Travel, Study, Learn!

Oldways Culinarias are extraordinary culinary tours, planned with our firm belief that the heart of any culture can be illuminated by exploring its food, wine, and culinary traditions. Our respected place in the culinary world and our long-standing relationships with international chefs, restaurateurs, food and wine producers, as well as food, wine, and art experts, means that the Oldways Culinarias have unprecedented reach and depth that embrace traditional food and wine customs, educational programs, and elegant culinary activities.

Oldways founder K. Dun Gifford liked to call these trips Travel, Study, Learn!  And learn we do. Of course, we learn from the local producers of wine, olive oil, cheeses, capers, and many other great traditional foods and drinks. We also learn from the amazing experts who join us chefs like Ana Sortun or Barbara Lynch, cookbook authors like Paula Wolfert or Susan Herrmann Loomis, or art experts like Ronni Baer. For instance, to learn how to make kisir or lamejun from Ana Sortun while traveling in Turkey is a one-of-a-kind experience, just as is traveling with Paula Wolfert around Southwest France or Morocco places she put on the culinary map with her cookbooks.

In May of 2016 we’re embarking on a new Travel, Study, Learn experience a Culinaria in Italys Emilia Romagna region. Often called Italys food region, it is the home turf of a few of Italys true signature ingredients Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale.

Joining us for this Emilia Romagna Culinaria to heighten the learning experience are Ronni Baer (top photo) and Barbara Lynch (bottom photo), each huge stars in their fields. Ronni is a senior curator of European Paintings at Bostons Museum of Fine Arts, and is a teacher beyond compare. Ronni’s tour at Madrid’s Prado Museum, explaining and connecting El Greco, Velasquez and Goya was a true pinch-me moment, inspiring and educational, all at the same time.

The chef-owner of 7 restaurants, a catering company and a cooking school in Boston, Barbara Lynch is Americas only female Relais & Chateaux Chef and a two-time James Beard Award winner. She loves Emilia Romagna and is excited to be traveling, studying ,and learning along with the group. We are incredibly fortunate to have the chance to travel with Barbara and to learn to cook a pasta dish or two with her.

While each Culinaria is a great vacation, whats also important to us at Oldways (in addition to showing everyone a great time) is the Travel, Study, Learn part of it. Its important that studying and learning the practical old ways of enjoying the foods, drinks, and culture in any place can enable the participants to incorporate the best of the old ways in their everyday lives.

For more information or to register, please call or email Abby Sloane ([email protected] or (617) 896-4875). 

Sara, Oldways President