Vacapedia Vacation Rentals Blog

Aficionados of food and wine love fall in Europe–and not just for the colors. This is when the “good stuff”they use in the world’s great cuisines comes ripe. You know what I’m talking about: forest mushrooms, truffles, and wine grapes, among other things you haven’t thought of, like saffron for example. Each is likely to be celebrated in festivals across Europe.

How best to enjoy these things on your vacation? First of all, if you like to cook, there’s a ton of cooking classes all across Europe. If you find one you like, make sure you get a little language instruction with it. That way you’ll feel comfortable in the markets, ordering up your favorite meats and vegetables like a chef.

Then, after you’ve gotten some instruction, you can rent a vacation house and cook away like mad.

How about renting a half-timbered house in the Champagne region and adding some celebration of your certification in French cooking? There’s still lots of free tasting of bubbly in the Champagne region available, and these folks can celebrate up a storm after the harvest, believe me!

Of course, Italians taught the French how to cook, so you might also consider a vacation rental in Italy. Campania is considered one of the best food regions in Italy, and if you plan a trip in late fall, or even winter, there are lots of food and cooking classes along the Amalfi Coast, and check out the views from the Amalfi Coast vacation rentals. What better time to enjoy Italy than when the tourists are gone and the mozzarella di bufala is beckoning at the markets?