From its soft and chewy pizza doughs to the fresh creamy textures and comforting aromas of its pasta dishes topped with mouth-watering cheeses, it is little surprise that Italian food is one of the most revered cuisines in the world.

We don’t know about you but for the team at Luxury Gold breakfast is our favorite meal of the day. We’d even go one step further than that and say that nothing beats a luxury hotel breakfast. Imagine you wake up in your extraordinary room ready for a full day of sightseeing with your traveling concierge, you need a meal that will set you up for a day of touring. With Luxury Gold you can enjoy complimentary room service or go down to the hotel restaurant where your senses will be awakened with fresh juices and fruits. Follow that up with any number of local delicacies. Are you ready to go on a journey to find your golden breakfast?

English Breakfast on British Royale

Rubens at the Palace in London

Receive the full royal treatment at the Rubens At The Palace Hotel, located opposite London’s famous Buckingham Palace. Celebrate the very best of British culture in five-star luxury, from the red tail-coated doormen to themed bedrooms and a traditional English Breakfast.

At the Rubens At The Palace Hotel your English Breakfast is a sight to behold and a delicacy to savor. This substantial cooked breakfast comes with your choice of bacon, sausages, eggs, black pudding and the quintessential tomatoes and mushrooms. There is some discussion within the team if baked beans should come as standard to dip the rest into but that is a blog post onto itself. Don’t forget to add a side of toast!

If you’re a vegetarian the Rubens caters for you too with a vegetarian option of the English Breakfast. Although we would recommend their avocado toast with a poached egg. Simply put, delicious!

American Breakfast on The Sumptuous Soul of America

American Breakfast. Photo by Chad Montano

You’ll need a good and filling breakfast before you explore Chicago with a 90-minute architectural river cruise to discover how the Great Fire of 1871 paved the way for the birth of the skyscraper. In the United States breakfast often consists or either a cereal or an egg-based dish. However, a stack of pancakes with copious amounts of butter and maple syrup are also a firm favorite. If pancakes don’t tickle your taste buds perhaps waffles with fruit? Cranberry juice is also an American staple at breakfast.

Biscuits and Gravy

When traveling in the South you’ll see biscuits and gravy on the menu in many restaurants. The biscuits are a type of small baked roll with a crumbly interior. The white gravy is often made using pork sausage crumbles and dairy-containing ingredients, such as butter and heavy cream. This creates a rich and hearty savory breakfast that has become a classic.

Japanese Breakfast Majestic Japan

Japanese Breakfast

With over 100 years of hospitality experience, the five-star Imperial Hotel Osaka places you along the Okawa River in the heart of vibrant Osaka. Stay in the midst of one of Japan’s best cherry-blossom-viewing locations and enjoy a traditional Japanese Breakfast.

Unlike many other kinds of breakfast you’ll experience, a traditional Japanese breakfast consists of foods that make up a complete meal. Usually savory, the breakfast could conceivably be enjoyed at lunch or dinner. Typically made up of steamed rice, miso soup and a protein such as grilled fish with side dishes that vary. Some favorites being tsukemono (Japanese pickles), nori (dried seasoned seaweed), natto (fermented soybeans), kobachi (small side dishes which usually consist of vegetables).

Although the above might seem like a lot of food, portion sizes are small and the meal is not intended to be heavy or overly filling.

Iberian Breakfast on Spain & Portugal in Style

Photo by Mateusz Feliksik

Both in Spain and Portugal breakfast tends to be small, though not of course for our guests in hotels as there’s a smorgasbord of choice. For locals however, a croissant or other sweet bread with cafe con leche (milk coffee Spain) or meia-de-leite (milk coffee Portugal). There could also be bread, cheese and cold-cut slices of meat. In Spain that meat would be cured ham otherwise known as jamon.

In Spain a popular ‘breakfast’ is actually elevenses or a midmorning snack. In Spain this may involve tostada con tomate: toasted bread with crushed fresh tomato and olive oil added to it. Some people even rub garlic on the bread. Simple but very tasty. And of course, with another coffee. Another favorite for this time is a big slice of tortilla, the Spanish omelet with potato and onion inside.

Another drink that’s often consumed at breakfast in both countries is fresh orange juice, as Spain and Portugal grow lots of oranges. In cafes, oranges are put through a juicing machine and the juice is served in a glass often with a sachet of sugar at the side so that it can be sweetened to taste.

South African Breakfast on Spectacular South Africa 

Photo by Melissa Walker Horn

In Kruger National Park, adventure out on a private open-air safari in search of the Big Five. Led by professional trackers, this once in a lifetime experience unfolds the largest game reserve in South Africa. You’ll definitely want to have had a good breakfast so you can be alert when seeking out the wildlife!

Situated in the Sabi Sands, which boasts one of the planet’s highest concentrations of animal species, the Lion Sands Lodges offer exquisite treehouse-style rooms, luxury suites with private decks and plunge pools, and an open-air lounge and dining area, overlooking the Sabie River.

Here you will be able to enjoy the South African twist on an English Breakfast with boerewors, a local sausage, replacing the traditional pork sausage in England. Or a more simple but just as satisfying bowl of porridge. South Africans use a malted sorghum grain which brings a rich flavor and high amount of energy to start your day.

Truly, one of life’s great delights is cheese. Whether served after dinner with Ligurian olives, melted into a mornay sauce or simply between two slices of freshly baked bread, it can be either an elegant or a simple pleasure.

“Dessert without cheese is like a beauty with only one eye”– Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, author of The Physiology of Taste

Although you may be able to get Limburger or Camembert in your local deli, nothing beats tasting it in the region that it is created. The wonderful news is that many of the world’s best cheese producers have opened their borders again and the time is ripe to explore them. If you’re seeking some off the beaten track experiences, then perhaps you should choose a luxury guided tour to one of these incredible destinations. Discover the small towns where specialty cheeses originate and perhaps uncover some new cheeses in surprising places. It’s the perfect excuse to feast your way through your vacation.

From the Oldest to the Bubbliest

Fondue in Switzerland. Photo by angela pham on Unsplash

A land of snow-capped peaks and bucolic meadows, Switzerland is not just famous for its chocolate, but also its cheeses. Many people will associate Emmentaler with the country, instantly recognizable from its signature eyes. However, cheese lovers will find there are many more varieties to enjoy on the Majestic Switzerland tour with Luxury Gold.

Visit La Gruyères, the mecca of cheese in Switzerland, on the eighth day of your luxury tour. There you will experience the ultimate treat, a bubbling fondue made with the local delicacy. Don’t miss the chance to try Sbrinz, one of the oldest cheeses, that was first mentioned in official records in 70 A.D. It pairs well with a glass of Barolo.

The Cheese Regions of France

Camembert Cheese. Photo by Margaret Jaszowska on Unsplash

Visitors to France are spoiled for choice with the variety of cheeses on offer. In Bordeaux where it’s customary to have cheese with your wine, try a velvety Merlot with a flavorful Tome de Brebis with Piment d’Espelette. The famous cheese cave at Baud et Millet houses over 100 varieties and is an excellent place for cheese tasting tours.

In Normandy, you can explore the Cheese Museum and President Farm, where Camembert originates. If you’re venturing to the French Alps, try Reblochon, Tomme de Savoie and Beaufort cheeses. Travel on Luxury Gold’s French Vogue tour and enjoy a gourmet food walk, which will take you to tiny cheese shops of Paris.

Scotland and England

Stilton Blue Cheese. Photo by Coombe Castle

Although Scotland isn’t the first place one would think of when it comes to cheese, travelers will find an excellent selection of farmhouse cheeses in the small country. From the marbled Cambus O’May that melts in your mouth, to the salty and tangy Lanark Blue that is created from raw sheep’s milk. England is famous for its Stilton, as the town of the same name can be found in Cambridgeshire, though the cheese is no longer made there. The crusted, blue veined cheese is often served in celery or broccoli soup and sometimes blended into a mouth watering sauce for steak.

In the rolling valleys of the Cotswolds, you’ll see where the semi-hard Gloucester cheese is made and an annual cheese rolling competition takes place. Guests traveling on the British Royale tour can discover more about cheesemaking in the United Kingdom and sample some of the delightful offerings, including Stilton, found on many restaurant menus.

A Feast for All the Senses

Mozzarella cheese. Photo by Sebastian Coman Photography from Pexels

In a country where cheese is central to their national dishes, it’s no surprise that Italy has some well-known cheesemakers. Mozzarella, gorgonzola, pecorino, ricotta, Parmigano-Reggiano – Italy has such a diverse range of cheese tastes that you could spend your whole vacation trying a new one each day. Join the Ultimate Italy tour and make sure you sample a few on your 12-day adventure.

If you’re journeying to Sardinia, you may come across the controversial  casu marzu containing live insect larvae that is exclusively made on the island. It is a traditional delicacy on the island, but it is actually illegal in the EU and the United States.

The Region of Don Quixote and Manchego

Manchego Cheese. Photo by the Cheese Connoisseur

Those familiar with Spain will most likely have tried Manchego, the sheep’s milk cheese that comes from the herds of Albacete, Toledo and Ciudad Real. It’s buttery flavor goes well with a glass of Tempranillo and it can almost be spicy when matured for a lengthy period. Join the Spain & Portugal in Style tour and you’ll certainly see Manchego on sale at the markets of Andalusia on Day 7 of your journey. If you venture further north, you’ll find Basque specialties such as Ossau-Iraty and the smoky Idiazabal.

A Well-Kept Secret

Gamalost Cheese. Photo by cheesemaking.com

Travelers on the Timeless Scandinavia tour may be surprised to discover that Norway is home to two world champion cheeses, Kraftkar, a blue cheese and Fanaost, a semi hard cheese that comes from a tiny dairy farm south of Bergen. The moist, coarse Gamalost is a unique cheese that is celebrated in a four day festival every year in the town of Vik, set amid the western fjords of Norway. It has a distinctive smell and is enjoyed with buttered bread and cranberry jelly.

The World’s Largest Cheese Producer

Rogue Creamery Rogue River Blue. Photo by the Cheese Connoisseur

The United States produces the most cheese every year and it also exports the most cheese around the world. However, does that mean that it has best cheese, or is it simply quantity over quality? That’s no longer up for debate, as Rogue Creamery’s Rogue River Blue no.1 took first place at the World Cheese Awards in 2019.

On the Vibrant Quebec and New England tour, you’ll venture into Vermont, which is home to some of the most incredible artisanal cheeses in the country. Try Cabot Clothbound Cheddar with some crisp apple slices or Vermont Shepherd Verano, an earthy cheese made from sheep’s milk.

Canadian Cheese Culture

Allegretto Cheese. photo by scoutmagazine.ca

Samuel de Champlain brought cows from Normandy to Canada in the early 1600s, and thus began the tradition of cheesemaking in the country. Cheddar cheese became one of the main exportable products of dairy farmers for over 50 years, but that declined over the course of the 20th century.

Discover the cheeses of Quebec on the Indulgence in Eastern Canada tour. The area is home to over 100 cheesemakers and you’ll enjoy a tasting picnic on day 6 of your vacation. Look out for the creamy Cantonnier, with notes of hazelnut and the sweeter Allegretto.

Pair with a Fruity Red

Gippsland Blue. photo by Two Providores

In a country that has established itself on the international wine scene, it’s perhaps predictable that it has a robust cheese market too. Gippsland Blue is aged in underground cellars to develop blue vein characteristics; this is a wonderful accompaniment to a sweet dessert wine. Mandolin is a supple, crumbly cheese from south Australia that develops a rusty red appearance.

If you’re looking for luxury guided travel Down Under, check out Inspiring Australia with Luxury Gold.

Cheese Tastes All Over the World

If you’re craving a cheese tasting experience this summer, then check out Luxury Gold’s last minute specials. Several of the luxury guided tours listed above have great savings right now, or you may even discover a new artisan cheesemaker somewhere unexpected. It’s time to get out and explore again.