Why do you like travelling with your readers on our tours ?
I’ve been fortunate to travel to these destinations in France and Italy on many occasions on my own. I have hosted a half dozen tours with Absolutely Southern France and, prior to that, had a decade of experience leading culinary groups to other areas of southern France. I feel they’re some of the most beautiful, charming, and sensuous destinations in the world. Of course, they also have extraordinary flavors! I love sharing these exceptional destinations with readers and other guests. I love to see their pleasure and sense of discovery as a part of these insiders’ culinary tours.
Why do your readers join you on our trips?
They think (and I hope!) that I can give them an insiders’ perspective, since I have spent a great deal of time in these locales, back to when I was a college student. I’ve been writing about food and teaching cooking classes for decades now, so am experienced at the professional side of this. I have an accessible, friendly, down to earth style that meshes well with our local tour director, Absolutely Southern France’s Nancy McGee. I think we create a winning combination.
What are some of the perks / advantages to travelling with you on our culinary tours?
Oh, definitely the food and wine! But there’s so much more. I think I set a relaxed upbeat tone for the week. If the trip is one with cooking classes, I try to give my guests the chance to problem solve, and really come to understand how to cook, rather than just follow a recipe. And afterward, participants can check in with me, more or less forever, for advice on food, cooking, and travel.
Do the participants approach you for writer’s advice?
No but I’m certainly open to talking with any participants about the writing process, or putting cookbooks together. Most of my guests tend to be people mid-career or beyond, so I don’t think many are looking to gain this as a new skill though. They’re probably looking for more time to relax than work more. 🙂
Do the participants ask you about your sources of inspiration?
Of course. I love the interactive process with the guests, and getting to see our destinations and activities with them through the excitement and sense of discovery in their eyes. Also, they come to these weeks with varying levels of cooking experience and interest, which inspires me to create or change up activities that appeal to all.
Are the participants sources of inspiration? If so, how?
The participants do often ask me how I fell into the culinary world and what inspired/inspires my writing and teaching. It truly can be anything, but often comes from experiences in foreign countries, sampling different styles of food preparation and combinations of spices and flavors than are most common to me. While I focus greatly on food, the architecture, the art, virtually everything cultural inspires me. I love this sense of discovery, and sharing it with the tour participants.
How do you interact with them? How do you make the trip special for them?
I’m a very active host, and participate in all activities, but try to be easy going about letting people make their own discoveries. In advance of these trips, I typically am in touch with participants by email, text, phone, and/or Zoom to give them a sense of what to expect, and find out what might especially appeal to them. That might be be something like connecting someone with special wine interest with one with one of our sommeliers or wine shop owners, or just pointing out where someone can shop to find items of interest to them.
Do some of the participants join you on our trips even if they haven’t read your books? If so, why?
Certainly, and they’re most welcome. Having been fortunate enough to receive 4 James Beard Awards for my cookbooks, though, gives me credibility in the culinary world whether people actually have ever read anything I’ve written.
Do you have a special moment or anecdote to share about your travels with readers?
One of the most special moments is when we’re sitting down together around the table for a meal, especially after a few days, when the participants have bonded. The sense of community–of family–that develops is heart-warming, and gives us all such a sense of being a part of something greater than ourselves.
Cheryl would love to have you join her on our 2026 culinary tours
Excited About Food in Basque Country, France & Spain
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Enjoy the best pintxos in lively, traditional tapas bars on the #1 food tour in the world in San Sebastian.
- Discover the village of Espelette, famous for its namesake chili pepper. Take part in a hands-on workshop using Espelette peppers in regional recipes.
- Indulge in a Michelin-starred lunch at Cheryl’s favorite restaurant in San Sebastian prepared by renowned chef Elena Arzak.
- Savour local delicacies in Bayonne on a private ham tasting at a family-owned charcuterie and on an artisanal chocolate tour to the best chocolatiers in town.
- Visit the striking Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, a UNESCO-listed icon of modern architecture and contemporary art.
- Sample innovative underwater-aged wines from a pioneering local winery in the beautiful bay of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
- Meet traditional Basque artisans: from beret makers to espadrille crafters, weavers, and the makers of the makhila, the traditional Basque walking stick.
- Head to a countryside sheep farm for an unforgettable tasting of Ossau-Iraty, one of France’s most acclaimed and award-winning cheeses.heir workshops
Excited About Food in France & Italy
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- French Riviera
- Immerse yourself in an authentic French pastry workshop led by a master chef
- Dine like the rich and famous at the legendary Colombe d’Or in St. Paul de Vence—where artists, celebrities, and icons have gathered for decades
- Step into a world of fragrances in Grasse, the perfume capital of the world, with a guided visit to the historic Fragonard perfumery.
- Explore the Picasso Museum at Château Grimaldi in Antibes, where the artist once lived and worked, now home to a collection of his original masterpieces.
- Enjoy tea and pastries prepared by the executive pastry chef at Hotel Belles Rives, the former home of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
- Discover the spectacular hilltop village of Eze and the Baroness Rothschild’s gardens at Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild
- Northern Italy
- Embark on a truffle hunt in the lush Piedmont countryside guided by local experts and their skilled truffle dogs.
- Discover the grandeur of Turin with a guided tour of the majestic House of Savoy royal palace
- Soak in the atmosphere of the vibrant Ventimiglia market, famed for its irresistible cashmere, leather goods, and local charm.
- Embark on a VIP food tour in Turin with Michelin starred chef for high tea, followed by a full Piemontese tasting menu.
- Savor one of Italy’s most prestigious wines, on an exclusive Barolo wine tasting experience.
- Add a dose of nostalgia and fun to your piedmont adventure winding your way through rolling hills of piedmont in a retro Fiat 500
Pop in an visit Cheryl here
If you are an author and would like us to design a tour for you to travel with your audience, we’ll make it happen.
emma@tourwithabsolutely.com
