Happy Thanksgiving!
When we think of Thanksgiving or giving thanks, we think of family and friends gathering around the dinner table with drinks in hand to relax, enjoy each other’s company and feast! In America, it’s an important holiday largely centering on feasting, quality time and football! After all that food, what else can you do?
The tradition of Thanksgiving originated to celebrate the harvest of the year. Plymouth, Massachusetts is where the first American colony started and its people were known as the pilgrims. After the first harvest, the pilgrims celebrated in November with a meal shared with Native Americans. Thus, Thanksgiving was born.
There is no official Thanksgiving in Italy like that we know of in America. There are many other days of thanks for other reasons including patron saints. Generally, the typical Thanksgiving meal (turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and plenty of pies) is not served in Italy. Some restaurants will accommodate a special menu for a private group–especially in a city like Rome or Florence where there are many different nationalities constantly traveling through.
What we’ve found very popular is a group of friends and family looking to enjoy Thanksgiving together while learning how to cook. A cooking experience all can enjoy over Thanksgiving is definitely very popular. A Toast to Travel’s Cooking Under the Tuscan Sun experience fits the bill perfectly. Each day, you will cook a meal from start to finish together while enjoying music, fun, and wine. You will learn from an authentic Italian chef all the secrets of the Italian cuisine and then sit down with your friends and family to enjoy the meal you’ve all just cooked together. It’s a very bonding experience and the unlimited wine doesn’t hurt either.
During the experience, you also have the opportunity to hunt truffles, explore Florence and Siena, tour and taste wine at a stunning winery in Chianti and enjoy relaxing yoga classes to burn off some of those calories. All the dishes we cook are very natural (as is commonly the case in Italy) so you can indulge a bit more without the guilt. We learn to make starters, fresh handmade pastas, pasta sauces, second courses, side dishes, and decadent desserts! All while staying in a cozy, sleepy villa in Tuscany.
If you are looking for a different experience in 2019 for Thanksgiving for your friends and family, please contact us soon so we can hold the week for you. Thanksgiving should be enjoyed to the fullest–filled with fun, authentic and life enhancing experiences. We have one for you to enjoy!
Live like a local in Tuscany so you can enjoy it to the fullest and get the most out of your experience with your hosts, Natalie and John, at A Toast to Travel!