As border access remains on hold, we turn to Zoom for our primary form of travel. It’s been exciting to experience the world in a new way and we believe that, even once international travel will resume, the virtual space will provide an enhancement of travel, giving us the opportunity to better prepare ourselves for our upcoming trips.
Let’s take a look back on our past Zoom vacations and look forward to what's to come…
Christmas in Tuscany
Back in December we had the privilege to learn about Tuscan Christmas Traditions featuring Chef Loredana and Tour Guide Camilla. We had encountered them both in the virtual space back in the summer when attendees had the opportunity to learn new recipes to cook a fresh summer antipasto, a stacked savory salad, torta fredda, amd pici pasta from scratch and cook them with cacio and pepe sauce, following chef Loredana’s lead, and we enjoyed a virtual tour of the Cucinone at Pitti Palace with Camilla: read more about that event here.
Traditional Carnival Costume
Then in March we met with Tour Guide Sabrina to learn about The Carnival of Venice (Italian: Carnevale di Venezia), an annual festival held in Venice, Italy. The carnival ends with the Christian celebration of Lent, forty days before Easter, on Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras). The festival is world-famous for its elaborate masks.
Also, we had an enjoyable time attending virtual winery visits with Corte Gardoni Winery this will be linked to the word on the site) in Veneto and another with Claudio Quarta Vignaiolo with wineries located in both Puglia and Campania.
Grapes growing to be made into wine.
We have received a tremendous amount of positive feedback towards our curated zoom series. We have more opportunities to travel via Zoom planned because at ECA Travel Consulting, we believe the best way to learn about a location and its people is through their customs and culture including food and wine, whether in person or virtually. Zoom provides the opportunity to travel in a new way and learn about the wonderful traditions and delicacies of these many countries we hope to soon be traveling to again.
We would love to share with you some comments received from participants of these Zoom calls and we hope you will be able to join us for our next one!
“We really enjoyed Camilla’s Zoom presentation on the Pitti Palace’s ducal kitchen. It was so very interesting and really made us want to visit it in person the next time we are in Florence.” -Tom
“Erica, I really enjoyed the presentation & it reminded me of how much I enjoyed the trip to Tuscany & Piemonte! I sooo want to go on another trip with you. Please do it again!” - Reenie
“Very interesting information. I love Venice and hope to have the opportunity to visit it again.” -Luisa
“I really enjoyed the virtual tour of Venice. Thank you for arranging it and inviting me. I will look forward to being able to travel there in person hopefully soon!” -Linda
“Thank you, again, for another excellent presentation. If we can’t be in Venice right now you help make us imagine we are!” -Circolo Italiano of the Main Line
“Sabrina was wonderful! Virtual tours will get clients pumped up for the real thing.” -Maura
If you would like to register for future events please email ep@ecatravelconsulting.com
Some upcoming events we are looking forward to include:
April 10th at 11:00am: Spring & Easter traditions in Tuscany
May 15th at 11:00 am - An overview of Puglia, the heel of Italy
June (TBD)- An overview of Sicily
More detail about these topics below.*
Each presentation will last 50 minutes and will allow for Q&A. The zoom link for each presentation will be sent to registered participants a few days ahead of the call.
Presentations are free for everyone to enjoy, but small donations in support of tour guides are welcome and can be submitted via Venmo or by check.
April Zoom Call:
Leg of lamb and peas florentine style.
Spring & Easter traditions in Tuscany: featuring Camilla Sinding Larsen, licensed tour guide in Tuscany, with a master’s degree in restoration of antique paintings and frescoes, and Loredana Bagnoli who specializes in dishes of the Tuscan tradition. During their presentations you will learn about the explosion of the cart in Florence on Easter Sunday and you will enjoy a virtual visit to the Convent of San Marco. You will enjoy a cooking demonstration of traditional Easter recipes: erbata di porri, a vegetarian appetizer, and leg of lamb with spring peas florentine style.
For those of you who would like to cook along a list of the ingredients will be provided ahead of the call.
May Zoom call:
Orecchiette with broccoli rabe.
An overview of Salento, the heel of Italy: featuring Angelo Calianno licensed tour guide in Puglia and chef Veronica Zizzi. Angelo will take us to the land of Trulli, the conical roofed dwellings, typical of the Val D’Itria. We will visit the highlights of the area including Alberobello, Polignano a Mare, Ostuni, Lecce and Otranto, also venturing into neighboring Basilicata to see Matera. Veronica will demonstrate how to prepare an appetizer of friselle and orecchiette with broccoli rabe from scratch.
For those of you who would like to cook along a list of the ingredients will be provided ahead of the call.
June Zoom call
Full information about the Sicily presentation will be available early/mid May.