Globetrotting Gastronomic Getaways
Globetrotting gourmands on-the-go can book a collection of culinary vacations through Virtuoso, a luxury travel network this summer.
Food lovers can book packages at Armani Hotel Milano and Castello di Casole in Italy, the Mandarin Oriental, Paris, and The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in Florida through Virtuoso and receive a host of complimentary items from room upgrades and daily breakfast to early check-in and late-check out.
The Armani Hotel Milano's Romantic Experience package includes daily American breakfast, pre-dinner cocktail at the Armani/Lounge, and a degustation dinner at the Armani/Ristorante with wine paring. Non-foodie perks include two 50-minute massages and a gift. Rates start at €1,261 per couple, per night.
The five-night Divine Flavors package at the new Castello di Casole in Tuscany includes daily breakfast, a cooking class for two and wine pairing with a private chef and sommelier. The culinary adventure continues with a vineyard experience with a winemaker, including barrel and vertical tastings of the estate grown and produced wine, along with lunch.
The package also includes a chef's tasting menu dinner for two at Ristorante Tosca, including wines selected by the sommelier, and a tasting of the estate grown and produced olive oil. Rates start at €800 per couple, per night, and based on a five-night stay. Castello di Casole opens in July.
Travelers interested in a getaway to the City of Lights can book the Mandarin Oriental, Paris's A Gourmet Experience package, which includes a specially-created nine-course tasting menu for two at two Michelin-starred Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx. Rates start at €1,439 per couple, per night (Sur Mesure par Thierry Marx is closed in August).
At the recently opened The St. Regis Bal Harbour, guests can indulge in the Bespoke Culinary Escape, which includes a wine-paired tasting menu in the Jean-Georges Vongerichten-inspired J&G Grill. The package also includes a nightly champagne sabering ritual in The St. Regis Bar, followed by a private wine tasting and cheese pairing with the Sommelier in the Wine Vault, a one-hour private pastry class with Antonio Bachour, and a private poolside Oasis Cabana with pool butler service, fruits and choice of waters. Rates start at $1,049 per couple plus tax and gratuity.