New Orleans is a city known for its good times and great eats. The city’s impressive restaurants, rich food heritage and focus on culinary arts make New Orleans a popular destination for cooking vacations. A variety of museums, cooking schools, culinary festivals and events, and fine and causal restaurants provide many opportunities for culinary travelers visiting the Crescent City.
Museums
The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is home to a variety of collections and exhibits designed to give visitors insight into the city’s rich food heritage and the role that food and cooking play in New Orleans culture.
Demonstrations
Demonstration classes at the New Orleans School of Cooking in the French Quarter offer visitors the opportunity to learn how to make creole and Cajun favorites from entertaining experts. The two and a half hour demonstration classes include generous samples of the four dishes made during each class.
Hands-on Experiences
The Savvy Gourmet offers culinary travelers the opportunity to learn how to cook with hands-on experience. Small hands-on classes taught by talented chefs are offered on a variety of topics including local Louisiana cooking, cooking fundamentals and international cuisine.
Events
The New Orleans Food and Wine Experience and Tales of the Cocktail are held in New Orleans each year. Each event is designed to enrich people’s understanding of New Orleans cooking and cuisine through a series of dinners, tastings and seminars.
Dining
Much can be learned about New Orleans cooking and cuisine by dining in a variety of restaurants on a New Orleans cooking vacation. A complete New Orleans cooking vacation should include meals in some of the city’s fine dining establishments as well as the smaller hidden gems.
Vacation Packages
The New Orleans Cooking Experience offers two types of vacation packages. Visitors can sign up for weekend or long weekend vacation packages that offer multiple cooking classes and meals.