Inspired Dining with VBT

Savor the best of the region at every meal

At the end of a rewarding day, another reward waits at the table. Maybe some Bordeaux figs with Poitou ham and chevre cheese, paired with a glass of St. Emilion … a steaming bowl of Vietnamese phô, brimming with noodles, slivered beef, and aromatic herbs … hand-rolled bucatini pasta with smoky pancetta and parmigiano reggiano … steamed Maryland blue crabs dusted with Old Bay seasoning, matched by a cold pint of Flying Dog pale ale. You’ve earned the indulgence, and the table is all set for you.

“The beautiful Tuscan landscape, the delicious simple, fresh Tuscan food and the free-flowing wine all competed for the highlights of this trip! AWESOME!”

Elizabeth R., The Tuscan Coast

Cuisine as culture

“You are what you eat.” Argentinean or Austrian, Polish or Provencal, Down East or down South, a culture is largely defined by how it cultivates, cooks, and celebrates the natural bounties of the land, sea, and streams. So of course, food plays an important part in our daily exploration. Typically, we start your tour with a welcome reception where we’ll share a local appetizer—perhaps some Spanish manchego cheese and a glass of Rioja, Dutch cocoa and pastries, or some cheesy Burgundian corniottes with a glass of Beaujolais. It’s just the beginning of what promises to be a culinary adventure….

Most meals are included

All our vacations include daily breakfast, many lunches and most dinners. This adds to the value of your VBT trip in more ways than one. We vary the venues as well as the menus, so every day presents a taste adventure to match the cultural ones you’ll have on the road. Be it a cozy supper in an Italian agriturismo, an Irish farmhouse breakfast, or a candlelit dinner in a French chateau, you’ll enjoy distinctive fare in memorable settings.

Active days require fuel, so we start you off with a hearty breakfast, which may be served buffet-style. We generally enjoy lunch en route, perhaps at a local cafe. We take our included dinners together, and they’re sometimes served family style, with everyone passing platters as we recount the day’s discoveries. We intentionally leave a few meals free so you can try local restaurants on your own. (Hint: your Trip Leader will have the best recommendations.)

Travel globally, eat locally

Things always taste better after you’ve worked up an appetite in the great outdoors. But they’ll taste especially good with VBT, because we only dine at establishments that serve fresh, local ingredients, artfully prepared. Much of our cuisine is organic and frequently, it’s been grown or cultivated right on the premises. In Puglia, for instance, our masseria boasts its own olive grove and press. In France’s Bordeaux region we stay at a hotel serving wines from the family vineyard. In Costa Rica, we sample fresh-roasted coffee right at the family-owned plantation where it’s grown. Count on freshness, and variety (including vegetarian alternatives for those who prefer them).

Our signature picnics

With such glorious surroundings, who could blame you for not wanting to come indoors at mealtimes? So every VBT trip affords you the chance to dine al fresco with one of our famous picnics. We’re not just talking about typical boxed lunches, but delicious samplers of local delicacies hand-picked by your Trip Leaders. Perhaps you’ll savor delicately spiced wursts, homemade apfelstrudel, and a local cheese while admiring the ruined ramparts of a Mosel Valley castle. Walking through a Portuguese village, your Trip Leaders might stop at the local market to pick up tangy azeitão cheese, olives, bottled water and sweet malasadas pastry. Who needs a table when you’ve got the best seat in the house?

A toast to local wines and spirits

From Chianti to the Cotes de Beaune, Mendoza to the Mosel Valley, many of our routes traverse the world’s most celebrated wine-growing regions. Here, you’ll sample the local vintages during winery tours and private tastings, as well as during select meals. There are other occasions that warrant a toast, too—perhaps a visit to a whiskey distillery, a local pub, or a micro-brewery. And the wonderful camaraderie will always inspire you to raise your glass, and your spirits.