A Taste of the South - Culinary Travel
Being that I spend a good portion of my time researching (and tasting) food and wine, I thought I’d share some insight into the best food and wine experiences in the south. Yes, an entire trip where you are surrounded by some of the best food and wine in the area - a gastronomic adventure.
- Keswick Hall at Monticello - Located in the heart of Virginia’s Wine Country, this impressive mansion is located where the beautiful country landscape meets the mountainside. They have devised a package, The Wine Escape Package, especially for those who want to surround themselves with wine and gourmet delights. Upon arrival, guests will receive a welcome letter from the sommelier and an invitation to ‘For the Love of Wine’ series. During their stay, guests will also spend time touring local wineries and be treated to a 5-course gourmet dinner. If you want to indulge even further, the spa just started offering the new Vinotherapy Regimen which includes the Shiraz Body Scrub, Red Wine Body Mask, Pinot Noir facial and more.
- Blackberry Farm located in Walland, TN - Escape from the rush of everyday life and learn to live from the land, as you participate first hand with the farm team. With a chef, baker, master gardener, chocolatier and cheese maker all on hand, your meals will be a result of their effort. Guests are given the opportunity to pick fruits and vegetables at the peak of season, spend the day in the life of the master gardener or the cheesemaker, or learn about the history of each plant on the farm. Events are scheduled on a monthly basis where they bring in guest chefs and vintners. If you need a break from the food and wine scene, you can also go horse back riding, take a ride in a hot air balloon, go rock climbing or even go white water rafting.
- Jeckyll Island Club Hotel located just off the southeastern coast of Georgia offers many multi-day cooking schools throughout the year. Their next taking place on August 24th. Guests who participate in this school will spend 4 nights at Crane Cottage while they master their culinary techniques. Upon arrival, guests will receive a welcome gift and a chef’s jacket. Their experience begins with a welcome dinner and dance, and includes hands-on cooking classes, patisserie sessions and an evening of wine tasting.
- The Fearrington House Culinary School is located near Durham, NC. This overnight retreat covers such topics as meat, herbs, soups and stocks and it includes an afternoon tea, wine reception, dinner and a full morning of classes along with an overnight stay. Even better - they offer culinary team building retreats. These one or two day events are perfect for groups up to 20 and include learning new tips and techniques from the award-winning chefs at The Fearrington House. During the course of the day, students will create a two-course meal using fresh ingredients. The other part of the retreat is an Iron Chef-like challenge where teams will create two courses using a limited pantry, including a secret ingredient. May the best team win!
Whether you are looking for a hands-on experience or just simply want to drink wine and taste gourmet food, your options are endless. Just remember to indulge, as you won’t get this everyday. Photo Credit: Blackberries at Blackberry Farm [blmurch@flickr]
Tags: Blackberry Farm, cooking schools, Culinary, Jeckyll Island Club Hotel, Keswick Hall, The Fearrington House, Virginia Wine Country, wineRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Accomodation, Things to See in Georgia, Things to See in Virginia, Weekend Trip
1 opinion for A Taste of the South - Culinary Travel
John
Aug 12, 2008 at 8:36 am
Just back from New Orleans and found some great food there! When you want to get out of the heat and humidity of Florida, just head for the big easy. It is all different.
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: