Interested in reading our back issues? We've got those for you, too! (Click a month below to read that archived newsletter.)

JANUARY 2012 - January is an exciting month as Active Gourmet Holidays celebrates 10 years in business and is offering 10% off over 20 tours if booked by February 15th. Inquire within for more details! 

DECEMBER 2011 - In December we featured a "Yoga and Cooking Holiday in Le Marche" in Italy which is being held October 13-20, 2012. Also, we highlighted our "Girlfriend Getaway to Burgundy" only being offered between April 22 and May 20, 2012. The recipe of the month SCHIACCIATE CON L'UVA from our Discover Florence program in Italy.
 

NOVEMBER 2011 - In November we feature two wonderful chefs - Chef Paolo in Tuscany  "Tuscan Cooking in Lucca" and Kathering in Burgundy, "Culinary and Wine Adventures in Hidden Burgundy".  Our recipe features WINTER BEET CONFIT WITH FRESH GOAT CHEESES.

OCTOBER 2011 - October's newsletter features great trips in France, Spain and Italy. "The Active Foodie in Provence". The recipe of the month comes once again from France, this time from one of our favorite chefs, the lovely Sylvie, PANCETTA WRAPPED FIGS STUFFED WITH GOAT CHEESE.
 

SEPTEMBER 2011  - In this month's newsletter we bring you a wonderful new three night getaway in Southwest France, "A Taste of France" along with a delicious and simple autumn recipe to tease your tastebuds. We also highlight an active and gourmet tour in Peru and a cooking program in gorgeous Portugal, a small gem of a country.

AUGUST 2011  - In August we feature great tours from Italy, Morocco and France with a great recipe, MOROCCAN SPICED COLD TOMATO SOUP.

JULY 2011  - July's newsletter highlights our trip on the amazing Amalfi Coast in Italy. From our reliable driver Giuseppe to the beautiful accommodations and gracious hosts, the trip was unforgettable. The coast boasts stunning views, delicious cuisine, top rated restaurants and superb hotels.

JUNE 2011  - In June we highlight tours from Venice, Provence, and the region of Aragon in Spain. You may not have heard too much about Aragon yet but this gem of a spot is a well kept secret and an amazing destination.

MAY 2011 - In May we are featuring Catalonia, Spain and a wonderful program called "The Cuisine of Catalonia". Stay in a medieval hotel and take cooking classes from a talented local chef. Our recipe of the month is also from Catalonia and is EMPORDA RICE".  We also highlight some other wonderful Spain tours in the Rioja and Asturias regions of the country. 

APRIL 2011 - For April we feature a delicious spring dish from Epicurious, PEAS, ASPARAGUS AND BASIL. We also highlight some exellent  wine tours guided by a wonderful couple with a passion and knowledge of Italy that is unsurpassed.

MARCH 2011 - We invite you to Spain with two great tours, "The Legacy of Al Andalus" and "Culinary Delights of Andalusia". In France we recommend "Cooking in the Dordogne" and "Cooking and Biking/Walking in Bordeaux". For a great gazpacho, try our Cordovan style thick Gazpacho (PORRA).

FEBRUARY 2011 - February's newsletter highlighted two of our best selling tours called "The Flavours of Tuscany" and "Yoga and Cooking in Le Marche" as well as introducing a new tour in Mexico called "Beachfront Culinary Adventures in Cabo". Our recipe for this tour was POLLO SECCO.

JANUARY 2011 - In January we featured a wonderful new tour "Secret Spain" designed just for our clients! This is an amazing foodie journey into Catalonia, Spain. In the kitchen we highlighted a cooking experience in Bordeaux, "Active Gourmets in Bordeaux" with the recipe BLANQUETTE DE VEAU.

DECEMBER 2010 - In December Active Gourmet Holidays treats you to a wonderful recipe RAVIOLI WITH SAGE BUTTER SAUCE from "Sorrento's Kitchen". We also let our clients know about a wine tour in Sicily and one in lovely Burgundy with a very talented chef.

NOVEMBER 2010 - This month we feature some of our most popular tours including "Yoga and Cooking in Le Marche", "Cooking with Cristina in Umbria" and "Authentic Tuscan Cooking". Our featured recipe is PASTA CON BROCCOLI E FORMAGGIO AFFUMICATO  (Broccoli and Smoked Cheese Pasta)

OCTOBER 2010 -  This month Active Gourmet Holidays featured some great new tours including "Traditional Cuisine of the Amalfi Coast" and "Peruvian Cooking and Trekking Adventure". The recipe of the month is CAUSA CON PULPA DE CANGREJO (Potato based dish filled with Crab Meat from the Peruvian Trekking tour.

AUGUST 2010 - August featured a wonderful seven night escape called "Cooking and Spanish Lessons in Secret Murcia", developed exclusively for our clients. A perfect recipe for this time of year, TOMATOES A LA PROVENCALE, was given to us by our  the chef in Provence who teaches for the "Active Foodie in Provence" tour.

JULY 2010 - In July we highlighted a few new exciting tour including a "combination holiday" called "Cooking and Yoga in Mazatlan". Combination holidays are what Active Gourmet Holidays is known for and this great tour is no exception. The salsa recipes featured, SALSA ROJA and SALSA VERDE are just a taste of what you will learn on this tour.

JUNE 2010 -  Our "Wine & Chocolate Lover's Tour" was presented in our June newsletter and has received some marvelous feedback. The Chocolate Truffle recipe was also a big hit with our clients. Also featured was our "Culinary Escapes in the South of France" tour hosted by the marvelous New Zealander, Peta Mathias.

MAY 2010 - In May we featured a wonderful new tour that enables our clients to take cooking classes in a beautiful oceanfront home as well as exploring the beautiful "pueblos blancos" in southern Spain, "Los Pueblos Blancos in Andalusia". The recipe STUFFED COURGETTES WITH FISH IN A TOMATO SAFFRON SAUCE was highlighted as a typical dish one might learn on this holiday.

APRIL 2010 - This month's newsletter features our new "Cooking with Madeira Wine" tour, exclusively created for Active Gourmet Holidays' clients. We have had such success with our "Cooking with  Port Wine" tour that it only made sense to continue the theme in Portugal's lovely Island of Madeira. Our featured recipe this month is CAPRESE STYLE RAVIOLI  ("Sorrento's Kitchen" Program).

MARCH 2010 - We have added some wonderful new tours to Greece, Rome and the Basque area of Spain - but Provence is still a favorite so we are highlighting one of our best programs below, "Provence Cooking Classes". Try our recipe CASSEROLES GREENS PIE from Crete ("The Bounty of Greece" Program).

FEBRUARY 2010  -  Valentine's Day is the perfect time to surprise your foodie loved one with a culinary vacation. How about Tuscany or Provence? What is more romantic than a getaway to the European countryside? The feature recipe this month is a savory seafood stew called CACCIUCCO ("Tuscan Gourmand" Program).

JANUARY 2010 -  We have had so many requests for Greek culinary vacations and as a result, we are now offering exciting new culinary adventures to Greece. We also featured a delicious recipe from one of the most popular chefs in Greece, STUFFED ROLLED LEG OF SPRING LAMB WITH ANTHOTIRO AND WILD CRETAN GREENS ("Cretan Cuisine" Program).  

DECEMBER 2009 - In this month's newsletter we featured tours in Lazio and Tuscany as well as a recipe for CREAMY PORCINI AND FARRO SOUP ("Tuscan Wine Roads" Program). It's the perfect hearty dish for this time of year.

NOVEMBER 2009 - In November we are featuring a recipe from the lovely, funny and talented New Zealand chef, author and TV personality and broadcaster, Peta Mathias. Peta offers culinary escapes to France, Morocco and Rajashthan in India. Try our recipe of the month, ROASTED LEG OF LAMB WITH PRESERVED LEMONS ("Culinary Escapes to the South of France" Program)

OCTOBER 2009 - October's newsletter highlights Umbria, Italy. Autumn is a beautiful time in Europe. Why not consider a fall trip to Italy during OLIVE HARVEST SEASON where you can join the locals in picking olives? Recipe of the month features LASAGNA WITH MUSHROOMS AND SAUSAGES ("Umbrian Cooking with Tiziana and Zoila" Program)

SEPTEMBER 2009 - In this month's newsletter we are featuring a recipe from Sorrento, Italy. Plan an autumn getaway to Italy for wine or olive harvest. You can choose from a day cooking class in Sorrento, to a short break in Tuscany in an Italian home, or a week long holiday in a gorgeous villa in Puglia where two sisters will teach you to cook and take you on "foodie" excursions. Our recipe this month: VEAL LEMON SCALLOPINI WITH NEAPOLITAN STYLE POTATOES ("Villa Cooking in Sorrento" Program)

AUGUST 2009 - In this month's issue we have featured a recipe from one of our chefs in Dordogne, France as well as offering savings in Spain, Portugal, France and Mexico! Try MINESTRONE OF SUMMER FRUIT IN LEMON-VERBENA SYRUP ("Cooking in the Dordogne" Program)

JULY 2009 - Summer is here and in this month's issue we continue to feature big savings for culinary vacations in Spain, Portugal, France along with a huge savings in Mexico! Recipe of the month: CHEF ANA'S SIMPLE CEVICHE ("Mexican Cooking with Chef Ana"  Program)

JUNE 2009 - Summer is upon us and in this month's issue we are featuring big savings for an unforgettable culinary or active vacation in Spain, Portugal and France! Roast Turkey With Port Wine ("Cooking with Port Wine" Tour)

MAY 2009 - In this month's issue we are featuring Italy: Sicily, Puglia and the Veneto and France: Burgundy. Life is short so why not take that trip you keep saying you are going to plan?? Try this recipe: RISOTTO WITH ORANGE OR LEMON ("The Sicilian Gourmet" Tour)

APRIL 2009 - This month's issue used our new format (we know you'll love it!). Look for our new tours ...one is sure to fit your travel plans. We've got tasty treats from Spain, France and Peru. Recipe of the month - WARM SALAD OF BABY BROAD BEANS, MNT AND CURED HAM ("Cooking with Piers and Miguel in Aragon" Tour).