Newsletter
Customize Your Tour
Additonally, please keep in mind that many of the program itineraries you see on the website may be able to be revised. For example, you may wish to have more or less cooking classes, you may want to add a wine tour, remove an activity or add an extra yoga class or another excursion. Simply inquire and we will let you know if your request might be possible for the tour you are looking at.
In any event we will do our best to recommend the perfect culinary getaway for you!
Read Back Issues: August 2008 - New! We've added several new tours this month. If you haven't had a chance to relax this summer, take some time to plan your getaway today! We've got exciting additions to our programs, and our new Web site will feature tours from the best destinations in Italy, France, Peru, Mexico, Spain and more! Until then, try out August GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH - FOCACCIA - from "Cooking with Cristina." July 2008 - Active Gourmet Holidays is pleased to offer some exciting new tours in France, Spain and Italy - with more on the way including Peru and Mexico! We are working on a brand new look and will unveil our new website in the next month or two. Stay tuned! July GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH - CARROT-SOUFFLE CAKE WITH ORANGE - from "Cooking with Rashida." June 2008 - Active Gourmet Holidays is pleased to offer some exciting new tours in France, Spain and Italy - with more on the way including Peru and Mexico! We are working on a brand new look and will unveil our new website in the next month or two. Stay tuned! June GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH - MOULES PROVENCAL - from "Cooking and Yoga in the Languedoc-Roussillon" with Karen and Lionel. May 2008 - May was a busy travel month for Active Gourmet Holidays. There was NO NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED this month. We hope you were traveling, too. Check out our June newsletter to hear the best details about our holiday abroad. April 2008 - We've got a lovely selection of new tours this month! Our newsletter introduces these exciting adventures. Check it out! April GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH - TAGLIATELLE ALLA PUGLIESE- from "Authentic Home Cooking in Puglia" with Cinzia and Marika. March 2008 - Spring is in the air, and we are in the kitchen. Are you? Perhaps you need inspiration from one of our promising new tours. Check out our March news and get cooking with our GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH - Culinary Delights in Andalusia- Asado de rape con habas, chorizo y almejas February 2008 - Did you cook up something special for Valentine's Day? We did! Check out our February news and spice up your cooking routine with our GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH - Poulet au Miel et Moutarde - Chicken with Honey and Mustard January 2008 - Happy New Year! Start the new year off right with tales of international delight. Thank you for another great year, and we look forward to cooking with you again soon! For your delight, give our GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH a try - Cooking and Wine in Bordeaux with Stephane - Rillettes Aux Deux Saumons (Salmon Spread with Two Salmons) December 2007 - THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS HERE! Everyone knows someone whose passion is cooking, food and wine, the outdoors or traveling. Why not SURPRISE THEM WITH A CULINARY TRIP? Active Gourmet Holidays' trips are the perfect Christmas, honeymoon, anniversary or birthday gift for the special people in your lives. For your cooking delight, give our GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH a try - Bordeaux Gourmand - Salade landaise. October 2007 - We have just returned from Bella Italia! What a special time to be in Italy during "La Vendemmia" - the grape harvest. We were able to visit many of the operators of the programs that are represented. This month's newsletter highlighted a few and highly recommended them for a cooking or a food and wine experience in Tuscany. For your cooking delight, give our GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH a try - FLORENTINE ESCAPE - TIRAMISU BY PAOLA. August 2007 - August is a particularly sweet month for the gourmet. The summer harvests are plentiful and our options are many. In this month's newsletter, we recommend a few of our unforgettable holidays in France and Italy. For your cooking delight, give our GOURMET RECIPE OF THE MONTH a try - From THE PERFUMES, COLOURS AND FLAVOURS OF THE LUBERON WITH CHEF PATRICK PAYET - Chef Patrick's Famous Hard and Soft Chocolate Cake.
BBB (Better Business Bureau)
Active Gourmet Holidays is a member of the BBB Online Reliability program and has been awarded the prestigious Torch Award for "Best in Website Marketing" and the "Excellence in Business Consumer Education Award".
Click here for more information.
IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals)
IACP is a not-for-profit professional association which provides continuing education and development for its members who are engaged in the areas of culinary education, communication, or in the preparation of food and drink. The worldwide membership of more than 3,000 encompasses 45 countries and is literally a "Who's Who" of the world of food. Active Gourmet Holidays has been a member since 2006.
Click here for more information.
ICTA (The International Culinary Tourism Association)
ICTA is considered the world's leading authority on culinary tourism. Culinary tourism is the hottest segment of the tourism industry all around the world! Culinary Tourism is defined as the pursuit of unique and memorable culinary experiences of all kinds, often while traveling, but one can also be a culinary tourist at home. Active Gourmet Holidays has been a leader in international culinary tourism since 2002.
Click here for more information.
Slow Food
Slow Food is a non-profit, eco-gastronomic member-supported organization that was founded in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the rest of the world. Today, we have over 85,000 members in 132 countries.
Click here for more information
In the Media
If you are interested in writing an article about why culinary and active travel has become so popular, please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for information and client experiences, as well as client testimonials and photos.
Active Gourmet Holidays has sponsored the Annual Winning Taste Recipe Contest which is offered by Pilgrim's Pride! The 2008 winner, Jessie Grearson, and husband were awarded a weeklong trip to the Refugio da Vila Cooking School in Alentejo, Portugal. “Dear Jo-Ann - We had a truly magical time with Sofia in Portugal. What a wonderful place with such interesting people! Thanks again for a great trip and we will be in touch.”
Active Gourmet Holidays is a proud member of the IACP, ICTA, Slow Food Movement, and The Connecticut Better Business Bureau Online Reliability Program. Active Gourmet Holidays has been recognized twice by the BBB for excellence in website design and was honored with the presentation of the prestigious Torch Award for "Best in Website Marketing". Active Gourmet Holidays was also recognized with the "Excellence in Business Consumer Education Award".
In November, 2005 the Martha Stewart Show contacted Active Gourmet Holidays. The show found our culinary trips to be very "Martha Stewart-ish" and chose us to offer a free "Trip for Two" to Provence, France called "The Perfumes, Colours and Flavours of the Luberon."
Matt Lauer, who was the guest on Martha's show that day, picked a name out of a hat and a lucky audience member won the trip!
"Dear Jo-Ann, Thank you so much for helping me find "The Perfumes, Colours and Flavours of the Luberon" in Provence! My week with Patrick and Babeth was absolutely amazing! They could not have been more welcoming and friendly. Their hospitality was outstanding and the cooking classes were perfect. The trip was all I hoped for, and more! I also loved touring the countryside with Patrick. He is a great guide! I would love to stay in touch with you about other, future programs! Thanks again for your help!" -Kate P., Atlanta, Georgia
Subcategories |
RESERVE MY TOUR
CULINARY DELIGHTS OF ANDALUSIA “This was the experience of a lifetime. It was more than a culinary excursion, it was an unforgettable life experience from learning new cuisine to finding serenity in olive country. I was introduced to a wonderful world of Spanish cuisine and the down-to-earth lifestyle that defines Andalusia. I cannot wait to go back!” - Opal H., Northport, Alabama |
Don't see exactly what you are looking for in a culinary holiday on our website? Perhaps we can customize something for you! Usually a minimum number of participants may be required to do so but please let us know what you might be interested in. In many cases, we will be able to specially design an itinerary for you including some or all of the elements you require.
Dear Media Writers:
Active Gourmet Holidays has been highlighted in many publications. Some noted below are clickable: 
Founder Jo-Ann Gaidosz has been a guest on Channel 8 WTNH New Haven, CT on both the Weekend Morning Show and the News Channel 8 at Noon Show and News 12 Connecticut in Norwalk, CT where she has been interviewed and has done cooking demonstrations.
