Culinary Arts Training Vacations

America is the grand melting pot – blending cultures from all over the world. One of the best ways to get a taste of the different cultures is through the cuisine, from Italian to French to Chinese. Americans have embraced them all with gusto. But have you ever wondered what those dishes would taste like in their native lands? Or, even better, how you could make them yourself to bring a little of the exotic into your home? Find out how and make your next vacation into a Tour-de-Food through immersive cooking programs taught by native chefs that are paired with tours of local markets, farms and food makers. You’ll come home with a souvenir of a foreign land far more valuable than a tacky snow globe or shot glass.

What’s on the Menu

You can choose to spend a few days or over a week in destinations in Europe, Asia and the Americas learning how to master native dishes and other gourmet standards. Programs include several classes (in English) that teach culinary basics, as well as the foundational knowledge to experiment and create new dishes. You’ll learn from the pros by watching demonstrations and by rolling up your sleeves and getting some hands-on training. And, of course, you’ll end your classes by eating what you’ve made.

Your stay won’t be all cooking, cooking, cooking. Expect to tour the local markets, visit with chefs, tour wineries and farms, and go to food-making facilities such as mills and dairy farms. You’ll also have a chance to explore local areas of interest and tourist sites, whether on your own or through guided tours. By the end of your stay, you will have had the chance to become immersed in the local culture.

Planning Your Trip

Options abound for your culinary adventure. There are programs in countries across Europe – like Spain, Italy, France and Poland – as well as Asia and the Americas – like Mexico, Canada and Brazil. Courses are taught in English, and many have contact in the United States for booking your trip. Search for trips by site or cooking school, or try travel guides like Epitourean or Gordon’s Guide for custom travel packages. Remember that there are many rules regarding international travel, and you may be required to apply for a visa or to pay entrance fees. Vaccinations or other immunizations may also be required, depending on the region. Make sure you leave time in your planning to make appropriate arrangements.

Costs vary by program and region, but can be up to $5,000 or $6,000. Some programs include accommodations, but not all do. Make sure you know what’s included. Often, you can expect the program to include all the cooking courses, most meals, local excursions and some tours. Some ground transportation may also be included. You’ll have to pay your own airfare, which can add significantly more to the total. Make sure you’re evaluating all the costs when you plan your trip, not just those of the program you choose.

Culinary Destinations:

A Taste of Culture
tasteofculture.com
Individual cooking classes, market tours and tasting programs in Japan

Active Gourmet Holidays
One Gaidosz Way
Derby, CT 06418
203-732-0771
activegourmetholidays.com
Culinary and wine tours in eight countries in Europe and North America
Combination and active tours

Arte Culinaria
Via dall’Oglio 10
Cison di Valmarino
31030 TV, Italy
(+39) 0438-975510
arteculinaria.it
Three-day and one-week cooking vacations in Italy

Camilla in Cucina
Via Atto Vannucci 3
Florence, 50134 Italy
(+39) 055-461-381
linkfirenze.it
Daily to weekly classes in Florence for individuals or small groups

Catacurian
1717 Fifth Street North
St Petersburg, Fl 33704
941-870-5567
catacurian.com
One- to six-day culinary vacations inSpain

Chef Paolo Monti’s Cucina Italiana
Via Per Sant’Alessio n. 3680
Lucca, Lucca 55100 Italy
(+39) 0583 329618
cucina-italiana.com
One- to seven-day programs on Italian cooking in Italy and Thailand

Cook’n With Class
21 rue Custine
Paris, 75018 France
cooknwithclass.com
Cooking classes in France with focuses on pastry, baking and macaroni
Private classes and wine tastings on request

Cooking with Giuliano Hazan at Villa Giona
4471 S. Shade Ave.
Sarasota, FL 34231
941-923-1333
giulianohazan.com
One week of intensive classes in Italy with trips to local markets, restaurants and food makers

Culinary Vacations Inc.
P.O. Box 747
Roswell, GA 30077-0747
770-998-2073
culinaryvacationsinc.com
Six-day programs in Spain, Italy, France, Croatia

Deborah Krasner’s Vermont Culinary Vacations
192 Taylor Road
Putney, VT 05346
802-387-6610
culinaryvermont.com
Week-long program including tours and cooking classes

Epicurean Ways
507 Nottingham Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901
866-642-2917
epicureanways.com
One- to nine-day programs in Spain featuring classes, wine tours and market visits

Famous Provence
Vallon de Poulitre
Roussillon, Provence 84220 France
(+33) (0)6-09-73-31-71
famous-provence.com
One-week programs with instruction for six-course meals, tours and market visits

Giuliano Bugialli’s Cooking in Florence
252 Seventh Ave., #7R
New York, NY 10001
646-638-0883
bugiallifoodsofitaly.com
Award-winning author offers one-week hands-on vacation program

Good Tastes of Tuscany
Casella Postale 37, Signa
Florence, 50055 Italy
(+39) 335 8361633
tuscany-cooking-class.com
Seven-day culinary and cultural programs with focuses on vegetarian cooking, Italian cooking, baking, and cooking for kids

Gourmet Retreats at CasaLana
1316 S. Oak St.
Calistoga, CA 94515
707-942-0615
gourmetretreats.com
One-week culinary tour of Mexico
(cooking classes, day trips, numerous meals)

International Cooking School of Italian Food and Wine
201 E. 28th St., #15B
New York, NY 10016-8538
212-779-1921
internationalcookingschool.com
Four- to seven-day programs at various locations in Italy

Poland Culinary Vacations
1020 Durham Ave.
Bozeman, MT 59718
888-703-8130
polandculinaryvacations.com
Week-long vacations to different regions of Poland

Seasons of My Heart Cooking School
Apdo. 42, Admon 3
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, CP, 68101 Mexico
(+521) 951-508-0469
seasonsofmyheart.com
Up to one-week cooking vacations in Mexico with focuses on vegetarian cooking and baking
Seven- to 10-day culinary tours

Scuola di Arte Culinaria ‘Cordon Bleu’
Via di Mezzo, 55/R
Florence, 50121 Italy
(+39) 055-2345468
cordonbleu-it.com
Seven-day cooking, wine and culture programs in Florence and Tuscany
Custom lessons and classes for children

Spain Taste and Provence Cooking Tours
Can Valls de Mosqueroles
Fogars de Montclus, Barcelona 08470 Spain
(+34) 93-847-5115
spaintaste.com
Five-day vacation packages in France and Spain

The Culinary Institute of America
1946 Campus Drive
Hyde Park, NY 12538-1499
845-452-2230
enthusiasts.ciachef.edu/boot-camps/
Two- to five-day boot camp cooking vacations in New York, California or Texas

The International Kitchen
330 N. Wabash, Suite #2613
Chicago, IL 60611
312-467-0560
theinternationalkitchen.com
One- to six-day programs in Europe and South America

Tuscan Way
2829 Bird Avenue, Suite 5, PMB 242
Coconut Grove, FL 33133
305-598-8368
tuscanway.com
Cooking vacations and wine tours in Italy

Umbria Cooks for You
(+39) 3486926718
umbriacooks4u.com
Italian cooking classes and traditional dinners in Umbria