Culinary tours are becoming more and more popular all the time. They're not just for learning to cook - some are simply food or wine appreciation tours. Which means you get to sit back and watch someone else do the work, while you enjoy the "samples"!
If you do want to learn to cook the local cuisine, there are plenty of opportunities. Some are week-long, intensive training; others are 1/2 day cooking classes that you can fit into an otherwise busy vacation to one of your favorite places.
But all are great fun!
While there are culinary tours that travel the world, there are also plenty of opportunities to explore regional cuisine here in the U.S.
New York City - a Cross-Cultural Experience
America is comprised of many ethnic cultures and histories - and all of them are found in New York.
Start with a walking tour of Brooklyn. The Best-of-Brooklyn-Sightseeing-Food-and-Culture-Tour stops at a kosher Hasidic deli and Latin American cafes (for a "Cuban" sandwich). Plus, there is a stop at Jacques Torres chocolate factory!
The Institute of Culinary Education/Recreation division offers tons of classes and tours, featuring every cuisine imaginable. There are week-long, hands-on classes covering cooking skills and several different cuisines; demonstration classes; and half-day walking tours - covering Italian, Indian, and other cuisines; greenmarkets, CUPCAKES; and CHOCOLATE!
New Orleans - Rich and spicy cuisine, just like the town itself!
In New Orleans, you can spend a few hours or a few days indulging in cooking classes! Between ghost tours and garden walks, enjoy the flavors of Cajun and Creole cuisine.
The New Orleans Experience offers classes from 3 hours to 3 days at the House on Bayou Road. The classes are small, and the focus is on Creole. After the class, of course, you can enjoy your meal in the garden.
The New Orleans School of Cooking offers demonstration-only classes in the French Quarter. You can watch them do the work, and partake of the rewards later! The menu changes daily, but includes gumbo and jambalaya, red beans, pralines, and bread pudding.
Don't know the difference between Cajun and Creole? The New Orleans Culinary History Tour will explain it - as well as offer a walking tour of the French Quarter with lessons in the history of the city and it's unique cuisine. This is not a cooking tour, but a tasting tour.
San Francisco - There's more to San Francisco than Rice a Roni!
There are hundreds of Chinese restaurants in San Francisco - but to truly appreciate the cuisine, try the Wok Wiz Daily Tour "I can't believe I ate my way through Chinatown!" This tour, led by Chinese-American locals, starts with breakfast and ends "when someone explodes". Need I say more?
The North Beach and Little Italy Walking Tour offers a bit of history, a little bread, and a great Italian meal (with wine, of course!).
There are many wine tours to the Sonoma and Napa Valleys. The Deluxe California Wine Country Tour is a full-day extravaganza, visiting both Sonoma and Napa, with stops at both boutique and large wineries.
Or try the Napa Valley Wine Train. The train travels from San Francisco to Napa Valley and back, with a gourmet lunch and wine tastings on board.
Small Ships - enjoy Coastal Cuisine from Maine Lobster to Napa Wine!
Why not take a small ship cruise exploring the northern Atlantic or Pacific Northwest coasts, and enjoy local food and wine at the same time?
American Cruise Lines travels the eastern coast of the U.S., and offers local specialties on several sailings. Celebrate "Crabfest" in July on Chesapeake Bay, or "Lobsterfest" in September in Maine.
Cruisewest sails the San Francisco Bay and Columbia/Snake Rivers, offering wine tastings and local delicacies on both excursions. Look for Taste of the Pacific Northwest or California Wine Country cruises.
This is just a sampling of what's available in the U.S. - and there are many, many more opportunities to explore exotic cuisine around the world!
On your next trip, don't just have a meal at an ethnic restaurant - have a culinary adventure!
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