Gastronomic tours

Judging by the amount of food related programmes currently on TV (Britain's Best Dish, MasterChef, Come Dine with Me) are we becoming a nation obsessed with food? For many of us, these shows can be a way to gain inspiration and enthusiasm for experimenting more with food, and hosting dinner parties of our own.  Instead of sticking to the recipes we've been using for years, venturing out and trying something new is fast becoming less of a scary prospect.

For those who like to make meal times more of an event, and consider themselves real die hard 'foodies', experiencing gourmet food and fine wine could be high on your list when choosing a holiday destination.

Many travel companies are now catering trips specifically for the budding chef or food critic, with Tuscany being one of the most popular destinations for food lovers.  'Taste Tuscany' offers 3 day cooking and gastronomic workshops, where you can learn the art of Tuscan cooking from local cooks, whilst basking in the beauty of the Tuscan countryside.

If you have more of a passion for tapas, then a tour of the Andalusia region of Spain could be the ideal culinary experience for you.  'A Taste of Spain' is a company that organizes 7 day tours, where you'll not only learn how to create authentic dishes, but also see first hand how the ingredients are grown. If you'd prefer to sit back and let the experts do the hard work, then there's also a wealth of restaurants in the region that'll give you a proper taste of local Spanish cuisine.

Another way to experience what Europe has to offer in terms of gastronomic delights, could be to pay a visit to the many outdoor food markets.  Whether it's Mercat de la Boqueria, in Barcelona with its array of cheeses, fish and meats or the Mercato Centrale in Florence for it's pastries and gelato. Taking in the sights and smells of fresh, local produce should be a joy for most food lovers.

With the array of foody delights on offer on your trip, you won’t want to be left short. Before you head off, don't forget to arrange your travel money in plenty of time. Having some foreign currency is always a good idea - particularly if you are going to be making small purchases, in markets, for example, or leaving tips.

In order to get the best foreign currency exchange rate, it's often best to shop around in advance, and there's many travel money services to choose from. So, book the tickets, get the cash sorted before you go – and tuck in.

Issued by Sainsbury's Finance

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