The popularity of food-related television shows and documentaries has fueled interest in food tourism. Programs like "Chef's Table," Stanley Tucci’s “Searching for Italy," and Eva Longoria’s “Searching for Mexico” are giving viewers a taste of not only the flavors that await them abroad but also the culture and history. Travelers today are pairing food with world-class experiences and adventures, from a Swiss Chalet dining experience paired with hiking in the Rocky Mountains to the first Relais & Chateaux cruise paired with the Amazon River to a French Riviera-inspired menu with the ultimate beachfront spa getaway. From Peru to Alaska to St. Barths to Ireland, these are a few culinary experiences and destinations worth traveling to this summer, meeting the appetite of today’s traveler.
1. Pair Michelin Star Restaurant with Exclusive Equine Experience
Reservation to Book: Cashel Palace, Ireland | Bishop’s Buttery, Chef Stephen Hayes
The Michelin Guide to Great Britain & Ireland unveiled its newest awards, including a Michelin Star for The Bishop’s Buttery, located at the five-star Cashel Palace Hotel in Co. Tipperary. Opened in 2022, the fine-dining restaurant offers contemporary Irish cuisine with much of the produce sourced from farmers, growers, and artisanal food producers in Tipperary. A proud Relais & Chateaux member, Cashel Palace’s exceptional dining offering celebrates life, the land, and the locality. Based on an ethos of quality and seasonality, menus have been created to celebrate and serve outstanding contemporary Irish cuisine. At The Bishop’s Buttery, Cashel Palace’s fine dining restaurant, gorgeous vaulted ceilings, natural light, generous tables, and a large open fire adorn the dining room where guests enjoy extraordinary food such as the favorite black sole. Menus offers the best of Irish produce, with a focus on Tipperary’s ingredients, brought together with classical roots and contemporary flair. Warm service, superb wines, and sublime flavors make dining at The Bishop’s Buttery an exciting and noteworthy experience. For the ultimate dining experience, book the Chef's Table experience, which includes a five-course elevated tasting menu paired with wines hosted in their private cellar.
Experiences to Book: The Racing Royalty Equine Experience offers guests at Cashel Palace an exclusive look behind closed doors of the Magnier family’s breeding operation at Coolmore Stud and training facilities at Ballydoyle. The hotel’s dedicated Equine Concierge will guide guests around these private operations, where they’ll have the opportunity to see world-class racehorses in action during the morning and magnificent stallions in the afternoon. It is a unique experience reserved normally only for those directly involved in the business.
2. Pair Relais & Châteaux’s first cruise with adventures on the Amazon River
Reservation to Book: Delfin Amazon River Cruises, Peru | Chef Isaac Savedra
The first Relais & Châteaux Cruise in the world, Delfin is an upscale river cruise operator in the Upper Peruvian Amazon, offering a comprehensive gastronomic, cultural, and memorable adventure. Delfin takes personalized boutique travel and services to new levels. Three luxury cruises ranging in capacity from 4 to 22 award-winning suites allow you to enjoy the spectacle of the Amazon rainforest all day long — whether in the plunge pool, when looking up from your book, or while sipping a pisco sour on the upper deck. All cruises provide five-star, farm-to-table dining services from Delfin’s local garden, blending Peruvian history with contemporary dishes. Each dish is a unique blend of flavor, color, and texture using the wild choices of fresh ingredients the Amazon region provides. Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the best in the world and reflects one of the country’s intrinsic characteristics, which is its cultural diversity.
Experiences to Book: Enjoy a Canopy Walk with unparalleled views of the Amazon Rainforest, its wildlife and its vegetation. Birds and other animals that cannot be seen from the jungle floors can be witnessed at a height of 85 feet along this 1,580 foot traverse, one of the longest canopy walks in the world.
3. Pair a French Riviera-inspired menu with the ultimate spa getaway
Reservation to Book: Hotel Christopher, St. Barts | RIVYERA, Chef Arnaud Faye
Nestled by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, the Christopher Hotel's RIVYERA restaurant transports guests directly to the enchanting South of France. This culinary journey captures the essence of the French Riviera's exceptional cuisine. For 2024, The Christopher will celebrate another amazing season with its new gastronomic offerings by France’s two Michelin-starred Chef Arnaud Faye at RIVYERA. Arnaud Faye, a Meilleur Ouvrier de France (the designation for France’s top craftsmen), has designed a new pre-fixe gastronomic dining experience directly from la Chevre d'Or, his restaurant on the French Riviera to the hotel’s RIVYERA restaurant sharing his love for the Côte d’Azur through his Mediterranean menu and relaxed European vibe. The new Signature Menu highlights include local fish with fennel and bottarga, lobster with melon and shiso, octopus confit with olive oil, beetroot and rose, Vitello tonnato, and a frosted coconut dessert.
Experiences to Book: Located at the Caribbean’s only Sisley Spa, The Christopher Ritual by Night is available from 8-10 pm and includes a 30-minute body scrub and a 60-minute massage of your choice, followed by a 30-minute private tropical bath with a sea view.
4. Pair these Swiss favorites with hiking in Vail’s Rocky Mountains
Reservation to Book: Sonnenalp, Colorado | Swiss Chalet, Chef Joshua Marshall
The Swiss Chalet in the Sonnenalp Hotel in Vail, Colorado, is known for its alpine cuisine, specializing in raclette and fondue. Featuring traditional European dishes in a classic Swiss-style setting, the restaurant offers the ultimate dining experience. Käse Spätzle (homemade Swiss dumpling topped with cheese and crispy onions), authentic regional hearty favorites such as Schnitzel, delicious cheese fondues, and freshly made desserts like Austrian apple strudel and chocolate fondue are all enjoyed in a setting that makes you feel like you are in a chalet on top of a mountain. Come hungry because you will certainly leave full.
Experiences to Book: The Sonnenalp Hotel organizes Guided Hiking Tours around the Vail area in the White River National Forest. Stunning views of the mountains and rivers, with trails for all skill levels, allow guests to build up an appetite.
To learn more about these experiences or inquire about REYA's clients, please email alexandra@reyacommunications.com.