Culinary Tours
2010 Culinary Tours
SOUTH OF FRANCE CULINARY TOUR
28 April - 2 May 2010
28 April
14:10 departure from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines
16:15 arrival in Nice and check-in Hotel Splendid
Afternoon walking tour of this colorful Mediterranean city of the French Riviera
Dinner at a local restaurant in the famous Flower Market
29 Apri
l
Full day excursion after open-buffet breakfast at the Hotel; the itinerary includes:
The Italian town of San Remo, renown with its music festival
The nearby hillside village of Badalucco for tastings of
“Carlo’s cold pressed extra virgin olive oil” and homemade wines
The village of Bussana Vecchia, a medieval treasure rediscovered by
artists and intellectuals, where lunch at Osteria del Artisti will be
preceded by the chef’s demonstration of basil pesto.
Afternoon return trip to Nice with a brief stop at Monaco
Late afternoon drinks on the terrace of Chateau Eze Hotel overlooking the French Riviera
Evening arrival in Nice; free time
30 April
Morning excursion to the medieval villages of the French Riviera:
St.Paul de Vence Artists’ Colony to view works by amateur and professional artists
Free time in the village for lunch
The town of Cagnes sur Mer: a visit to the local market to learn about popular French cheeses, olives, fish and fresh fruits
Olive Museum in the Grimaldi Castle in Provence, where historical olive trees have given life to the region since the Roman times
Afternoon visit to the Picasso Museum in Antibes, the town where the famous artist sought refuge during the Spanish Civil War
Evening arrival in Cannes, the heart of film and tourism industries
A short walking tour in the historical center
Dinner at A la Maree restaurant featuring seafood and Provence wines
Return to Nice after dinner
1 May
Morning excursion to the famous Var Vineyards of Provence region:
The village of Lorgues for wine tasting and meeting with the oenologist of a historical wine cellar
Lunch at a vineyard Chateau featuring Provencal dishes
Afternoon visit to the wine cellars of Taradeau in the same region, including an audio-visual demo, vineyard walk and wine tasting
Return to Nice in the evening and free time for dinner
2 May
Free time in Nice after the open-buffet breakfast
Last-minute shopping at Nice’s trademark Alzieri olive shop
17:15 departure for Istanbul with THYXXX
21:05 arrival in Istanbul
Cost of the Tour: 1175 Euro per person, double occupancy
Single supplement: 220 Euro
Included in the Tour Price:
-4 nights’ accommodation with open-buffet breakfast
-Airport-hotel-airport transfers
-All excursions as specified in the program
-All meals and drinks as specified in the program
-Oasis Tour and local guide services
Not included in the Tour Price:
- Cost of Schengen Visa
-Turkish Airlines Airfare and airport taxes
-Tours, meals and other expenses not specified in the program
-Departure tax
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TOSCANA CULINARY TOUR
14-17 April 2010
14 April
Alitalia Departure for Florence via Rome
06:15-07:50 Istanbul-Rome
09:50-10:50 Rome-Florence
Arrival in Florence and check-in at Albani Firenze Hotel
A short walking tour of the city and free time in the afternoon
Welcome dinner with the following menu:
Hors d’oeuvre: homemade taglierini with fresh vegetables
Local specialty: baked veal stuffed with eggs, vegetables and cheese
Baked potatoes
Dessert and espresso
15 April
Free time after breakfast
Afternoon excursion to the 11th century Castello di Nipozzano, located 25 km. south of Florence in the Chianti Rufina region.
In addition to olive oil tasting accompanied by local breads, cheeses and salami, three different wine tastings are scheduled:
Nipozzana Riserva 1994 Chianti Rufina
Montesodi 1993 Chianti Rufina
Mormoreto 1994 Cabarnet Sauvignon
Return to the Hotel for a brief rest
19:00 departure for a 1.5 hour drive to Montecatini: dinner at the Fattotia Medicea Farm, 16th century
home of the Medicis, owned today by Princess Fabrizia Borghese. The traditional menu features:
Mixed crouton with pate
Warm sfogliatine, rice with asparagus, ravioli with ragu
Steak Fiorentine with artichokes and fried potatoes
Mixed salad
Dessert and wines: prosecco, chianti and vinsanto
16 April
Excursion to Siena after breakfast; morning tour of the city
Afternoon drive to the vineyard region of Montalcino where Italy’s pride, the Brunello wine is produced
Visit to the historical cellars of Banfi for tastings of:
Sant’angelo Pinot Grigio
Centine Sant’antimo
Belnero Pinot Nero
Dinner at the relaxed atmosphere of the Caprili Farm featuring a traditional farm menu:
Mixed crouton
Ribollita soup
Rice cooked with Brunello wine
Veal Pievese with mushrooms and parmesan
Vegetable pastry, mixed salad and a traditional dessert
Wines: Rosso di Montelcino, Vinsanto
17 April
After-breakfast departure for Il Borro, a charming little medieval village restored by the prominent fashion designer Ferragamo; walking tour of the village, exploring local crafts and visiting leather workshops where handmade shoes are produced
Lunch at a Borro farmhouse
Afternoon departure for Florence airport for the return trip
19:15 - 20:10 Florence-Rome
21:40 - 01:10 Rome-Istanbul
Cost of the Tour: 1275 Euro per person, double occupancy
Single supplement: 190 Euro
Included in the Tour Price:
-Alitalia airfare Istanbul-Florence-Istanbul
-3 nights’ accommodation with open-buffet breakfast
-Airport-hotel-airport transfers
-All excursions as specified in the program
-All meals and drinks as specified in the program
-Oasis Tour and local guide services
Not included in the Tour Price:
-Cost of Schengen Visa
-Tours, meals and other expenses not specified in the program
-Departure tax
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September 16 - 18, Gaziantep Culinary Tour with culinary writer, Filiz Hosukoglu
16 September
Flight to Gaziantep at 12.25 with TK 2222 from İstanbul Atatürk Airport
Lunch Kebap, lahmacun and baklava ( at Imam Çağdaş, Fethullah Usta or Şirvan Kebab)
City tour in the afternoon, visiting the food bazaar and copperwares handcraft market, the Kitchen Museum and Glass Museum.
Tasting of Menengiç (wild pistachio) coffee at Tahmis Kahve.
Dinner at Sahan Restaurant
17 September
Breakfast at Orkide, tasting and observing a demo of famous “katmer”, a regional sweet with clotted cream and pistachio.
Visiting a local “baklava” production facility.
Lunch at a local house, observing demo and tasting of local cuisine.
Free time for shopping (copperwares and miscellaneous food items, spices) after visiting the “city Museum”
Dinner Bayazhan, antep homestyle specialties
18 September
Breakfast at the hotel
Visiting a closeby village to see the pistachio harvest.
Lunch at Yörem Restaurant (regional Gaziantep dishes)
In the afternoon, visit to the Gaziantep Archeology Museum where the famous Zeugma mosaics are exhibited.
20:25 Flight to Istanbul with TK 2229, arrival at 22:05
Tour price 1.020 TL, single supplement 90 TL price: .
Includes:
Economy class roundtrip airfate with Turkish Airlines
Airport taxes
2 nights of accomodation at Dayi Ahmet Konagi with open buffet breakfast
Breakfasts, lunches and dinners mentioned with Ms. Hosukoglu as the guide
Tours and visits mentioned
Oasis tourism guide services
Tursab Travel insurance
Extras:
Personal expenses
Dinner on the evening of return
Extra beverages
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October 1 - 3, Konya Culinary Tour
A Culinary Journey Through Time, from the steppes of the Asia to the Selchuks and today with culinary writer Nevin Halici
1 October
07:00 Flight to Konya with TK 2022, arrival at 8.20 and early city tour.
Visits to the Museum of Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi and womens’ market
Lunch at
Hacı Şükrü, tasting Konya firin kebab
Following lunch visit to the Alaaddin Tepesi ,Karatay Museum and ,İnce Minare (mosque)
Walks in Konya market and time for shopping
Dinner Mevlevi Somadı Konak Restaurant
menü
Rose sherbet and Sirkencübin (a sherbet with honey and vinegar)
Salt
Tutmaç Soup
Hassaten Rice (Mevlevi Rice)
Green salad with rose petals
Carrots cooked in molasses
Saç Börek
Flour halva with almonds
Salt
Coffee
2 October
Breakfast at Tandırın Başı tasting Tandır Börek
Local breakfast with tea
Visits to Şems-i Tebrizi and Ateşbaz-ı Veli
Lunch at Cemo, tasting different pastries with meat.
menu
various pastries with meat
salad and yoghurt
Kadaif with clotted cream
Visit to Meram neighbourhood, tasting coffee at Aydın Çavuş Hill
Visit to Çatalhöyük, firt neolitic civilization of Anatolia.
Dinner at Kule Sini (Revolving restaurant at 42.nd floor)
menu
Okra soup
Grill wirh charcoal eggplant
Shephards salad
Homemade pastry
Yoghurt
Beans in olive oil
Mixed desserts
3 October
Following breakfast, visiting old Sille House.
Lunch at Konak Lokantası, sampling local dishes
menü
Arabaşı soup
eggplant dish
Sacarası
stuffed vine leaves
selection of pastries
Höşmerim Halva
Okra soup
Rice
Apricot drink
Dinner at a location of your choice
Return flight to Istanbul at 22.35 with TK 2039
Tour price 1075 TL, single supplement 120TL
Price includes,
roundtrip economy class airfare
airport taxes
2 nights of accomodation at Dedeman hotel with open buffet breakfast
All meals mentioned with Nevin Halici as the tour guide
All visits and tours mentioned
Tursan travel insurance
Extras:
Personal expenses
Dinner for the final evening
Extra drinks
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Previous Culinary Tours
April 2009 - Culinary Tour to Antioch and Aleppo
Flourishing at the cross-roads of millennial civilizations and trade routes, the Antioch region has given us one of the richest and most sophisticated culinary cultures of the world. While assimilating diverse tastes from many civilizations over centuries, Antioch’s cuisine has nonetheless always maintained its Mediterranean character. Aleppo’s equally famous cuisine, on the other hand, displays remarkable similarities to Eastern Anatolian cuisine with its rich array of kebabs, mezzes and desserts.
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December 2009 Adatepe Olive Harvest Tour
In this three day weekend tour, we learned all about olives. We had a lecture on olives, we handpicked olives from the trees and observed them turn into cold pressed oil in the museum. Then we had the chance to visit a modern factory and see the difference between production methods.
We had wonderful food with local ingredients at the workshop in Adatepe and enjoyed the surroundings. We are looking forward to another weekend next year…
Adatepe olive oils and gift packages
Tasmektep
Adatepe Olive Oil Museum