Culinary Conquests

Calling all food enthusiasts: Wake up and smell the oregano. The Culinary Institute of America has recently designed five food-centric getaways that won’t leave you hungry.

The CIA “Sophisticated Palate,” a selection of epicurean adventures that offer lectures on cooking techniques, traditions, food and wine pairing, and of course, wine tasting, encourages its guests to “see, taste, and explore.” On each of the two- or four-day programs ($1,995 for two days; $3,995 for four days; accommodation not included) CIA guests will meet exclusively with local vintners, food producers, chefs, premier growers, and restaurateurs in the Napa Valley region.

The CIA currently offers five programs at their Greystone campus: Exploring the Tastes of Southeast Asia, Savoring the Flavors of Spain and Portugal, A Taste of Northern California, The Ancient Cookfire, and Cooking for the Next Half of Your Life.

For example, in Exploring the Tastes of Southeast Asia, guests will

Learn the foundation cooking techniques of Southeast Asian cuisine, including stir-frying, braising, red cooking, and steaming. Examine the centuries-old food traditions and building blocks of flavor; Prepare authentic Southeast Asian dishes. Discuss the indigenous ingredients and specialty cooking equipment. Enrich your knowledge of the wines and beverages that best pair with these inspiring flavors.

Sounds delicious. We can smell the pad thai already. But IT senses a problem: How authentic are Spanish tapas if you’re eating them in sunny California? Don’t get us wrong. IT loves “America’s Tuscany,” and getting exclusive insights into Napa Valley cuisine is great, but we’d rather spend four grand on a ten-day trip to Mumbai to sample Hyderabadi-style dal or masala dosa, or to Barcelona to taste sweet churros and fresh gazpacho.