Top Culinary Experiences Around the World

Travel is almost meaningless without experiencing the food of a new destination.

Hotels around the globe have long understood this, but they appear to be taking it even more seriously during recent years by offering an increasing array of intriguing cooking classes and food experiences tied to their location.

Forbes recently showcased five of the latest such noteworthy opportunities around the globe ranging from making home-style food in Thailand to cocktail workshops in Switzerland. Here are some of the top experiences of the moment identified by the publication:

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Holiday Cocktail Classes – Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne, Switzerland

With the holiday season here, what better time to jet away and learn about making festive cocktails? According to Forbes, the Beau-Rivage Palace in Switzerland is the place (or at least one of them) to indulge in such an activity.

The hotel is offering evening workshops that allow guests to learn about making warming drinks such as Winter Negroni and a Merry Martini. There’s also an afternoon class for the kids, (who learn to make alcohol-free beverages, naturally).

Chef Academy – Hotel Metropole Monte Carlo – Monaco

Ah, Monaco, the destination of the rich, the famous and the generally all-around fabulous. For those who happen to be visiting, don’t miss learning to cook a few dishes at Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo, inside Hotel Metropole.

The restaurant has two Michelin stars. It also hosts a Chef Academy where visitors have opportunity to make one savory dish and one sweet dish with head chef Christophe Cussac, chef de cuisine Romain Heim and pastry chef Patrick Mesiano. Not at all intimidating right?

The experience includes the chefs teaching proper hands-on cooking skills gleaned from their decades in the kitchen. The grand finale of this memorable experience involves dinner at the Chef’s Table while watching these three masters at work in the kitchen.

Health and Hike – Monastero Santa Rosa – Amalfi Coast, Italy

Food and Italy are synonymous in a way that doesn’t necessarily apply to other destinations. The Italians have a special passion and creativity when it comes to the art of cooking and eating.

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While the experience at Monastero Santa Rosa begins with a two- to three-hour hike, it ends with a cooking class led by Chef Christoph Bob that includes touring the hotel’s vegetable garden and using its produce to prepare a light, healthy meal.

Cocktail Course – The Chedi Andermatt – Andermatt, Switzerland

Are you sensing a theme when it comes to hotels in Switzerland? The Chedi Andermatt experience involves learning with Switzerland’s Bartender of the Year (2017) Jason Knüsel. The hotel is offering a series of apres-ski cocktail making classes with Knüsel.

What better way to cap a day spent on the slopes? The 1.5-hour classes will cover The Chedi’s signature drinks.

Thai Cooking School – Kata Rocks – Phuket, Thailand

While Thailand is a great place to feast on the variety of street food, there’s no reason to miss out on the opportunity to also learn about preparing home-style Thai cooking.

READ MORE: Hone Your Culinary Skills at Thai Cookery Classes

According to Forbes, the classes offered at the Kata Rocks’ resort in Phuket with chef Tu are worth checking out. Tu, who learned to cook from his mother, offers daily workshops at the Kata Rocks Thai Cooking School. Each session lasts about two hours and covers grinding the pastes that provide Thai food much of its flavor. There’s also instruction on chopping meat and vegetables and stir-fry technique.

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