28 March, 2024, 09:15

Locally rooted culinary experiences travelers must see in the U.S.

Travelers are increasingly conscious of their eco-footprint while on the road and inspired by immersive experiences—like dining—that are locally rooted. These experiences are a food lover’s culinary dream and hopefully inspire your next adventure.

La Quinta Resort & Club (La Quinta, CA)

Located at the base of the Santa Rosa mountains, La Quinta Resort & Spa puts the bounties of the Coachella Valley front-and-center through their partnership with County Line Harvest, a certified organic farm located just 10 minutes from the resort. Chefs make regular field trips to the farm to inspire their plant-forward dishes at the resorts four restaurants, including Morgan’s in The Desert, La Quinta’s signature dining venue. In addition to their County Line Harvest partnership, the La Quinta culinary team plucks ingredients straight from the resort property, where trees brim with lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit.

Turtle Bay Resort (Kahuku, HI)

Paniolo Pāʻina is Turtle Bay Resort’s new weekly entertainment dinner occurring every Thursday evening. Set against a backdrop of Turtle Bay’s The Stables and the ocean, these dinners pay homage to the Hawaiian cowboy heritage with a pig roast, delicious eats, welcome cocktail, live entertainment and a cash bar made from vintage horse trailers. For those dining with keiki (children), the dinner includes both a pony meet and greet plus hula lessons. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a welcome drink and lei followed by a hula show, storytelling, fire knife dance and drums performance before ending the evening with fireside s’mores.

Worth noting: Turtle Bay Resort, in partnership with Pono Pacific, is launching a number of new immersive experiences for guests at its on-site Kuilima Farm, where stable and sustainable food production on the island is a priority.

 

The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa (Essex, VT)

At the culinary-focused The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa, travelers are in for a special treat with three distinct culinary experiences to choose from.

The famed Cook Academy is the perfect place for culinary exploration for seasoned kitchen pros as well as home cooks. Offering several different classes, the Cook Academy is a fun and festive experience for couples, families and even team-building events. Cooking classes at The Essex are unique in that they provide up-close instruction with culinary pros.

The AAA Four Diamond and Wine Spectator Award certified, Junction at The Essex, is a destination in itself.  A warm, comfortable setting provides the backdrop for a dramatic meal, orchestrated down to the finest detail by The Essex’s talented chefs. Each night, chefs act as personal tour guides, giving menu and wine suggestions and even sharing a few culinary secrets. The menu at Junction changes seasonally based on the freshest ingredients available, including from their own organic vegetable and herb gardens.

Folks can gift an experience their friends and family will never forget with the Inner Chef Resort Package including a hands-on Vermont Cook Academy class where travelers will chop, dice, sauté and prepare a three-course meal to be enjoyed. The fun does not end there, as they will also get the opportunity to sit back and watch the chef as they enjoy an intimate and interactive dinner experience made from the freshest local products at Junction.

Boston Harbor Hotel (Boston, MA)

After a successful 33rd annual Boston Wine & Food Festival this winter, Boston Harbor Hotel is continuing to reignite the local Boston culinary scene with a limited series of intimate winemaker-hosted dinners and tastings throughout 2022. As a nod to the festival, these pop-up events will feature top vintners and personalities from the world of wine and food. With Boston Harbor Hotel’s Executive Chef David Daniels at the culinary forefront, expect spectacular menus and wine pairings with an unmatched view of the Boston Harbor.

BONUS

Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa (Somerset Village, Bermuda)

Overlooking Mangrove Bay on the island of Bermuda, Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa, invites culinary travelers to a Full Moon Dinner Series. Once a month from May to October, Chef Keith De Shields guides travelers on a six-course wine and culinary adventure under the moonlight. Following each month’s full moon, the menu captures the fresh fruity flavors of carefully selected wines, each paired perfectly with handcrafted dishes perfect for savoring a memorable culinary experience.

Share