Prevue July-August 2018 - 18

Previous: Culinary at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, Pennsylvania; Right (clockwise from top): The Bird's Nest, China;
Musselbaren, Sweden (photo credit: Peter Muld and Westsweden.com); Beach Walk Cafe at the Henderson Park Inn,
Florida's Emerald Coast

House-made, heritage inspired, sustainably sourced and social
media-worthy. These are just some of the expectations meetings
and incentives attendees have when it comes to the culinary
experience. The one thing they all have in common? Whether
waterfront dining in Destin, Florida, or in a matcha shop in Beijing,
China, a sense of adventure is delivered bite-by-bite.

PENNSYLVANIA
Pittsburgh has a food festival for just about everything, whether
the "Picklesburgh," celebrating the glory of pickling complete with
a giant flying pickle balloon, or festivals for wine, whiskey, apples,
maple syrup and exploring cultural heritage. The city has become
a hub for micro-breweries and groups can taste 15 different
varieties and a gourmet beer-paired meal with City Brew Tours,
while 'Burgh Bits & Bites offers culinary team building, as well
as local specialties from funky to historic neighborhoods. Groups
of 10 or more can hop aboard the century-old Duquesne Incline
cable car for sips and spectacular panorama sights of Pittsburgh
and its three rivers. The ride ends at
the Observation Deck where a tour
of the historic site can be arranged.
Follow this up with seasonal fare
and a tour at Frank Lloyd Wright's
stunning Fallingwater, considered
one of the most important
buildings of the 20th century by the
American Institute of Architects-a
true representation of organic
architecture-and the only Wright
house with its setting, original
furnishings and artwork intact. The
Barn at Fallingwater also regularly hosts meetings, retreats and
conferences for up to 310 attendees theatre-style.
Other interesting experiences can be found at the Carrie
Furnaces National Historic Landmark, a national heritage area
that speaks to the city's past as a global go-to for steel. Here, graffiti
art workshops, 3-hour photo safaris of the industrial site and docentled tours, cocktails in hand, of the on-site museum take place.
Meanwhile, a 90-minute drive south of Pittsburgh into the
Laurel Highlands offers its own cultural and culinary adventures.
One case in point is the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, where
dining runs the gamut of five-star and farm fresh to foods that reflect
Allegheny Mountain heritage. Groups can experience sommelier-led
wine tastings, dips and infinity poolside sips, and fine dining at one
of only 30 restaurants in the world to hold both the Forbes Five-Star
and AAA Five Diamond designation. The 2,000-acre resort is also a
haven for recharging exhausted execs, with a holistic healing center
and garden, adventure center, clay shooting area, and workshops
on stained glass, painting and photography.

The Laurel Highlands is also ripe with orchards and maple
farms, many of which sell their jams and jellies and confections of
maple cream, sugar and candy, or offer the option of group harvests
or flower picking.

SWEDEN
Mussel mania is a thing in the west of Sweden where the cooler coastal
waters allow them to grow slowly into perfection. Groups of up to 12
can set off on a mussel expedition through the fjords and visit local
mussel banks with expert local skippers to see how the delicacies are
harvested. At the waterfront Musselbaren, based around the historic
health spa resort of Lyckorna, they can experience all of this and more,
including blue mussels cooked over an open fire in salty seawater,
homemade chili sauce and white wine, and it's not uncommon for
chefs to dive into the "sea pantry" for fresh seaweed as well.
In the Swedish Lapland, culinary adventures emphasize local
food culture, beginning at the Icehotel where everything from
reindeer stew and Sami-inspired dishes with berries and plants
foraged by the group are served. The
Icebar has drinks served in and on
the "rocks," or groups can experience
customized wilderness dining, ice dining
on crystal clear ice slabs or a chef's table
experience at the Icehotel restaurant,
possibly including a 12-course meal.
Groups can also be immersed in sauna
rituals that explore Swedish sauna culture,
such as a dip in the icy Torne River, ice
sculpting or yoga among the delicately
chiseled creations by global artists or
beneath the stars.
Also along the Torne River in Kukkola village, attendees are
learning special methods for catching and cooking whitefish that
dates back to the 1500s. Village tours for up to 20 share historic sites,
tales of fishing traditions and what life was and is like for those in the
area. And just above the Arctic Circle at Njalgge, a reindeer herder
and cultural food creator are welcoming groups for a clean wild
taste of the region that includes 25 different Sami traditions or taste
sensations based on the eight seasons (every season is represented
by three different tastes).

Just above the Arctic Circle
at Njalgge, a reindeer herder
and cultural food creator are
welcoming groups for a clean
wild taste of the region.

18 | prevuemeetings.com

FLORIDA'S EMERALD COAST
A pancake house may not be the first image that comes to mind
when considering a painting workshop, but it certainly is the tastiest.
The Pancakery in Destin is where it's at for gourmet pancakes and
crepes combined with coastal painting lessons from a Paint the
Coast instructor who specializes in palette knife painting. Rod-toplate is also a thing here, and groups can easily spend an afternoon
on a fishing charter before passing their catches off to Boshamps

http://www.Westsweden.com http://www.prevuemeetings.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July-August 2018