Cooking Vacations And Food Tours From The International Kitchen

More about Our Intensive Cooking Vacations

What can one expect on an intensive cooking vacation? Well, first, more cooking. Usually, to be considered intensive, our clients will cook every day, or almost every day, and sometimes more than once a day. Also, the skills and recipes they tackle will usually be more advanced, whether it be deboning a chicken, making phyllo from scratch, or learning to spin sugar.

What else can you expect on an intensive culinary vacation? Usually, they will include plenty of foodie visits, whether to see masa being ground in Mexico, to a foie gras farm in France (yes, to learn more about this sometimes controversial method of animal husbandry) or to see orecchiette being made by hand on the streets of Bari. You will learn about the regional ingredients, from the cured meats and cheeses to the vegetables and legumes, and will explore the wines on wine tastings and wine tours.

Of course, even our most passionate chefs, be they professional or home chefs, want to get out of the kitchen and see the place they are visiting as well, so most of our intensive cooking vacations also include cultural visits and excursions as well, or at least time on your own to explore.

What else might you learn on our intensive cooking vacations? It depends on the destination of course. In Italy, you might learn different types of regional kinds of pasta, while in France you might delve into sauces and pastries. In Spain, your focus might be meats or fish, depending on where you travel, and in Greece, you could delve into the local produce. Wherever you travel on an intensive cooking vacation, and whatever hands-on cooking classes you enjoy, you are sure to learn more about the local gastronomy and culinary way of life.

FAQ about Intensive Cooking Vacations

How do I know if intensive cooking classes are for me?

Intensive cooking programs are ideal if you’re looking to significantly expand your culinary skills rather than just sample local cuisine. They’re suitable for experienced home cooks, culinary professionals, and serious enthusiasts who want to spend several hours daily in the kitchen, master complex techniques, and understand the science behind traditional recipes.

Do I need to have cooking skills for intensive cooking programs?

While you don’t need to be a professional chef, intensive cooking programs are best suited for those with a solid foundation in basic cooking techniques. You should be comfortable with:

Basic knife skills and kitchen safety,
Understanding common cooking terminology,
Following complex recipes independently,
Basic kitchen equipment operation,
Time management in the kitchen.

However, what’s most important is your passion for learning and willingness to spend significant time in the kitchen. Different programs accommodate various skill levels, from advanced home cooks to culinary professionals. The key is being ready to fully immerse yourself in the learning process and practice new techniques repeatedly.