Virtuoso Life - September/October 2008 - (Page 98) Experts’ Picks Where do Virtuoso travel advisors send culinary-minded clients? Here are some of their top recommendations for cooking schools around the world. Culinary Institute of America, Saint Helena, California: This famed Napa Valley outpost caters not just to career-oriented chefs but to casual cooks as well, with courses that range from one to four days and cover such topics as “Cooking for the Next Half of Your Life.” New Orleans Cooking Experience: In antebellum surroundings near the French Quarter, guest chefs from restaurants such as Galatoire’s and Commander’s Palace teach the secrets and spices of creole recipes in half-day to four-day classes. The Ritz-Carlton, Cancún: Complete with an outdoor fire pit, this newly updated, Vikingequipped culinary center by the sea offers two-hour classes on traditional Mayan cuisine. CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla: Break from the beach to tour the organic farm and gather ingredients for a three-course lunch. The resort also offers a “dinner demo” series in its stadiumstyle demonstration kitchen. North America THE BROADMOR Europe Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons, Oxford, England: At this quaint 32-room hotel set in the English countryside, the refurbished Raymond Blanc Cookery School guides students through such offerings as a day course on seasonal dinner parties or a four-day immersion. At Home with Patricia Wells, Vaison-la-Romaine, France: The revered cookbook author opens her Provence home for intimate six-day lessons on the region’s cuisine, wine, and culture. (There’s a waiting list for the classes on her 2009 schedule.) Ritz Paris Escoffier School, Paris, France: This legendary school at an even more legendary hotel has taught legions of amateurs and professionals, from introductory workshops to intensive certification courses. Italian Food Artisans, Montepulciano, Italy: Weeklong workshops explore the cuisines of Campania, Piedmont, Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna through hands-on classes, demonstrations, and visits to regional food artisans. Villa San Michele School of Cookery, Fiesole, Italy: Partake in single or multiday lessons in a stunning fifteenth-century monastery-turned-hotel outside Florence. Asia Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay: At this indulgent Indonesian resort, morning classes cover spa, Asian, and Balinese cuisine in a kitchen complete with a tandoor oven, noodle boiler, rice and noodle steamer, and duck roaster – all the necessary equipment to get the job done. The Peninsula Bangkok, Thailand: You’ll learn the art of making dim sum, Thai desserts, and home-style Thai cuisine in morning or half-day classes at this high-tech hotel celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Prepped and ready for students: The cooking schools at The Ritz-Carlton, Cancún and (right) Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay. 98 V I RT U O S O L I F E
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