particularly tasty, since they are commonly seasoned with salt, garlic and black pepper. Olive oil is also very important, widely produced and many types have the Protected Designation of Origin label. The product that distinguishes Umbrian cuisine, however, is the truffle, or tartufo, as they call it. In fact, lots of black truffles and also white truffles are harvested in this region, which has the right conditions for them to grow. Harvesting mainly takes place between October and March, depending on the type of truffle, and there are at least ten different varieties grown in Umbria. Truffles are widely used in Umbrian dishes, often accompanied by sausages, mushrooms or artichokes. Umbrian cuisine favours fresh ingredients and legumes are also common, in particular lentils are very famous, thanks to the distinctive high quality production of lentils taking place in the area of the lovely little hill top town Castelluccio. 

And last but not least… do you prefer red or white wine? If you prefer red, try Sagrantino di Montefalco, a wine that is made in the hills near Montefalco, a medieval hill top town known for this reason as ‘the balcony of Umbria’. The powerful Sagrantino is made 100% from Sagrantino grapes which grow exclusively in the area of Montefalco. The wine must be left to age for at least one year in the barrel and it must be released 36 months after the harvest. This Umbrian red wine has the highest classification for wine: DOCG, Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita. If you prefer white wine instead, you will have to try the Orvieto Classico, produced in Orvieto, which lies in south western Umbria. Founded by the Etruscans on the top of  a volcanic tuff, Orvieto was said to be impregnable. Orvieto is also famous for its amazing 14^th century Duomo, the cathedral has a large rose window, golden mosaics, three huge bronze doors and two frescoed chapels which were painted by the best Italian painters of the period.

If you feel inspired to explore Umbria's unique beauty why not join Flavours cookery holidays this autumn?

 

Italian food secrets..or how to learn eating well,live longer and be happier on a cooking holiday in Italy!

Italian cuisine is a very good example of a Mediterranean diet, with all of the health benefits it implies (reduced risks of heart disease and cancer). If you eat well you live longer and you are happier. It is also true that the Italian food that you can buy outside of Italy is not as healthy as what you will find in Italy. If you have ever met an Italian, you would know that most Italian people really enjoy eating. So how do Italians keep fit when they eat so many dishes that are not so light? How do they manage to enjoy their food while also maintaining a healthy weight? If you are wondering about the secret way Italians stay healthy and fit while eating delicious food read about what you can learn on a cooking holiday in Italy!   

 

The use of fresh ingredients is probably the most important feature that makes Italian food healthy. Italians prefer to eat fresh fruit and vegetables, everybody who has enough space tries to have their own garden. Italians do not really eat precooked food (and hardly ever junk food) as it makes no sense with all of the recipes from their “grandma” that would have been passed down from one generation to another. Enjoy simple and fresh food!

Diet? NO WAY! If you are on a diet you tend to force yourself into a new difficult habit too quickly and then you get frustrated because you can’t eat what you would like to. This can sometimes result in the diet not lasting very long because you have put on weight. Italians can’t say no to what they like most, so they prefer not to: a healthy extended diet is better than cutting out what you really love eating!

Italians eat leisurely. A meal for them is a time in which to relax and socialise (no TV, computer or reading). If you are relaxed you tend to eat slower and you feel full quicker. When their bodies tell them they are full, Italians stop eating and have a coffee while sitting and enjoying the company of their friends or family.

Portions are small so that there is enough food to go round (you can do un altro giro and have another portion if you are still hungry). There is no point in having a big portion because Italian meals are split up into a primo (first course) which is pasta or rice, then a secondo (second course) with meat (not only red meat!) or fish and a contorno (side dish) of vegetables (even better when seasonal and fresh). For normal meals Italians usually eat fruit instead of a proper dessert (of course special occasions are a different story).

Italians have big family meals on Sundays and for special occasions, during the rest of the week we always balance the quantity and quality of the ingredients: lean meat more often than red meat, a reasonable amount of carbohydrates, lots of fish and seasonal vegetables. Italians don’t drink soda or juices while eating, but prefer water (or a glass of wine). Italians don’t usually eat again after dinner.

Being active without realising it. After and/or before lunch and dinner most Italians need their passeggiata, a habit which is basically just a stroll during which you spend time with one or two people talking and wandering. The good thing is that generations (grandmothers and grandfathers, mothers, fathers and children) all walk together, in the countryside. A leisurely passeggiata after eating is surely what your body needs most after a meal and, most of the time, it is also what your mind needs as well.

If you are tempted to find out more about Italian food secrets why not joining Flavours cookery holidays this autumn?  

Timing IS Everything...Especially When We Plan a Trip! When is the Best Time to Take that Trip to Italy?

While today at Flavours Holidays  we are discussing our favourite Italian destinations and the best time to go on a cooking, painting or Pilates holiday we thought to ask some experts advice! Here is what the travel consultant Victoria De Maio has to say about when is the Best Time to Take that Trip to Italy.

As a travel consultant, one of the most frequently asked questions I am asked is “when is the best time to go to (fill in a destination)?” And, the other is “what will the weather be like?” And I have to smile because the truth is, even if I had a crystal ball or some magical meteorological foresight, I still wouldn’t hazard a forecast! The best any of us can do is take an educated stab at what Mother Nature will have in store for us.

When is the best time to travel to Italy?

 And, in fact, yes, there are “seasons” and each season has its advantages and disadvantages. There are definitely preferable times to travel, but the weather is only one determining factor. And when traveling to one of, if not, the most popular destination in the world, bella Italia, there are several other considerations.

Ask the experts and they’ll tell you...well, they may not tell you the same thing! If you check out Frommer, Fodor, and Italy travel blogs, the general consensus is that the “shoulder seasons”, April to May and late September and October are ideal – in other words, now!  However, If you ask Rick Steves, he thinks summer is great. Hmmm, not my choice. And, let’s face it, Rick gets to go often any time. If this is your first trip or that  “trip of a lifetime”, you want to take your best shot.

In summer, sure the days are longer but it’s more crowded, more expensive and, along with the heat and all those students, well, I can tell you from my own experience during a heat wave in Italy (in the Veneto and Tuscany) last June/July, it was HOT! Unseasonably hot! Really hot! Like sweaty, exhausting hot...not my style and the last time I go there anywhere near summer.

It can be so hot  in August, that 70% of the Italians (and much of the European population) head for the beaches and the islands. That should tell you something, not to mention that you’ll find many smaller family-run businesses closed as well.

 

It can be very hot in the summer!

For my money, the shoulder seasons are prime time for travel in Italy. You can avoid extreme temperatures and (somewhat) avoid the crowds. During those shoulder seasons (late spring/early fall) weather, prices, and availability are usually far more agreeable. However, traveling during the shoulder or off peak  season is no secret and is, in fact, extremely popular. With the growing population of  retired boomers and empty nesters, couples and singles with no kids,  flex-time workers and widely varying school vacations, shoulder season travel will continue increase. But for most, they remain the preferred travel windows.

Other considerations when planning that trip to Italy are which regions you plan to visit (weather can vary dramatically from one to another) as well as when certain cultural and special events happen. If there is something you have your heart of seeing/attending, e.g., festivals, concerts, exhibits, harvest, local events, etc., then that is an important factor and many are held during the summer months. Remember, too, that if it’s something that you have your heart set on doing, then the odds are that there are a lot of other people who want to be there, too.  So it’s best to plan ahead, be prepared for the crowds, and enjoy!

You can always cool off with some gelato

Finding that “perfect” travel window takes some research and planning. And sometimes you just don’t have a choice – you have to work around your work schedule, your family’s schedule, the kids schedule and whomever else you’re traveling with.

The bottom line?. The best time to travel is when you can! Whether you’re limited or not to any particular season, the key is to make the best of it and to travel smart! And remember, timing is everything!

More about Shoulder Season Travel and Making the Best of High Season Travel on Victoria's blog.

So what are you waiting for? Have a look at Flavours Top 5 Autumn Cooking Holidays here.

About Victoria and Postcards from Travel PiZazz

La dolce vita for me! And for you! Victoria De Maio, travel consultant, blogger, writer, (and yoga teacher!) loves sharing her passion for travel - especially travel to Italy! On her blog, www.Postcards from Travel PiZazz.com, she offers no-nonsense travel tips, advice, insights and inspiration – with a lighthearted twist. 

Find Victoria on: Postcards from Travel PiZazz, Italian Notebook, YouTube, Twitter , Facebook, and Pinterest. You can also contact her directly: postcardsfromtravelpizazz@gmail.com