Imagine Taking a Culinary Voyage, Included in YOUR Tuition, in the USA or Abroad.

The Associate Degree students can participate in wine tasting and a weeklong “culinary voyage” in the USA or abroad (for those who qualify), all inclusive in your tuition. Eligible students who will have reached level II Cuisine or Baking & Pastry between September 2008 and August 2009 can apply.

Northern California Study Tour Exclusively for Students at The Culinary Institute Alain and Marie LeNôtre including San Francisco, Sonoma County & Napa Valley
October 11 to 18, 2008

Saturday, October 11

Depart Houston on Continental Airlines to San Francisco. Private transfer to the Sonoma Valley. On the way to Santa Rosa we will stop at Gloria Ferrer Champagne Caves for a tour and tasting, Stop in Sonoma or Glen Ellen.

Check into The Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa.

Wine Welcome and Dinner at the hotel.

Sunday, October 12

We head to Chloe’s French Café (chloesco.com) for a hands-on cooking class Pastries of Provence, offered by Marc, Renee and Alain Pisan, a third generation patissier from Provence, France. He respects the traditions his father and grandfather imparted to him while growing up in his family's patisserie.

We will have lunch at the Café and then head to the Charles M. Schulz Museum.

Later we will visit with Chefs Duskie Estes and her husband John Stewart and tour their organic restaurant garden. We will have dinner at Zazu, their highly acclaimed Santa Rosa restaurant featuring seasonal local products, many grown in the adjacent garden. Featured on the June 2007 cover of Wine Spectator, the review says “the passionate, creative, whimsical chef-owners concoct sumptuous, innovative new American-Northern Italian cuisine”. Casual dining.

Monday, October 13

We travel to Napa for a visit to COPIA, The American Center for Wine, Food and The Arts. After a brief orientation we will tour the exhibits, plus enjoy a private garden tour, cooking class and lunch. A highlight will be a class teaching the blending of various types of wines. You will create your wine label and bring home your own custom designed bottle of wine.

We will then visit the architecturally-acclaimed Artesa Winery, located just outside Napa. Artesa, meaning “craftsman” offers handcrafted wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Here we will tour the beautiful grounds and taste a few of their wines.

At 6 p.m. we’ll enjoy a 4-course family style dinner at Ad Hoc, Chef Thomas Keller’s casual eatery in Yountville. Thomas Keller is the chef and owner of two of the most highly regarded restaurants in the United States: the French Laundry in Yountville, Calif., and Per Se in New York. Each currently holds three Michelin stars, making him the only American chef to have two three-star restaurants to his name. The menu at Ad Hoc changes daily to make best use of locally grown and seasonal products.

Tuesday, October 14

We will head north to Healdsburg. Spend the morning in the Healdsburg area. This area offers many opportunities to visit farms and taste Sonoma zinfandels. We visit J Wines, a bee farm and Tierra Farms. In Sebastopol and Occidental we will learn about mushrooms and garlic.

This afternoon enjoy some free time to wander through the Healdsburg Town Square. Here you will find art galleries, tasting rooms, gift shops, and the Hand Fan Museum.

Dinner at Charlie Palmer’s Dry Creek Kitchen. Chef Charlie Palmer one of America’s leading chefs and owner of the highly acclaimed Aureole in New York City and Las Vegas, went directly to the source—Northern Sonoma County—for the finest fresh seasonal produce, gourmet food purveyors like CK Lamb and Cowgirl Creamery and fine wines, to create Dry Creek Kitchen in the Healdsburg Hotel.

Wednesday, October 15

Heading to Petaluma to the McEvoy Ranch. Our extensive tour takes us through the olive groves and gardens to the frantoio (olive press) followed by an olive oil tasting and lesson.

Then on to the Pacific Coast to Hog Island Oyster Farm for a picnic lunch with grilled oysters.and to the Cowgirl Creamery in Point Reyes. After our tours we will head down the coast to San Francisco. Once there we will check into The Orchard Hotel. Group dinner.

Thursday, October 16

We will take a guided tour of the city stopping along the way for photos. Then we wander through the Ferry Building Marketplace and enjoy lunch at The Slanted Door. Recognized as offering the finest Vietnamese food in the United States, Chef Charles Phan showcases the abundance of local produce as well as ecologically farmed meat, game and poultry found at farms around the San Francisco Bay Area.

After lunch we take the street car to Fisherman’s Wharf for a walking tour including Boudin Bakery to meet the bakers, Ghirardelli Square, and Buena Vista Café, home of Irish Coffee. Dinner at Scoma’s one of the oldest seafood restaurants on the Wharf. In operation since 1920, family-owned Scoma’s continues to serve the freshest seafood to the locals.

Friday, October 17

We will have a hands-on dumpling class where you will learn classical Chinese techniques. Next a guided tour of Chinatown and walking tour including a fortune cookie factory, local herbalist, an art gallery, tea purveyor, Chinese temple, and produce markets. This afternoon there is time to explore San Francisco on your own.

Farewell dinner at Fior d’Italia, (2237 Mason St.) Located in the Italian area of North Beach, Fior d’Italia is one of America's Oldest Italian restaurants, proudly serving the citizens of and visitors to San Francisco since 1886.

Saturday, October 18

Depart San Francisco for flight home.

Other Trips in Planning for 2009
January 2009	New Orleans
March 2009	Puebla Mexico
June 2009	Montreal, Quebec Canada
August 2009	New York City

Please note: number of tours, places and dates are subject to change without notice.

Prepared by Sullivan's Custom Tours