Culinary & Wine Tours
According to a study commissioned by the Travel Industry Association, Gourmet magazine and the International Culinary Tourism Association, some 17% of American leisure travelers seek culinary and wine-related activities. During the past three years, that percentage accounted for some 27 million travelers. The top five destinations for food-related travel in the USA, according to the study, are California, Florida, New York, Texas and North Carolina.
Being an avid foodie and wine lover, every chance I get I want to explore the gastronomical delights in the places I travel. Food and wine provides sensory insight into a culture. Whether it is regional, country or continent based the senses of taste and smell tantalize and can definitely surprise even the most adventurous palate. In some cases I have found a new favorite food or wine varietal, in other cases my taste buds have frowned on my eagerness to experiment.
Food and Wine in Australia’s Hunter Valley
This Hunter Valley food and wine tour was hands-down one of the best food and wine tasting adventures I have had. The Hunter Valley was beautiful with its rolling hills and open space… a nice day trip outside of Sydney. A quick stop in Wollombi village introduced me to Dr. Jurd’s Jungle Juice. A sweet-tasting brew that was bottled up a bit like medicine. From there the adventure took us to three very different wineries that allowed for a range of experience…a large family-owned, a corporate-owned and a small boutique winery. I bought wine all around and had smiles throughout the private tastings at each place. The tastings included Semillon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, and Dessert Wines to name a few.
The lunch was a class act with small plates of meat including kangaroo and emu, cheese and vegetables and yes, more wine (obvvviousslllyyy). We also had a delicious cheese tasting at Cooper, a boutique winery, paired perfectly with their wines. In fact I have served the Cooper gold dessert wine and pinot noir to guests at dinner parties since my trip and they are still talking about it. At the end of the ten hour day my belly was pleasantly full with the tastes of the day.
A “Restaurant” on Caye Caulker, Belize
A few years ago I had the opportunity to tour around Central America. A pal and I spent much of our time exploring the country of Belize. We went from the inland areas of the Mayan Empire out to the white sand and clear water of the Cayes. Caye Caulker is the island where we spend many days soaking in the sun, exploring the marine life and meeting new friends. On this island the signs say slow down and cars are not allowed. The inhabitants are an eclectic mix of mestizo,
creole and garifuna cultures so you can image the food emphasized is seafood with sprinklings of latin and creole influences. To stay cool each day we indulged in sampling the two beers of the country Lighthouse Lager and Belikin Beer. There are about 25 restaurants on the island. The fare ranges from Italian, to Caribbean, to seafood, to your standard burger and fries.
Being the adventurous eater I wanted us to try a place I heard about called Wish Willy’s. The owner, Willy, is known for his tasty drinks, spicy sauces and fresh seafood dishes. His place is off an alley and the sign is worn and faded. Wish Willy’s was essentially a few wooden tables in Willy’s front yard. We felt as if we were at a friend’s barbecue. He only had rum with tropical juices available to drink and his pal had to run down to the market to buy beer for all the guests.
The menu was verbally provided by Willy and included lobster and snapper. Once we all ordered he left us for a bit and headed down to the dock to pick up the seafood. Upon his return more drinks were served and candles brought out after sundown. Willy headed to the kitchen to cook up our dinners but talking to us from inside the house the entire time. Our orders were served with a delicious spicy sauce, rice and vegetables. The seafood was simply amazing and our plates were completely cleared. Wish Willy’s had everything a unique ambience, good libations and amazing, fresh, home cooked food. If you ever get the chance to travel to Belize go to Caye Caulker and check out Wish Willy’s.
Happy Eating and Drinking!
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