ANAHEIM, Calif., May 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imagine tasting fresh pasta in Italy, savory seafood paella in Spain, succulent sushi in Tokyo, or delighting in the spicy kick of Creole cuisine while in Louisiana. Now imagine cooking these dishes with a culinary master while on vacation. Award-winning guided vacations company, Trafalgar offers just that with incredible cooking school experiences included on some of its worldwide trips. Not only will travelers go beyond the guidebooks for a unique insider's view of each destination, they'll get a true taste of local culture.
Trafalgar is like having a friend in every destination, introducing travelers to the local people they wouldn't otherwise meet, like expert chefs and culinary professionals, and delivering a taste of authenticity that only a true insider can. With Trafalgar's in-depth knowledge, a destination becomes more than just a place as guests get an insider's view of the local culture and discover the regional cuisine first-hand with included cooking school experiences like:
- An evening at the world-renowned Ramekins Culinary School in the Napa Valley. Here guests will prepare a delicious four-course gourmet meal alongside top chef instructors.
- Learning the art of sushi-making at a cooking class in the famous Ginza district of Tokyo.
- A private cooking class at the New Orleans School of Cooking in the heart of the French Quarter where guests will learn the flavors and flair of Creole cuisine.
- A visit to the Tideswell School of Food, a famous cookery school north of London, to learn how to make traditional homemade Christmas pies – a true English holiday tradition.
For an in-depth look at Trafalgar's best-selling culinary inspired vacation, Flavors of Italy, follow mother-daughter duo, Linda and Lauren, as they blog live from their upcoming Italian adventure. In addition to exploring Italy's must-see sights, they'll meet a local family at their vineyard in the Chianti hills for a memorable dinner of local specialties. Plus, for an unforgettable culinary experience, they'll shop at an outdoor market for fresh produce then together with their fellow travelers meet up with a professional chef for a private cooking class in Florence. Follow "Lauren & Linda's Italian Adventure" here: https://travelsmithblog.wordpress.com.
Trafalgar also offers a dash of culinary experiences like Highlight Meals, unique food excursions with Local Guides, cooking demonstrations and more. Special to Trafalgar are Be My Guest dining experiences where travelers will savor regional food and wine, and mingle with local hosts at private estates, working farms, wineries and family-run establishments.
Get a behind the scenes look at a Be My Guest dining experience in France with this great video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7XbbZBFRrg
Best-selling Trafalgar itineraries featuring cooking school experiences:
Flavors of Italy
11 days starting at $2,699
Discover a delectable Italy while on Trafalgar's Flavors of Italy vacation with travels through Venice, Parma, Bologna, Tuscany and Rome. While in Rome, enjoy a Be My Guest dining experience hosted by an Italian family who tends an olive grove in the Chianti hills as they share their regional specialties. Shop at a local fruit and vegetable market in Florence, and then use the fresh produce during a cooking lesson with a professional Italian Chef who offers unique insight into Italian cuisine. Sightseeing highlights include the Roman Forum, Colosseum, St. Peter's Basilica, Academy of Fine Arts, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Venice canals, Neptune's Fountain and more.
http://www.trafalgar.com/usa/flavors-of-italy-2013
Tastes & Sounds of the South
10 days starting at $2,295
Enjoy a unique culinary and musical journey on Trafalgar's Tastes & Sounds of the South vacation with travels through Nashville, Memphis, Natchez and New Orleans. Savor authentic Local Specialties like America's most famous whiskey – Jack Daniel's – and see how it's created at the original distillery. Stop at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley to learn about the impression he made on popular American culture and spend a morning at the Rock 'n' Soul Museum before it's open to the public. Head down the Mississippi River and enjoy southern hospitality with an authentic Louisiana Be My Guest dining experience at the Natchez Mansion hosted by a local Natchez storyteller. Travelers will enjoy a private tour of the Renaissance Revival grounds, savor authentic Southern cuisine and enjoy tableaux dancers famously portraying life in antebellum Mississippi through song and dance.
http://www.trafalgar.com/usa/tastes-and-sounds-of-the-south-2013
Splendors of Japan
11 days starting at $4,750
Explore the beauty of Asia while on Trafalgar's Splendors of Japan guided vacation. This 11-day trip travels through Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, Lake Suwa, Takayama, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. Visit the Imperial Palace, Matsumoto Castle and Folkcraft museum, an elegant Samurai mansion in Kanazawa and the beautiful gardens of Kenrokuen. Journey through the Five Lakes District dominated by a view of majestic Mount Fuji where travelers will enjoy a Highlight Lunch at a Japanese winery before settling in at a traditional Ryokan to indulge in a dip in the hot springs. Sample authentic delicacies while enjoying a dance performance by Geisha and Maiko ladies, taste soba noodles in Matsumoto, famous for wasabi cultivation and much more.
http://www.trafalgar.com/usa/splendors-of-japan-2013
For More Information:
www.trafalgar.com
Follow Trafalgar at:
@TrafalgarUSA
Trafalgar Facebook
About Trafalgar
Trafalgar is the world's leading guided vacation company offering exceptional quality and value itineraries to a range of exciting destinations. With 65 years of experience and unrivaled local expertise, Trafalgar provides an authentic insider's view to create truly unique travel experiences in Europe, Britain, Eastern Mediterranean, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Mexico, Central and South America, USA and Canada. Visit www.trafalgar.com for more.
2007 to 2012: Winner, Best Tour Operator category, Travel Weekly Readers' Choice Awards
2010, 2011, 2012: Winner, Best Tour Operator, Europe, TravelAge West WAVE Awards
2010, 2011: Winner, Travel Weekly Gold Magellan Awards
###
Contact:
Jamie Espinosa
TRAFALGAR
714-937-4949
jamie.espinosa@trafalgartours.com
Marie Anne MacRae
TRAFALGAR
416-915-7016
marieanne.macrae@trafalgar.com