More Cooking School Vacations
Culinary adventures don't always start in exotic places. Here, four North American cooking school vacations as varied as the continent itself.
St. George, UT
Red Mountain Spa
Love to cook, yet like to look like you spend all your time in the gym? At this
spa, you'll learn the principles and techniques behind healthy, low-cal spa
cuisine. Classes run for two hours each day, leaving plenty of time for hiking
and biking the red rock canyons and booking services in the spa. Five night/six
day "adventure cuisine" package includes accommodations, daily
cooking lessons, three daily meals, guided hikes, fitness classes, and events.
www.redmountainspa.com;800-407-3002
Burlington, VT
New England Culinary Institute
This professional cooking school has teamed up with The Inn at Essex to offer
novice chefs a chance to learn with a pro. Prepare a three-course meal under
the guidance of a NECI instructor. Dine on the work of your own hands. Retire,
well-fed, to a four-poster bed. One night "Chef 'Inn'
Training" package includes accommodation, class for one, breakfast, and a
tour of the New England Culinary Institute. www.vtculinaryresort.com;
800-727-4295
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Savor the Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises
Cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas and
Nassau on Celebrity Cruise's Infinity--and learn about each island's
cuisine while on board. Each week features a different guest chef offering
cooking demonstrations, lectures, and tastings. Six night/seven day cruises
include accommodations, lectures, demonstrations, and meals. www.celebrity.com; 800-722-5941
Saint-Adèle, Québec, Canada
L'Eau à la Bouche
You can learn French cooking and dining concepts such as "mis en
place," (everything in its place) as well as how to work with meat, fish,
vegetables, bread, and pastries--without having to cross the Atlantic to do so.
The weekend course in the Francophone province is held at the Relais &
Chateaux inn, L'Eau à la Bouche, and run by the English-speaking
chef-owner. One night/two day course includes accommodation for one night,
breakfast, two dinners, all instruction, and your own cook's jacket. www.leaualabouche.com; 450-229-2991
Shop 'til You . . .Cook
If you love to buy cooking gadgets as much as use them, the drop-in classes at
high-end cookware shop Sur la Table. may be the perfect solution. Cookbook
authors and professional chefs offer demonstration and hands-on cooking classes
on such topics as "winter fruit dessert workshop," "essential
knife skills," and the "art of braising." Held in stores in 11
states, the single-session classes also get you 10 percent off on supplies. www.surlatable.com, 866-328-5412.
About the Author
Wendy Paris has contributed to Marketplace on NPR and has written for Wine Spectator and Saveur.
This article first appeared in NRTA Live & Learn, Winter 2006.
