5 Tips for choosing the right culinary tour

We all eat on vacation, but for some people the food is more than an incidental it can be the focus of the trip and the whole reason they choose a destination. The cuisine and food of a region or city is an expression of that place and the people’s past. For some people the love of culture and history leads them to explore a place through local food traditions. For others the feel of being in the kitchen leads them to a foreign cooking school.

A culinary trip can be as simple as one winery visit or as intensive as a whole week of cooking classes – it is all about what you are interested in and what you feel comfortable spending your time doing. So how do you pick the right one for you?

Here are a few things to consider before deciding what foodie adventure is next:

Skill level

Be honest about your skill level and choose accordingly. There are options for the novice cook all the way up to the seasoned professional. This should be an enjoyable experience not a stressful one so be sure to pick something that challenges you, but is still within your wheelhouse. Or if there is a new skill you want to learn choose a class or tour that is geared specifically towards that. 

Intensity

As I said, a culinary adventure can be whatever you want it to be. It can be a tasting tour through a new city where you learn through eating not necessarily doing. A laid back cooking lesson in a local’s house. A meal prep experience with a trained chef in a professional kitchen. Or a multi-day cooking camp or course. Whatever your preference remember that this is also your vacation so set the pace and intensity that feels right for you.

Budget

Culinary tourism has grown over the years and so has the cost. You could spend thousands of dollars on one cooking experience or you could spend the price of a meal to get a good tour with a local. It all depends on what you want out of the experience. So decide what you are interested in, how much time you want to spend on the experience, and match it to your budget. 

Cuisine/Destination

The cuisine or destination you choose can be one of the most important pieces of a successful experience. Do you want to learn a new cuisine, go deeper on a cuisine you already love, or learn a technique you haven’t quite mastered? Also, just because you are looking to learn more about a specific cuisine doesn’t mean you have to go to the source country to do so. For example, there are some wonderful Indian food tours and classes in London because of the well established Indian culture in that city. If you are already planning a trip to a specific destination you can always consider the culinary history of the immigrants to that country and experience a whole other culture within your trip. 

Another thing to consider is your own dietary preferences and needs. If you have special restrictions or preferences make sure that the experience is a fit for those. 

Post trip

As much as the experience is about being in that moment and in that culture you should also consider how you hope to bring the experience home with you. Are you taking this class because you want to be able to make a specific dish at home? Or are you looking to learn a technique? Consider whether you can get the ingredients at home to make the dishes for yourself and others. Is it a time consuming technique that you will never utilize again? 

People have been traveling the globe for food for thousands of years so foodie adventures are nothing new, but travel has gotten so much easier that people can experience a new cuisine or indulge in an old favorite without spending a year getting there. Of course, people ask why even travel halfway around the world for a slice of pizza when I can order one from down the street? That is true, but it is not the same as tasting it at the source, eating it with the locals, and meeting the people that produce it and serve it. Half the journey is meeting the people who feel passionate about what they are creating and the locals who pride themselves on doing it the traditional way. There is something unexplainably appealing about eating a grape straight from the vine or taking a chocolate from the artisan’s hand – and the taste cannot be matched.

Culinary trips allow you to immerse yourself in the culture of a destination, enjoy the locals, learn a lot about a place and the people, and create a memento to share with others. From street food to fine dining, from Italian grandmother to celebrity chef where you fill your stomach and tickle your taste buds is all up to you. The world is your plate –  so go eat, enjoy, and savor all that it has to offer!