We keep having heated discussions in our home. Heated, because we are passionate about the topics and heated because the topic of cooking is usually involved. When we were expecting our daughter, I knew it was my last opportunity to take those weekend immersion classes at the Viking store nearby. They offered a few multi-weekend series on knife skills, advanced culinary techniques and - most importantly - fundamentals. I'm still kicking myself for not taking the plunge and doing it - regardless of how "busy" I seemed at the time. Now, of course, I know the true meaning of busy. The thought of disappearing for hours at a time is laughable. I can hardly step out of the room without being missed and called for by my little toddler. But my passion for the culinary arts has only blossomed. Our TiVo is packed to the gills with Giada's shows (she has three different shows) and my husband is now a big Alton Brown fan. Keep in mind, travel is our absolute top shared passion. Which begs the question: how could one combine cuisine, children and globetrotting into one satisfactory experience? Enter Sur La Table's Six Day Culinary Immersion Tour in northern Italy. You'll have to secure your own transportation to get there, but once in Liguria you'll be treated to five-star accommodations and celebrity treatment. Here's what you should expect:

From the rolling green hills outlining Italy’s central valley to the breathtaking views of Liguria’s rugged coastline, you’ll experience the essence of Italian cooking in two beautiful and unique regions, each rich in history and culinary tradition. June is a perfect time of the year to visit Italy, and our third trip there will be the most amazing yet.

On this tour, designed especially for us by Italy’s top culinary institute, Academia Barilla, you’ll see the coast by train, take hands-on classes, eat amazing meals and more. First, you’ll spend three days in picturesque Parma, a 2000-year-old capital rich in art, culture and history. Next, you’ll enjoy two days exploring the stunning coastline of the Cinque Terre—five bewitching towns nestled in the cliffs above the Ligurian Sea.

It's a rich mix of everything I adore. Hands-on cooking classes, delectable dining, European travel, lots of socialization, an opportunity to test out my language skills and - of course - I could bring my family along for the ride. You can get more details at Sur la Table. For me, the only thing that would make this better is were just Giada, Todd and their little one joining the three of us. I imagine we'd have a blast touring the coastline and keeping our two year olds entertained while we laughed, ate, cooked and bonded. What? It's my culinary dream and I can imagine it any way I choose :)