Add Spice to Your Summer with a Cooking Vacation

by Susan Davis on 12/05/09 at 9:18 am

Want a Truly Extraordinary Vacation?

Have you made your summer travel plans yet?  While the lure of sunny beaches with palm trees may attract many vacationers, others are inclined to head to the kitchen – but not their own.  While the economy has stopped many from planning elaborate vacations this year, one segment of the travel industry that seems to be experiencing a flurry of activity is culinary vacations.

Well-heeled cooks (both novice and experienced), have been showing interest in culinary vacations throughout the United States and the world.  For those who can afford it, a culinary vacation is an opportunity to combine a summer getaway with learning something practical that can be put to use once the vacation has ended.

“I’m tired of going to the same cookie cutter beach resort,” said Marcia Pennington, a marketing executive who was mulling over culinary vacations in Tuscany and Provence. “The groups are small and I’d be learning from some of the great chefs of the region.”

There are hundreds of companies that cater to clientele who want to spend their free time in the kitchen.  All of them have developed itineraries that combine sightseeing and leisure time with intense lessons around the stove and oven.   Many offer combined family vacations, so while one member of the family enjoys a day of slicing, dicing, baking and sautéing, the rest can go off and enjoy specially organized tours and leisure activities.

While most culinary adventures tend to be five days of intense immersion in the local cuisine, there are shorter and less expensive classes available for those who want to sample a taste of what it might be like to learn from a pro.

The ShawGuides, one of the largest publishers of educational travel and creative career programs, allows you to peruse the numerous culinary vacations listed on their web site.  You can sort by country, by time of the year, by cuisine or by technique to find something that might interest you.

Annetta Wiesniewski, a teacher from suburban Chicago, always wanted to travel abroad and spend time learning cooking techniques from her host country.  “I found a Parisian cooking adventure that looks perfect,” she said.  “So I made the reservation. I’m leaving in July.”

“The cost was reasonable,” Wiesniewski explained, although she wouldn’t disclose the amount she paid. “At this stage in the game, I can afford a little luxury in my life.  And if this trip works out, I’ll do it again next year. I’d love to go to Poland and learn to cook the food of my ancestors.”

Wiesniewski is in luck.  Next year, she can book her vacation through Poland Culinary Vacations, which specializing in gastronomic tours of Poland.

“We offer a culinary learning experience – with local village women in their homes and professional city chefs, as well as cultural discovery, which includes sightseeing,” says Małgorzata Rose, president of the budding company.

Another new vacation option is Discover Heirloom Cuisine, a culinary holiday that celebrates agriculture and promotes beauty within a creative atmosphere.  There are ample travel explorations, as guests follow the footsteps of the farmers to learn the story of sustainable, heirloom foods and farms. This highly organic holiday is priced from about $3,500 to $3,800 for a five-day program.

Two other resources for finding culinary vacation ideas include Gordon’s Guide, a leader in promoting active travel adventure and The International Kitchen, which has more than 90 specialty trips available, including tours that combine watercolor painting and cooking, biking and cooking and walking and cooking.

Although all of these listed companies are fairly pricey, you can still spend part of your summer vacation learning new cooking skills, albeit a little closer to home.  Check with your local community college or the adult education department at your area high school.  Many of them offer cooking classes in their non-credit areas that are quite affordable.