Columbus Food Adventures: Short North Tour – Columbus, Ohio

Take a leisurely stroll with us through Columbus’s hip Short North and savor its culinary delights. More than just an arts district and home to the monthly Gallery Hop—a famous downtown Columbus event—the Short North also boasts a wealth of dining and shopping opportunities. The Short North is packed full of Columbus’ best restaurants, boutiques, bistros and nightlife, and this local food and walking tour is designed to show off some of the best that the Short North and Columbus have to offer.

We’ll start at the historic North Market, Columbus’ only public farmers’ market, where we’ll meet some of the local food vendors and learn the history of the building.  We will then stop at five eating establishments, sampling some of their signature dishes and hearing their stories. Stops will include some neighborhood favorites, some already highly regarded new additions, and some of the finest dining in the city, such as James Beard nominated Kent Rigsby’s restaurant. We will finish on a sweet note with a trip to the renowned Jeni’s ice creams, featured on the Food Network’s “America’s Best Sweets.”

We will be walking approximately 1.5 miles during the tour, and along our route you will also learn about the colorful history of the Short North neighborhood.

The Short North Food Tour & Walking Tour starts at 11am, rain or shine. Although we are never outside for more than a few blocks at a time, we do ask that you dress appropriately for the weather. Please check the calendar for availability.  Specific stops are subject to change.

This culinary tour is priced at $50.00. It includes tastings at 6-7 stops, which is plenty of food for a complete lunch, and an experienced guide with a wealth of local culinary knowledge. Visit our food tour page to see other Columbus Food Adventures tours.

More info & reservations

Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts: Thai Cooking Classes

While a visit to Ko Samui may seem like paradise, SITCA’s curriculum is down-to-earth, comprehensive and above all enjoyable. Our chefs are Thai experts with years of experience cooking Thai, and a love of their art. Whether avid home cook or aspiring professional, you will learn all the skills you need to cook one of Asia’s most varied and fascinating cuisines.

Please be sure to watch the short video introduction to SITCA at the bottom of our home page HERE.

If your interest is simply in learning more about what goes into Thai food dishes in order to enhance your knowledge and enjoyment when dining out, don’t hesitate to join us. Whatever your aspirations, whatever your level, because our classes are kept small, your individual needs will be addressed with as much attention as you require.

Private classes for groups

Colleagues, friends or families may wish to organize a private experience for their group. The minimum number required is 10. For more information click HERE.

SITCA isn’t just for cooks

Thai food lovers enjoy a special bonus. We purchase all our produce, fish, and meat daily from the local market, so you will not be not only preparing, but also enjoying some of the best cuisine that Southern Thailand has to offer.

Featured on BBC World TV’s Holiday program and recommended in the Lonely Planet, Rough Guide and Frommer’s guides to Thailand, our Thai cooking classes are taught in our 90 sq. meter modern air-conditioned facility. Everyone is equipped with their own burner at the stove, and everything needed for a complete hands-on experience. You also receive a cook booklet which is yours to make notes in and keep. For those ingredients which may not be available where you live, suitable substitutes are suggested. When the meal is ready we eat together Thai style in the elegant setting of our dining room, and every student can invite a friend to join them at no charge.

Booking a Thai cooking class at SITCA

SITCA’s menus change for every day of the week, and most recipes can be adapted for vegetarians. Our twice daily 3 hour class starts with the preparation of one of our famous home made Thai curry pastes, and is followed by instruction in how to prepare 3 more dishes. There is a different paste and Thai curry dish for each day (Monday-Saturday.) The meal follows immediately after class and the fruits of your labors will be some of the most sumptuous Thai food you will have in Thailand.

Lunchtime Thai Cooking Class / Time: 11:00 am / Cost: 1,950 baht per person.

Dinnertime Thai Cooking Class / Time: 4:00 pm / Cost: 1,950 baht per person

More info and reservations

Travelimes: Mistura & Machu Picchu

Travel through Peru’s culinary wonders in one single visit to Mistura, the largest annual food festival in South America. The event brings together small farmers from all over Peru, cooks, bakers, foodies, top Chefs and locals, all sharing a passion for food. Mistura is an explosion of the senses and a true celebration of Peru’s rich history and culture, not to be missed. During this tour, you will also visit the local market and Lima’s City Centre, enjoy fine dining and cook under the guidance of a top Peruvian Chef. A visit to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu and the World Heritage site of Cuzco will ensure that you leave this country wanting to come back for more.

Duration: 7 days

More info and reservations

Travelimes: Peru with Gusto

11 days Lima – Cusco – Lima

Participate in hands-on cooking classes of signature Peruvian dishes with Chefs and locals. Travel off the beaten path to cook in unique settings. Dine at high end restaurants and modest huariques. Visit local markets, sample products and learn about Peru’s diverse ingredients and gastronomy developed over the centuries by natives, Spanish, Asian, European immigrants and African slaves. Get a lesson on Peruvian coffee and Pisco, sign up for a chocolate-making workshop and explore world heritage sites such as Cuzco and Machu Picchu.

Price: From $4,600.00 (CAD)

More info and reservations

“Mai” Home – The Saigon Culinary Art Centre

At “The Saigon Culinary Art Center,” in a spacious Vietnamese House of yester-year style, you are offered a “Hands-on Cooking Course” of traditional dishes. The program of teaching is emphasized on the culture of Vietnamese gastronomy as well.

With our Grand Chefs, participants will entertain a “Hands-on” cooking of Vietnamese traditional dishes.

Full of joy and pride, you savor your own culinary creation.

An option of “Market Visit” with Chefs will help participants to understand more Vietnamese ingredients and its substitution.

Remittance of “Certificate of Recognition”, a handbook with all recipes and Souvenir Gift from “The Saigon Culinary Art Center” will crown the cooking session in warm and friendly ambiance.

More info and reservations

Yummy Walks: Foods of the Freedom Trail Tour – Boston

Nothing tops the Boston Freedom Trail as an introduction to the history and popular sites of Boston. This walk will take you past 14 significant landmarks, every one an authentic American treasure. You will see churches, cemeteries and meeting halls while getting to know about the Boston Common, the North End and other unique neighborhoods. So put on your walking shoes and explore Boston’s past. Its fun and entertaining- its American history but not the same old story….

Our Foods of the Freedom Trail Yummy Walk will explore the Freedom Trail sites from the Boston Common to the Old North Church and taste typical New England cuisine as its been revolutionized for today’s Bostons food scene.

A Brief Culinary History of Boston

You are probably aware of the nickname “Beantown”, because from the earliest days Boston has been awash in molasses to convert to rum as a result of the triangular trade route between the West Indies, Boston, and West Africa. They cooked the beans in molasses and this important staple was sold by the bite, or number of spoonfuls of beans available.

Its only fitting that one of the nations most historic towns would possess an intriguing food history. At the beginning of the 18th century, Boston didn’t have a central marketplace, so vendors pushed carts through town selling local fare such as seafood, wild game, fowl, apples, nuts, berries, and onions. Cooking traditions were based on those of English and Irish immigrants, featuring plenty of stews, roasts, preserved meats, biscuits, and puddings. North American regional foods such as corn, squash, beans, and potatoes were introduced to the local cuisine.

Faneuil Hall, built in 1742, served as a marketplace for fresh goods as well as an area for public congregation. The region became important for trading, farming, and fishing. By the 19th century, traditional Bostonian dishes such as baked beans slow-cooked with molasses, deep-fried batter-dipped clams, and creamy clam chowder (which got its start as a working-class, one-pot meal for New England fishermen) began to appear on dinner tables.

During your 3-hour Food Tour you will learn about the history and culture of the neighborhood while tasting delicious food specialties representative of the area.  We’ll take you past 14 significant landmarks on this tour including:

• The Boston Common – America’s oldest public park
• Massachusetts State House
• Granary Burial Ground
• Kings Chapel
• Old South Meeting House
• The “Old” State House
• Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall
• The North End
• Paul Revere House
• Old North Church

As we follow the Freedom Trail to the Old North Church, we visit several restaurants & shops and serve generous portions of foods that are iconic in Boston. Our gentle stroll has lots of stops with frequent, servings of food along the way. We point out good places for lunch or dinner, though after the tour, it’s very unlikely you’ll be hungry. Some of the foods you may enjoy include:

• Lobster Bisque
• Boston Baked Beans
• Boston Cream Pie cupcakes
• Other delicious foods reflecting the Italian heritage of the North End

So put on your walking shoes, loosen your belt, and explore Boston’s past and its tastes! It’s fun and entertaining…it’s American history but not the same old story….

Duration: 3 hours

Cost: $55

More info and reservations

Riad Kaiss & Dar Les Cigognes: The Secrets of Moroccan Cuisine – Marrakech, Morocco

We offer daily cookery classes at both Riad Kaiss and Dar Les Cigognes. Working with one of our three dadas (traditional Moroccan women cooks) or with our head chef (formerly of the Café de la Poste), guests have the opportunity to enjoy the preparation of a dish, learning the techniques, how to use the ingredients. This is typically done ahead of dinner, but can also be designed to suit more specific requests, such as bread making, pastry making, how to make yoghurt, and so on.

We also offer guests the opportunity to join our head chef on his daily rounds of the markets to buy the day’s fresh foods in some of the most colourful markets in Marrakech. For those wishing a more profound introduction to Moroccan cookery, or wishing to learn to make something in particular, please do let us know ahead of time and we will endeavor to cater to your request.

Because we make everything we serve ourselves from scratch, guests are often happy to just watch, particularly when we make our pastries. Some even join in.

A number of professional chefs as well as the curious or passionate amateurs have enjoyed cooking with us over the years, and we hope you will too. If you would like to buy our cook book, you may find the paperback on Amazon.com, or the hardback on Amazon.co.uk.

Information and reservations

Tasty Tours – Toronto: Walking Tour with Sweet Treats

• Do you love chocolates, cakes, pastries, and other sweets?
• Have you ever wondered about the history of Hershey’s or the difference between
cocoa and cacao?
• Is your idea of a good time to take a stroll through one of Toronto’s quirkiest
neighborhoods while nibbling on some munchies?

Then come join Tasty Tours on a sweets-tasting tour of Kensington Market, and learn the story behind the treats we eat! Includes free samples, store discounts, and a lot of yum. Tasty Tours is a walking tour dedicated to sweets – chocolates, cupcakes, pastries, you name it! On each tour, your guide will take you on a walk around a Toronto neighbourhood, where you will be introduced to various bakeries, chocolatiers and more. Be treated to the history of sweets and a variety of edible delights from each store. If you have a sweet tooth, this is the tour for you!

Location	Kensington Market
Time	Sundays, 11.30am Alternate Saturdays, 11.30am Alternate Sundays, 2pm Look at Book a Tour for exact dates & times
Length of Tour	2 hours approx
Price	$30 per person $10 for kids 7-12 years inclusive Free for kids under 7!
Tour Size	10 people max
Walking Difficulty	Easy
Payment Method	Cash at the beginning of the tour
Features	• Guided tour on the history of sweets • Introduction to 5 sweet stores* (guess which?) • Samples from each location • Discounts at select merchants • Happy times for all!
Dietary Restrictions	The tour is almost entirely vegetarian and can be partially vegan. Unfortunately, other restrictions cannot be accomodated at this time. Please mention if you are vegan or vegetarian in the comments when booking a tour.
Comments	Bring an appetite and some extra spending cash to buy more yummies. No tipping allowed! If you enjoy the tour, the best way to show your appreciation is to buy something at the stores on our tour

*we prefer to surprise you with the stores and treats on our tour, but if you would like to know beforehand (strongly discouraged!) check out the FAQ.

Sweets for my Sweetie TourVery special, very sweet. Take a tour for 2 for you and that treasured person in your life. Fully customizable – perfect for birthdays and anniversaries. $40 per person, 2 per tour. Drop us a message and we will get back to you asap.

More information and reservations

Taste Lebanon: 7-Day Culinary Journey

Food is a wonderful means for one to delve into the soul of a culture and learn more about its people, their customs & traditions. Sitting down and breaking bread with a total stranger is a beautifully unifying and enriching experience. It is our endeavor with this journey, to share this experience with you.

If you’ve always wanted to learn more about Lebanese food and experience first hand what it’s really like to enjoy and make an authentic, lavish, Mediterranean spread then this is the journey for you.

This seven-day culinary journey across Lebanon will leave you with a well-rounded taste of Lebanon through each of its region’s specialties. You will visit six different regions: Beirut, Batroun, Tripoli, the North, Mount Lebanon, and Ba’albeck, savoring each local specialty and learning the process and technique that goes into making that certain dish that each area is renown for.This will be a very personal tour and you will be invited into people’s homes across the country to learn the authentic techniques behind their specialties. This is an opportunity and an authentic experience you would not have traveling on your own.The tour cost includes hotel, breakfast everyday, 5 lunches, 5 dinners, refreshments during the tour, culinary activities, transport to and from the airport as well as all locations on the tour itinerary, visa, and our English speaking services. Our affiliated hotel of choice is the 5 star Regency Palace.

Tour activities depending on season and availability:
Fish your own- boat trip (optional)
Harvest your own- short discussion on local farming
Demonstration on Arabic bread and the extra-thin mountain bread on Saj
Demonstration on sujuk & basterma (Armenian sausage & cured meat)
Demonstration on Kebbeh making (national dish)
Demonstration on baklawa/and or halawet el jebn (Lebanese desserts)
Kitchen Workshop on Lebanese mezza
Visits to Souks- ancient and new
Visit to a seven-story Middle Eastern sweets castle
Visit to a dairy farm
Visit to a butcher & bakery (watch process of sfiha, miniature minced lamb pies, from to start to finish)
Visit to olive groves & olive oil pressing
Visit to a vineyard with wine tasting
Visit to a Arak distillery (Lebanon’s national drink, similar to ouzo and pastis)
Visit to wild za’atar fields
Mouneh demonstrations; kishk, burghul, awarma, etc.

More info and reservations

Cooking at Camont: Master the art of Gascon cooking

Come to Camont for a long weekend or a week’s course and explore the classic French cooking techniques behind recipes that define Gascon cooking. Each day’s seasonal menu is born at the local markets and farms where we meet producers and learn to choose vegetables at their freshest, cheese at its ripest, and the perfect cut of meat for the dishes we create.

The dishes you’ll cook form the backbone of French regional cooking in the Southwest and as we explore the classic French techniques – sauteing, braising, roasting, baking and grilling – through the famous dishes of the region.

More cuisine familial than haute cuisine, Gascony celebrates local food from its farms and artisan producers in one of France’s most diverse agriculture regions. This abundant harvest gives birth to regional specialties like garbure, poule-au-pot, lapin aux pruneaux, confit de canard, foie gras en torchon, and gigot d’agneau aux haricots.

Course details:

We start in the morning for the first of our intensive day-long classes. Working only with local farm fresh ingredients and classic French techniques, we create exemplary seasonal menus that reflect terroir in the cooking of Southwest France. We cook for 6 hours per day – breaking for a long French lunch  from the best seasonal Gascon produce! And of course, cooking isn’t only about recipes and ingredients. On market days, we’ll take you to our favorite farmers’ market to meet some of our favorite artisan food producers.

Example day:

9:30- 12:30  Meet at Camont for a morning of classic French techniques creating starters and main courses.

12:30-2:00   Our French lunch on the terrace breaks the day as we celebrate the arts of the table.

2:00-5:00:   The sweet afternoon is devoted to creating Kate’s fool-proof buttery pastry and other desserts famous in Gascony which we indulge in the traditional afternoon gouter with coffee, tea or an aperitif!

Spring / summer dates in 2012

Three-day courses: 27 – 29 April / 18 – 20 May / 15 – 17 June

Five-day courses: 28 May – 1 June / 2 – 6 July / 30 July – 3 August

Autumn / winter dates in 2012

Three-day courses: 5 – 7 October / 2 – 4 November

Five-day courses: 3 – 7 September / 22 – 26 October

Price

2500€ per person (5 days) / 1750€ per person (3 days)

This price includes daily classes from 9:30 am- 5:00 pm, excursions, all lunches with wine, and supplies. (Please note: dinners and board aren’t included, so please see here for our pick of local places to stay. Of course, we’ll happily bring you to and from Camont for classes!)

Info and reservations:

To book, email katehill@email.com with the subject line Cookery course 3 or Cookery course 5.