this is life in austin & aspen

It’s the weekend, so let’s all dream of vacations, particularly those in my beloved Italy, shall we? Petite Peche & Co., a boutique culinary travel food company based in Austin, recently released its schedule of culinary tours throughout 2011, complete with French and Italian destinations. Travelers can choose a “city” or “country” experience, both of which provide insider access to artisan producers and seasonal epicurean events.

I traveled to Italy solo when I was 20, and I absolutely loved it. Because I was traveling solo, I got treated more like a local than most women do in Italy, despite my limited Italian vocabulary! Tours like this allow you to see a distinctly more local side of Italy with experts who know the country—but speak both English and Italian!

I’d be lost in France, I fear, so The City Tour of Paris would be perfect: it includes culinary walks and market tours, as well as introductions to the chefs and proprietors of renowned restaurants, boutiques, huileries, patisseries and chocolatiers. In Provence and Tuscany (country tours), most evenings are reserved for hands-on classes in the basics of regional cooking. Most tours in 2011 are seven-day, six-night trips, and each tour coincides with major seasonal culinary happenings like truffle season, lavender, olive oil (years ago I met fellow travelers who were traveling across Italy just working in the olive harvests!) and wine harvesting, or festivals celebrating citrus, almonds, or cherries.

New in 2011, Petite Peche’s “Signature Tours” offer two 10-day experiences: Christmas in Paris or a spring trip to Paris and Provence. Both include five-star stays at top Parisian addresses, private visits to some of Paris’ most glamorous destinations, multi-coursed dining in famed eateries, opera and art. The spring tour is followed by a peaceful week in Provence.

Dreaming of getting away? Petite Peche & Co 2011 Tour Schedule:

The Classic Tours

5/1 – 5/7          Florence & Tuscany                           $3,950

6/12 – 6/18      Provence – Lavender Harvest            $3,250

9/11 – 9/17      Provence – Olive & Wine Harvest      $3,250 (Wait List)

9/18 – 9/24      Provence – Olive & Wine Harvest      $3,250

10/30 – 11/5    Florence – The Truffle Hunt                $3,950

The Signature Tours

5/18 – 5/28      Paris & Provence – “Our France” tour PLATINUM $6,500 /RUBY $5,500

12/21- 12/27    Paris – Christmas in Paris tourPLATINUM $6,500 /RUBY $5,500

For more info, petitepecheandco.com