Planning a trip to Germany? Our friends from A Cook Not Mad share why Cologne is not to be missed, and what foods you MUST try when you're there! From Kölsch beer, to mouth-watering dishes, they dive right into the food scene and share the goods with us:

Ordering coffee is a pretty simple thing right?  Single or double espressos, a latte, or drip coffee with cream. In Vienna however, the coffee culture is a whole different ballgame. On their recent trip to Europe, our friends at A Cook Not Mad explored the many coffee houses of Vienna, Austria and share how to order a coffee along with some helpful tips they learned along the way:

Having recently returned to the province of Quebec after being away, our friends at A Cook Not Mad realized a lot has changed in the past ten years. The Ottawa and Gatineau (Hull sector) are both vying for a place on the foodie radar.  Hip eateries are popping up everywhere rivaling some of the top restaurants out west. They highlight their Top 5 favourite places to eat, and what not to miss when visiting the Hull Sector:

A typical Québécois dish that can be found in every casse-croûte is the poutine. Now gaining national popularity, this dish is often served in small town restaurants, bars, and quite popular in ski resorts across Canada.  Our friends Nat and Tim from A Cook Not Mad decided to embrace this cult classic, by embarking on a 'poutine crawl' to see how they compare. Warning: this post will leave you salivating for poutine by the time you finish reading it.

After my first trip to Costa Rica, I have to say that this beautiful country really has it all: White water rafting, rappelling down waterfalls, swimming, surfing, hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, taking in the amazing diversity of plants and animals, and enjoying the delicious and unique drinks and meals.

  Exploring new cultures through food is one of the best things about travel. Contiki Chef Dominique gives us a backstage pass to the amazing food and wine you can experience on site at Chateau de Cruix (France) in this video:     Looking for more information on staying at Chateau de Cruix or travelling with Contiki Holidays? Contact one of our travel consultants at 1-877-967-5302 or visit your closest store.