Cooking Vacations - Follow Me To Italy With Lauren

Truffle dogs gently dig precious truffles from the Autumn earth. Over damp forests covered in fallen leaves, we follow our truffle dog as he leads us to yet another treasure. The experience of dog, man and nature in a hidden forest in the hills of Bologna is magical. And, the sent of these precious tubers, white truffles being most sought after and expensive, permeate the air. The walk, the outdoo...

Music in the kitchen, almonds toasting and a busy oven that is always baking – this is Marie Lucia’s recipe for biscotti pratesi.  Coming from a family of pastry makers in the sleepy town of Prata Sannita, she keeps her Italian heritage alive through cooking, baking, music and family. As she tells me about recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook, she takes a moment to rotate the pans of anisette b...

Join us in our garden and discover how Italians cook in the rhythm of the seasons from spring, summer, autumn and winter cherishing the bounties of the harvest. Italians know the natural way of living. Farmers also plant in the seasons following the full moon and tides. Listen in and learn how.

Sfusato lemons which grow on terraced land along the Amalfi Coast are the protagonist in cooking in this region. Discover their history, importance in cooking and secrets in the Mediterranean diet as you travel from Capri to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello.

Pompeii laying in the shadows of Mount Vesuvius charms visitors from around the world. The Cathedral, set on the main piazza to the delicious Neapolitan food and wine, wows! The main pedestrian walkway and where locals stroll and socialize on caffe tables spilling onto the sidewalk, is a city steeped in Neapolitan tradition. Closely attached to the Vatican and home of where the rosary was first sa...

Nestled on the Spiaggia Grande, the main beach, in Positano, the Tre Sorelle restaurant has been dazzling guests since 1950 with the likes of John Steinbeck, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton to Diego Maradona, Italy’s legendary soccer player. Join us at Tre Sorelle as we dine and speak with Luigi and Alfsono Piscane, owner of Tre Sorelle.

The Reale Vineyard, owned by a humble family of winemakers, is set in the hills above the Amalfi Coast. For generations the winemakers follow the old world method of growing and bottling awaard-winning wine.

Join as we visit Montalcino. Montalcino, a dreamy hilltop town once ruled by kings, queens, and noblemen, is a UNESCO Heritage Site in the province of Siena. Famous for its Vino Brunello di Montalcino, the small village, beckons wine enthusiasts from around the world. Follow us as we visit Montalcino and stroll through its cobblestone streets – no cars allowed – and to Piazza del Popol...

Elizabeth Berg, award-winning New York Times bestselling author says, “This is a dream cookbook. Who in the world wouldn’t want to try ‘Catch of the Day for a Beautiful Woman of the Sea?’ But in addition to being a cookbook, it’s a slice of life from the impossibly beautiful Amalfi Coast: how it looks, how it feels, how the interactions with the people there are so soulful and rewarding. It takes...

Bologna’s piazza dazzles – it’s like stepping into an old-fashioned storybook filled with ancient palazzos and bell towers, cobblestone walkways while the scent of Bolognese lasagne is everywhere. Join Rino and Lauren as they travel through Bologna, share their knowledge on local cuisine, where to dine and shop and how to drive a Ferrari.

In Italy, there are over 1,500 pasta types, each one with its traditional sauce. Tune in and learn how Rino and Lauren mix, roll, prepare and teach you about the geometric shapes and sizes of Italian pasta!!!

Under the tutelage of Michelin-Star Chef Massimo Botturo, Chef Lopez is wowing guests from around the world with her delicate delicious creations.  Click to listen to our podcast.

The scene is delicious.  Creamy butter is scented with vanilla, then sugar is carefully whipped in a silver mixer.  As the butter transforms into a light and airy texture, a heavenly scent zests the air.  In the far corner, a pasticciere, pastry maker, donning a tall white chef’s hat carefully weighs out chopped candied orange that will be added to the batter.  Another baker lays out rows of brown...

Rolling Tuscan hills, the scent of grapes permeating the air and the sleepy town of Panzano in Tuscany.  Meet world-famous Dario Cecchini in his butcher shop Antica Macelleria Cecchini as we travel to Tuscany.  A welcoming door is left open and the song Volare by Domenico Modugno plays on.  Inside, a small crowd has already gathered. There’s a party atmosphere, everyone is sipping Chianti wine, an...

As soon as you land in Roma Fiumicino Airport you can feel the vibe of La Dolce Vita – Passport control men who wink and make conversation and suntanned Italians sipping caffès at the bar exchanging conversations about anything.  Stay a while and fall in love or maybe even marry.

Walk along cobblestone pathways, cross the Ponte Vecchio, discover Renaissance Florence and Catherine Medici in the City of Art!  Enjoy a creamy Florentine gelato – something else that Florence is famous for!  Bring your sketch pad and imagination and let’s go to Florence!

Tie on your aprons and pack your bags because we are going on a truffle hunt with Signor Alberto in the hills of Bologna!  Follow me to Italy and learn how!!!

Love to cook?  Join us in our Italian kitchen and learn how to prepare antipasto, fresh pasta, main courses and delicious desserts.  Cooking Vacations offers hands-on cooking classes and cultural tours in Italy’s 20 regions designed by Lauren.  earn to cook traditional Italian recipes with excellent Chefs, local expert cooks, Nonnas, pastry artisans, and bread and pizza makers.  Our Italian culina...

In our first podcast, learn how Lauren moves to Positano in southern Italy, meets Rino – an Italian race car driver, falls in love and gets married in an Italian wedding gown. Italy is a dream place!  The people, the food and lifestyle.  From its bustling caffè s, lively piazzas , and colorful outdoor markets.  There’s Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Navona and the cerulean seas of the Amalfi Coast. T...