New cuisines await in 2024...

Handmade pasta dishes, decadent desserts, hearty homecooked pies...Europe has no shortage of delicious delicacies to try! Why not make 2024 the year you tantalise your taste buds with a few sumptuous new cuisines?  

You’ll savour plenty of local food and drink on one of our small group tours. Here are just a few of the gastronomic experiences you could be enjoying on your next unique Back-Roads Touring adventure: 

Few things are more quintessentially English than a cup of tea. On our Corners of Cornwall tour, you’ll have the opportunity to visit Britain’s very first tea plantation.  

Take a tour of the grounds of Tregothan Estate (a stunning property in its own right) before enjoying a masterclass in tea cultivation from the resident gardening team. Afterwards, you’ll have time to sample various different teas and purchase some as a unique souvenir of your trip. 

If the enchanting Emerald Isle is calling your name in 2024, your taste buds are in for a treat. New cuisines abound, especially along Ireland’s coastline where fresh seafood is available in abundance.  

Galway is particularly well-known for its ocean delights – from Galway rock oysters and locally caught prawns to classic fish and chips and creamy seafood chowder. You’ll have a choice of local restaurants to pick between too, especially along Henry Street and Kirwan’s Lane.  

Is there a more perfect pairing than cheese and wine? We think not. Venture to picture-perfect Pienza on our Tuscan Treats tour to relish regional cheeses, including melt-in-your-mouth Pecorino di Pienza, and rich local wines at a delightfully rustic Tuscan farm.  

This small group tour of Italy also features several other gastronomical excursions that will undoubtedly whet your appetite. Recreate some classic Tuscan dishes during a local cookery class in the Chianti countryside. Or indulge your sweet tooth with a gelato tasting in San Gimignano. 

Italy isn’t the only European destination where you can enjoy an exquisite local tasting experience. San Sebastián on Spain’s sparkling Bay of Biscay is the culinary capital of Basque Country and a major stop on our Highlights of Northern Spain small group tour.  

During your visit, you’ll have plenty of free time to sample new cuisines at the local tapas bars. This includes traditional pintxos (small bites) like fresh anchovies with olives and local guindilla peppers. Delicious! 

Truffles are another wonderful new cuisine to try when in Europe – and we’re not talking about chocolates. These strong-tasting fungi are a delicacy in many countries, including France and Italy, and are typically found in dark woodland areas.  

Add our Italian Indulgence tour to your 2024 itinerary to see firsthand how truffles are gathered in the picture-perfect Piedmont region. Head out into the rolling hills around medieval Alba with a local farmer and his dog who has been expertly trained to hunt for truffles. It truly is a unique culinary experience you’ll likely never forget! 

Feeling tempted to try these authentic new cuisines for yourself? Uncover even more inspiration on our 2024 tours page.