Savour Cultures of the World from Your Kitchen

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While you may be spending more time at home, you can find ways to explore new destinations and connect to new cultures through food. Travel the world with your taste buds and find inspiration for your next meal.

FRANCE

In Bordeaux, one of France’s most elite wine regions, you can find a 10-floor, nearly 14,000 square meter shrine to wines. La Cité du Vin, also dubbed the “Guggenheim of Wine,” takes visitors through the world’s wines in a full-sensory experience.

Create your own wine experience at home by sampling a few wine and cheese pairings:

  • Aged Gouda – Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Parmesan – Champagne
  • Brie – Merlot
  • Gruyere – Chardonnay
  • Blue Cheese – Crémant Brut
  • Camembert – Pinot Noir

ITALY

Translated to “cutting board,” the tagliere is typically found in Florence. Served on an actual wooden cutting board, the tagliere is chock-full of sliced, cured meats along with aged cheeses, bread, and sometimes olives or preserves.

Transport yourself to the “cradle of the Italian renaissance” and recreate Florence’s iconic tagliere spread at home. Here’s how to get started:

Salumi – Cured meats such as pancetta, prosciutto, capocollo.

Cheese – Aged cheeses like Montasio, Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino are perfect for pairing with meat.

Paté – Chicken liver paté is often the popular choice.

Bread – Crusty white bread is prime for stacking with meats, cheeses, and patés.

Pickled Vegetables – Pickles, cucumbers, and tomatoes provide an additional savoury element.

NORTH AMERICA

New England has its fair share of well-known fare, but one of its most iconic – or polarizing – may be the oyster. Grown in a hard, dense shell from idyllic waters with rocky bottoms and strong currents, Maine oysters pack lots of great flavour.

Many oyster lovers already have their favourite go-to dressings, but one that is particularly easy and delicious is the French Mignonette. Try it with just a few simple ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • ½ cup red or white wine vinegar
  • 2 tbsp finely chopped shallots
  • Salt to taste

IRELAND

A warm, caffeinated elixir with a signature whiskey kick, Irish coffee is a classic drink well known beyond the Emerald Isle. The hot cocktail was invented as means to warm weary passengers travelling via flying boat – a seaplane popularized in the 1930s.

Replicate yours at home with a recipe from where it began, Foynes Flying Boat restaurant:

  • Preheat coffee glasses by filling with boiling water for 5 seconds, then pour water out.
  • Add 1 teaspoon brown sugar and your favorite Irish whiskey.
  • Fill the glass nearly to the top with strong black coffee. Be sure to stir well to dissolve the sugar.
  • Pour lightly whipped cream over the back of a spoon so that it floats atop the coffee.
  • ENJOY! 

SOUTH AMERICA

South America is known for its coffee, but in Argentina, it’s maté that has become part of the region’s identity. This traditionally rooted drink tastes like tea and is known for giving a similar burst of energy and mental focus as coffee.

Here’s how to make your own cup at home:

  • Place 1 tbsp of yerba maté in the strainer of a French press.
  • Slowly pour 8 oz of hot water over the leaves. (Never boiling, or you risk burning the leaves)
  • Brew for 4 to 6 minutes, depending on the strength you want.
  • Depress plunger into pot when it’s ready.
  • Add lime juice or another sweetener to taste, if desired.

As you experiment and explore from your kitchen, you may find new destinations that top your “must visit” list. Find even more inspiration in Collette’s e-magazine and food-focused tour catalog, Eat. Drink. Travel.


CARP Members save an additional $100 per person off any tour combinable with all other retail offers. See collette.com/carp or call 855.235.8687 to learn how to save.

Collette’s worldwide travel collection features over 160 guided tours, including small group tours, single-hotel spotlights, and more across all seven continents. With 102 years of experience and included flexibility, free time, and a cancel for any reason waiver, Collette puts your mind at ease and lets you enjoy every moment of the travel experience. For travel Alert and updates – Information on travel affected by COVID-19. Read More here.