Truffle dogs gently dig precious truffles from the Autumn earth. Over damp forests covered in fallen leaves, we follow our truffle dog as he leads us to yet another treasure. The experience of dog, man and nature in a hidden forest in the hills of Bologna is magical. And, the sent of these precious tubers, white truffles being most sought after and expensive, permeate the air. The walk, the outdoor air and the excitement of searching for truffles inspires a hearty appetite for a traditional lunch in our favorite trattoria with a full course Chef’s Tasting Menu with the protagonist of every course is
the truffle.
14 Dec 2025
19 – Dolce Natale
Music in the kitchen, almonds toasting and a busy oven that is always baking – this is Marie Lucia’s recipe for biscotti pratesi. Coming from a family of pastry makers in the sleepy town of Prata Sannita, she keeps her Italian heritage alive through cooking, baking, music and family. As she tells me about recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook, she takes a moment to rotate the pans of anisette biscotti that are baking in the oven. She is exquisite and dainty, and her dark brown eyes match her thick, brown hair. Marie Lucia, who’s named after her grandmother, is my mother.
28 Aug 2025
18 – Cooking In The Seasons
28 Aug 2025
17 – Amalfi Coast Lemons
10 Mar 2025
16 – Melius Pompei
28 Feb 2025
15 – Tre Sorelle
18 Oct 2024
14 Reale Vineyard
11 Oct 2024
13 Montalcino
4 Jun 2024
12 – It’s a Dream Place – Stories & Recipes of Food, Love and the Amalfi Coast
Elizabeth Berg, award-winning New York Times bestselling author says, “This is a dream cookbook. Who in the world wouldn’t want to try ‘Catch of the Day for a Beautiful Woman of the Sea?’ But in addition to being a cookbook, it’s a slice of life from the impossibly beautiful Amalfi Coast: how it looks, how it feels, how the interactions with the people there are so soulful and rewarding. It takes a particular kind of person to attract the kinds of magical stories Lauren Birmingham Piscitelli does. And it takes something more to get chefs to give up their recipes. Call this author not only a charming writer, but a sorceress whose company in these pages we are privileged to keep.”
Order here
View Pages
25 Jan 2024
10 – Dazzling Bologna
Bologna's piazza dazzles – it's like stepping into an old-fashioned storybook filled with ancient palazzos and bell towers, cobblestone walkways while the scent of Bolognese lasagne is everywhere. Join Rino and Lauren as they travel through Bologna, share their knowledge on local cuisine, where to dine and shop and how to drive a Ferrari.
30 Aug 2023
09 – The Geometry of Italian Pasta
In Italy, there are over 1,500 pasta types, each one with its traditional sauce. Tune in and learn how Rino and Lauren mix, roll, prepare and teach you about the geometric shapes and sizes of Italian pasta!!!
28 Dec 2022
08 – Michelin-Star Chef Karime Lopez Dazzles at Gucci L’Osteria in Florence
Under the tutelage of Michelin-Star Chef Massimo Botturo, Chef Lopez is wowing guests from around the world with her delicate delicious creations. Click to listen to our podcast.
23 Oct 2022
07 – The Pope’s Pastry Chef
The scene is delicious. Creamy butter is scented with vanilla, then sugar is carefully whipped in a silver mixer. As the butter transforms into a light and airy texture, a heavenly scent zests the air. In the far corner, a pasticciere, pastry maker, donning a tall white chef’s hat carefully weighs out chopped candied orange that will be added to the batter. Another baker lays out rows of brown paper baking liners that will soon cradle the delicate batter. They’ll be baked into beautiful beauties called panettone, an Italian sweet bread. Follow me to Italy as Chef Salvatore tells me his story on how he first started
9 Sept 2022
06 – Cooking with Italy’s Famous Singing Butcher Dario Cecchini
Rolling Tuscan hills, the scent of grapes permeating the air and the sleepy town of Panzano in Tuscany. Meet world-famous Dario Cecchini in his butcher shop Antica Macelleria Cecchini as we travel to Tuscany. A welcoming door is left open and the song Volare by Domenico Modugno plays on. Inside, a small crowd has already gathered.
There’s a party atmosphere, everyone is sipping Chianti wine, and it’s only 10am on a Sunday morning. Dario sings as he cuts the Chianina Bistecca, Tuscan steak! Experience Tuscan food and wine of a lifetime!
21 Jul 2022
05 – Experience La Dolce Vita, Fall In Love, Get Married!
As soon as you land in Roma Fiumicino Airport you can feel the vibe of La Dolce Vita - Passport control men who wink and make conversation and suntanned Italians sipping caffès at the bar exchanging conversations about anything. Stay a while and fall in love or maybe even marry.
17 Jul 2022
04 – Cross the Ponte Vecchio, Enjoy A Creamy Gelato & Discover The Enchanting Medici Family – Florence
Walk along cobblestone pathways, cross the Ponte Vecchio, discover Renaissance Florence and Catherine Medici in the City of Art! Enjoy a creamy Florentine gelato - something else that Florence is famous for! Bring your sketch pad and imagination and let’s go to Florence!
18 Jun 2022
03 – Truffle Hunting In Emilia Romagna
Tie on your aprons and pack your bags because we are going on a truffle hunt with Signor Alberto in the hills of Bologna! Follow me to Italy and learn how!!!
16 Jun 2022
02 – Cooking Vacations Ingredients To Success
Love to cook? Join us in our Italian kitchen and learn how to prepare antipasto, fresh pasta,
main courses and delicious desserts. Cooking Vacations offers hands-on cooking classes and cultural tours in Italy’s 20 regions designed by Lauren. earn to cook traditional Italian recipes with excellent Chefs, local expert cooks, Nonnas, pastry artisans, and bread and pizza makers. Our Italian culinary holidays include market, vineyard and cultural landmark tours. We are Italian and share our love for cooking in our culinary vacations with you.
23 May 2022
01 – Falling In Love In Italy – Introduction
In our first podcast, learn how Lauren moves to Positano in southern Italy, meets Rino - an Italian race car driver, falls in love and gets married in an Italian wedding gown.
Italy is a dream place! The people, the food and lifestyle. From its bustling caffès, lively piazzas, and colorful outdoor markets. There’s Ponte Vecchio, Piazza Navona and the cerulean seas of the Amalfi Coast. Travel with your host, Lauren Birmingham Piscitelli, travel, learn how to cook, and maybe, even fall in love.
Subscribe to our Cooking Vacations podcast on ITunes/Apple Podcast and be sure to leave a 5 star, delicious review!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
11,395
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
21
Social presence
0
YouTube
72
Engagement
32
Host of Cooking Vacations - Follow Me To Italy With Lauren?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
