Featured Destination: Emilia Romagna, Italy
Culinary Explorations: The Food + Wine of the Emilia Romagna region with Emiko Davies and Marco Lami
October 1 - 8, 2025
In a country renowned throughout the world for its incredible cuisine, the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy stands out as a gastronomic center for Italian food. Home of Parmigiano Regiano, Tagliatelle al Ragù (pasta with a Bolognese sauce), Prosciutto di Parma, Aceto Balsamico (Balsamic Vinegar), and Lambrusco (sparkling red wine)—just to name a few—this region has deep culinary and wine traditions. On this culinary journey, we’ll join cookbook author and food writer, Emiko Davies, and sommelier, Marco Lami, as they unveil the secrets of this foodie paradise, from the bustling streets of Bologna to the serene countryside of Reggio Emilia.
Alongside Emiko, you’ll learn to shop like an Italian, visiting morning markets to find local ingredients. With her expert guidance, you’ll have hands-on cooking instruction to help you transform fresh, seasonal ingredients into regional specialities. Marco will share his expertise on local wines, giving you access to small production growers and hidden gems of the Emilia-Romagna wine scene. You’ll learn about the grapes from this area, the blending and maturing processes, and how to pair wines to elevate your meals.
Together with Emiko and Marco, we journey to several smaller towns of the area, visiting some of their favorite artisanal producers, as we deepen our appreciation for the iconic foods of the region. They’ll add context and insight as we taste our way across Emilia-Romagna. You’ll visit cheese makers to learn about Parmigiano Regiano, understanding the process from the types of cows selected to the aging process. You’ll engage with some of the best producers of Prosciutto and Culatello, learning about everything that goes into to building the nuanced layers of flavor and texture in these cured meats. You’ll explore an Acetaia, a vinegar cellar, using barrels from the 18th century to age their Aceto Balsamico. You’ll taste wine grown on family vineyards, blending traditional methods with modern sensibilities. With each visit, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look into the passion and skill that goes into creating some of the most delicious food and wine in the world.
Where are we heading in 2026?
We have lots of new destinations in planning and can’t wait to share them with you soon!
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Featured Artist: Maryanne Moodie
Learn modern fiber art!
Join Maryanne Moodie+ Ace Camps Travel in Portugal
October 28 - November 4, 2025
Weaving + Fiber Art with Maryanne Moodie
Travel to Portugal with renowned artist and author, Maryanne Moodie. Together, we’ll explore the vivid and thriving textile scene in Lisbon, then retreat to the idyllic countryside of the Alentejo Coast where we’ll dive into the world of weaving and fiber art.
While in Lisbon, we’ll spend a full-day exploring Lisbon’s contemporary textile and fiber art scene. With the help of a local guide, we’ll visit off-the-beaten path galleries, studios, and artist residences. These experiences will show us how Lisbon has become instrumental to the global textile scene and help us gather inspiration and materials for our multi-day, hands-on workshop with Maryanne. We’ll also spend a bit of time time visiting some of the vintage shops in Lisbon—one of Maryanne’s favorite hobbies—where we’ll talk about how we can use vintage textiles in our weavings and gather some fun finds to use in our rag-rug weaving project.
After enjoying the urban scene in Lisbon, we’ll transition to a rural retreat, where we’ll spend four days weaving and creating our own fiber art pieces with Maryanne. To kick things off, Maryanne will dedicate a full day to teaching us the core weaving techniques. Then, we’ll spend time taking the techniques we learned and applying them to our own, unique projects. Maryanne will spend time discussing her approach to composition and how she uses intuition as her guide. She’ll also teach the fundamentals of color theory and how to apply these fundamentals to our own projects. On our final day together, Maryanne will share one of her favorite weaving techniques—how to create a rag rug from a mix of modern fibers and vintage textiles.
Why book with us?
WHY BOOK WITH ACE CAMPS?
SMALL GROUPS
All of our trips have always had a small group focus. Join a diverse global community of curious minds who seek cultural immersion and connection.
A DECADE OF DEDICATED SERVICE
For over 10 years we've been sharing the very best creative and culinary facets of the world. We’ve taken guests around the globe, on incredible learning adventures with like-minded people. As a responsible business, we've always been committed to being there for our travellers and the communities we visit.
EXPERT EXPERIENCES
Our intricate network of local experts and personal connections allows us to offer our guests access to experiences and events that you simply could not get on your own.
Learn more about Ace Camps Travel and check out our FAQ’s
A Recipe for Travel
A delight from Southern France
A Recipe for Travel: Provence, France
Recipe by Chef + tour Host Alison Bell
The name of this delicious dish comes from the Provençal word for capers- tapenas- and to be a true tapenade, it must have a very precise ratio of olives, capers, garlic, anchovies, and olive oil. Tapenade is ubiquitous in Provence; found in village markets, in cafés, and at home, where it is generally eaten as an hors d'œuvre. Tapenade, baguette, and a glass of crisp rosé are the perfect pairing. Tapenade can also enhance other dishes- added to a vinaigrette and tossed with boiled new potatoes, used as a stuffing for chicken breasts, mixed with mayonnaise, and served with grilled salmon or dolloped on steaming bowls of Daube de Boeuf Provencal.
Ingredients
1 cup pitted black olives (Kalamata or Niçoise) or a combination of black and green olives
1 tbsp capers
2 cloves chopped garlic
1 tbsp lemon juice
2-3 tbsps olive oil
zest of 1 orange
Optional:minced red onion
fresh herbs such as basil, thyme, or parsley
1 anchovy or 1⁄2 tsp anchovy paste
Method
You can make the tapenade in a food processor, by chopping the ingredients by hand or in a mortar and pestle.
In a food processor combine the pitted olives, capers, optional anchovy, garlic, and lemon juice.
Pulse until combined (and keep as chunky or smooth as you like).
Add 2-3 tablespoons of good olive oil and pulse again until combined.
Stir in the zest of 1 orange. Adjust seasoning (you may want a bit more lemon).
You can also add in minced red onion or chopped, fresh herbs such as basil, thyme, or parsley.
Profile: The Women of Baobab Batik
Baobab Batik is a social enterprise based in Eswatini, Southern Africa, founded by Els Hooft in 1991. She wished to follow her passion of creating batiks, as well as offering sustainable work opportunities for women. Since then Baobab Batik has evolved into a thriving enterprise employing 35 artisans full time.
Every Baobab Batik product is handmade by their team; the artisans combine their skills and talents to create the finished product. Their Vision is to be; A leading example, in Swaziland and beyond, of a social enterprise using thought leadership and innovation to empower women and develop the batik art form. Learn more about Baobab Batik by watching this video below.
OUR 2025 ESWATINI CRAFTS ACE CAMP OPENS FOR BOOKING SOON
AUGUST 2025
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Lisbon Guide
Lisbon Shopping and Restaurant Guide
A guide to our favourite things around Lisbon
Shops, Restaurants, Culture & more!
Lisbon has long been one of our favourite places to travel. From markets to museums , beautiful crafts and picture perfect views this city is one not to miss.
Lisbon Shops
A Vida Portuguesa Multiple locations in Lisbon ~ This shop is a must visit for beautiful high quality Portuguese crafts and gourmet packaged foods.
Cortiço & Netos Small, stylish shop offering a large selection of vintage & new tiles (azulejos) with colorful motifs.
D’Olival Small shop carrying artisan-made goods from local artists and brands. They have a nice selection of olive oils.
Caza das Vellas Historic shop + manufacturer of high quality candles since 1789
Conserveira de Lisboa This is *the* Lisbon cannery store, selling sardines and other tinned fish. It’s a great place to pick up some local gifts.
Gin Lovers Bar Embaixada They offer an assortment of locally made gins.
Mercado Biologico do Pricipe Real Organic farmer’s market held every Saturday morning. Across the street from Embaixada.
By Stro Good quality Portuguese made textiles
Burel Chiado Burel offer a wide variety of 100% handmade wool products and accessories.
Ceramicas na Linha A great shop to see the wide variety of Portuguese pottery.
Kintu Studio A small curated shop of independent Portuguese designers.
Depozito Home Decor Shop
Companhia Portugueza Specialty Tea shop in a beautiful space
Benamôr 1925 Benamôr was created in 1925 by an apothecary who created miraculous ointments.
Lisbon Restaurants
Arkhe - Elevated Vegetarian
A Obra - Casual, but excellent Portuguese/cash only
Season - Modern Portuguese
Nannarella - Elevated Ice Cream + Sorbets
Essencial - Local menu focused on seafood & meat dishes, with an extensive wine list
Toca da Raposa - Cocktail Bar
Estrela da Bica - Fresh Market focus
ZeroZero - Comfort Italian with a great patio
Prado - Modern Seasonal Dishes
Alma - High-end / Avant Garde
BouBou's - Modern Portuguese Bistro
Hikidashi - Modern Japanese Tavern
Ponto Final - Homey Portuguese fair with a rustic, waterfront patio offering classic plates & wine. This is a bit of trek to get to and best to go on a sunny day as the real experience is to sit on the waterfront patio with a stunning view of Lisbon across the water. Take the ferry to Cacilhas and walk along the seafront.
O Batel - Beautiful seaside restaurant 30 minutes drive from Lisbon. Great Seafood.