Photo Recap: Our 20th Anniversary Tour

 

Emily Markel Luebcke, Giulio Picchi, and Graham Markel. Ristorante Cibreo, Florence. June 8th, 2012

Emily and Graham were 12 and 9 when I started. Their sweet natures allowed me to travel back and forth all these years. Emily lived with the Picchi/Vitali family for a semester when she was 15 and Giulio was 13. She now has two children, 4 and 6, and he manages Cibreo as heir apparent. Graham has been under the wing of many chefs since then and happens to be a fine cook with a passion for wine making and traveling the world like his mother.

I founded La Cucina al Focolare in 1992 in Reggello, on the grounds of The Fattoria Degli Usignoli. We focus on traditional Tuscan fare, prepared with three wood-fired ovens. Florentine antiques, Fratellini tables and stone floors give an authentic feel.

Set your Own Dates! Private and Custom Group Programs.

The Finkelstein Family +Captain Tony and my son Graham (standing), enjoying lunch aboard our trusty vessel, off of Italy's Amalfi coast.

Each month, we receive inquiries from travelers who are eager to join one of our programs to Italy, India, Spain or Morocco, but who often can't make the dates work with their own busy schedules. In these special cases, we suggest that guests organize a private or custom small group program with Peggy.

Custom programs have included one-on-one cooking tours of Florence and the surrounding countryside, family reunions spent sailing along the Amalfi coast, and a honeymoon in romantic Marrakech. With decades devoted to researching regional cuisine and forming local relationships, visiting a country with Peggy can feel like visiting old friends and family, rather than a foreign land.

"I absolutely loved Peggy--she is so warm and easy to bond with. Not only did we have some great culinary adventures, but we talked a lot about life, love, and our life's aspirations. She became a friend, mentor and 'guru.' I totally went into Peggy withdrawal when I returned home!"
~ Maria Brandriff (Private program in Tuscany, October 2010)


Maria Brandriff in Tuscany. 


Email us for more information about private or small group travel, or leave a message at 1-800-988-2851.



A word from Caroline Finkelstein, at 9-years-old our youngest traveler yet, about her experience sailing the Amalfi coast with her family: "The food, feeling of the boat swaying, and everything else in between was special. Even just spending time with the people I care about was special. Our trip to Capri, Stromboli, Salina, and Rome really taught me that going on a trip doesn't always mean staying in the nicest places, or having everything go the way you planned. It's just important to have fun, and be with the people you care about!"
Caroline Finkelstein and her brother Benjamin soak up the Mediterranean sun.

Benjamin Finkelstein, now an award-winning sailor!