The Osthoff Resort is located on the shores of tranquil Elkhart Lake in Wisconsin. This luxury resort is only an hour’s drive north of Milwaukee. Foodies can enjoy the resort’s L’ecole de la Maison Cooking School this Spring.

Tantalize your taste buds with a variety of Bon Appétit workshop and course packages. These events will be taught in the cooking school’s demonstration kitchen. The L’ecole de la Maison Cooking School is known for learning about French Cuisine, as well as other great tasting food. Their motto is “Learning is always delicious at Your place on the lake.” Indeed it is.

Chef Scott Baker is the cuisine mastermind at The Osthoff Resort. He will be teaching the exclusive cooking classes this Spring. What a great experience to learn from the best.

Bon Appétit Workshop Packages:
With a one night stay at The Osthoff Resort in an elegant guest room, you receive either a two to four-hour workshop at the L’ecole de la Maison for two people. The resort and workshop package starts at just $349 per night. Taxes are additional. You can choose from the below workshops:

April 15 – French Desserts
Students will prepare decadent desserts commonly seen on French bistro menus and learn time honored techniques along the way. Recipes may include: Chocolate Sabayon Mousse Duet, Pastry Swans with Milk Chocolate and Chantilly Cream, Vanilla Crème Brûlée, Lemon Swiss Meringue Tart, Apple Tart Tatin, Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffles, Crêpes Suzettes with Raspberries.

April 22 – Pasta and Sauces
Learn the time honored methods of preparing homemade pastas and sauces. Making fresh pasta and sauces is a great way to get back to the basics of home cooked meals. Recipes may include: Fresh Herb Fettuccini with Garlic Cream, Potato Gnocchi with Rosemary Sauce, Ricotta Cavatelli with Garden Vegetables and Basil Pesto, Veal Bolognese with Black Pepper Pappardelle, Spinach Lasagna with Sausage and Mushroom Ragout.

May 13 – La Crêperie
Savory sweet crêpes inspired by classic recipes and ingredients from France’s Northern Coast can be simple or complex inspired by the occasion. Students will prepare recipes such as: Buckwheat Galettes with Spinach, Mushroom and Ham, Seafood Crêpes with Hollandaise, Crêpes with Apple and Calvados, Crêpes Suzettes, Chocolate Crêpes with Berries.

May 14 – Petite Gateau
Ever dreamed of making an elaborate dessert you would see in a French Patisserie? You will practice and learn many techniques of a pastry chef. The class will prepare petite gateau for you to take home. Recipes may include: Schwartzwalder Kirsh Torte, Opera Torte, Chocolate Grand Marnier Mousse Cake, and Strawberry Chambord Cream Cake.

General Manager, Lola Roeh was quoted, “Spring is in the air and its time to celebrate with inspiring culinary delights that will tantalize and delight your family and guests. The classes are suited to beginning cooks and food enthusiasts alike.” Participants will cook alongside Chef Baker as he provides instruction, gives preparation tips and helps you brings the recipes to life.”

Bon Appétit Course Packages:
With a one night stay at The Osthoff Resort in an elegant guest room, you can also choose from one of the below four to five-hour courses for two people. The resort and course package starts at just $449 per night. Taxes are additional. You can select from the below courses:

April 16 – Burgundy Cuisine
Master the essential art of slow food techniques that have been used over the centuries in many variations and can be applied to your own tastes. Recipes may include: Shrimp Bisque with Cognac, Rabbit with Mustard and Braised Leeks, Boeuf Bourguignon with Lardons, Pearl Onion and Mushrooms, Potatoes Duchess with Garlic, Belgian Endive Salad with Lemon Dressing, Blue Cheese and Toasted Walnuts, French Gougères, Raspberry Tart with Crème Pâtissière, Couronne Bread.

April 23 – Artisan Italian Breads
Artisan Italian breads are unique and delicious. This class will teach students to make fresh artisan breads at home while understanding the formulas from a baker’s point of view. Students will learn to customize breads to taste. Recipes may include: Rustic Ciabatta, Focaccia with Basil Pesto, Sesame Semolina, Pan Marino with Rosemary.

May 21 – Bouchon Lyon
In Lyon, a bouchon is a tavern that provides food to locals and travelers alike. The region is known for the finest in gastronomy and is home base to the famed Chef Paul Bocuse. Vineyards provide plentiful Beaujolas and Côtes du Rhône wines. Recipes may include: French Onion Soup au Gratin, Lyonnaise Salad with Poached Egg, Lemon and Fennel Stuffed Trout with Haricot Verts and Almond Brown Butter Sauce, Grass-fed Beefsteak Diane, Potato and Herb Croquettes, Vichy Glazed Carrots, Tart au Citron with Toasted Meringue, Country Bread with Gruyère, Rosemary and Bacon.

Whether you are planning to take a vacation or travel on business, consider participating in one of the Bon Appétit workshop and course packages at L’ecole de la Maison Cooking School.

Enjoy a VIP experience at this AAA Four Diamond resort on beautiful Elkhart Lake. The Osthoff Resort offers its guests luxurious, all-suite accommodations and endless luxury amenities. You can dine in one of the four restaurants for a terrific, fine dining treat. Unwind and get pampered at the resorts 20,000 square foot spa. For business meetings and retreats, you can utilize the grand conference center. The respected L’ecole de la Maison Cooking School is also a top attraction.

This luxury resort has been recognized by TripAdvisor.com with their Certificate of Excellence winner, plus being named one of the Top 500 Hotels and Resorts in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Visit the “Badger State” of Wisconsin and stay at The Osthoff Resort. In addition to luxury accommodations, enjoy one of the Bon Appétit workshop and course packages at L’ecole de la Maison Cooking School. Return soon to follow this luxury blog and read about other culinary stories and top travel destinations.

Photo: L’ecole de la Maison

The goal of a Le Cordon Bleu school is to help prepare its students for an exciting career covering culinary arts to culinary operations and management. This well known institution is recognized as the biggest network of culinary and hospitality schools anywhere in the world.

A new Le Cordon Bleu school is scheduled to open in Paris, France. The new school opens June, 22, 2016 and will be located on the banks of the Seine River, near the Statue of Liberty. The new culinary school is also next to the famous Beaugrenelle shopping centre, nearby the iconic Eiffel Tower.

It’s expected that the newest Le Cordon Bleu school will enroll greater than 1,000 culinary students each year. They will learn all there is to know about culinary arts and wine, hotel and restaurant management. Their training program education will prepare them for the fast, growing culinary industry.

The Paris school is 4,000 square meters in size and will feature the latest modern technology and equipment. The stylish, school building was designed and built to be eco-friendly. With a contemporary look, it was made out of aluminum and glass.

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the number of restaurants. It’s been reported that there is a shortage of chefs. A key driver is the relatively low salary they receive. Receiving an education from a top culinary arts and hotel management institute like Le Cordon Bleu can be quite expensive. The chef profession has always seen a high turnover ration. But the abundance of TV chef shows tend to overly glamorize the profession. It’s hard work and long hours. The result is many chefs unfortunately quit.

Below is a summary of just a few of the many features student will enjoy at the new Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris France.

• 7 practical classrooms for cuisine, pastry and boulangerie lessons, including one classroom that has been specially designed for teaching Asian cuisine: Thai, Japanese and Chinese.
• 6 modular classrooms that can be transformed into a 420 m² event space
• 3 large, demonstration rooms
• 1 workshop that’s dedicated to individual or group lessons for cuisine amateurs
• 1 cellar-style room that is dedicated to Wine and Management
• 1 boutique that carries a wide range of products and gourmet gifts. They are carefully selected by Le Cordon Bleu Chefs, as well as an array of cuisine and pastry equipment
• 1 student area with multimedia equipment and large library. Find a wide selection of international culinary books and magazines
• Le Cordon Bleu Café gives students and passers by the opportunity to try a range of quality goods either on site or at home

As part of the eco-friendly design, the building’s roof features a large vegetable garden that is 800 square meters in size. Designed to be energy autonomous, the roof, vegetable garden uses heat from the kitchen hoods. That heat then heats up the green house. Rainwater is collected in a rooftop tank and used ot water th plants.

Not only to grow vegetables, but the roof garden also provides a hands-on way for students to learn about how various fruit, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers can be grown in a city environment.

Le Cordon Bleu provides students around the world training programs covering the following fields: gastronomy, wine, tourism and hotel. Choose from different lengths of programs from an initiation level up to receiving an MBA degree.

If you desire to have a career in the culinary field, then be sure to check out a Le Cordon Bleu school where you live. We enjoy sharing the latest news and food industry announcements. Be sure to stop by again and follow our luxury blog.

Photo: Le Cordon Bleu

The phone receptionist at Bencotto Italian Kitchen said we were very lucky to get a reservation for two at 7:30 pm (the same day), but that she just had a reservation cancellation. Good sign or bad sign? — We’ll just have to see … but we expect a wonderful fine dining experience.

Arriving, we were promptly seated at a table for two overlooking the restaurant on the second floor, (good table to view the goings-on). We were ushered through a vibrant scene that seemed to grow by the minute. Animated conversation permeated the atmosphere, as everyone seemed to really be enjoying themselves – (a good sign).

Our Bencotto Italian Kitchen server, a young lady named Corrie welcomed us and gave us the low-down on their specials. A Napa Valley Alias Chardonnay ($11) and a Birra Moretti (Italian beer) ($7) were ordered to start things off.

A shared appetizer of eggplant parmigiana ($14), was ordered and was delicious. My son then ordered the Bencotto house lasagna alla bolognese, (meat and besciamella sauce) ($18), and I ordered house-made gnocchi al formaggi, (excellently prepared potato dumplings in a beautiful Alfredo-type sauce)($16). Both were excellently prepared. — All pastas are freshly made on the premises, which is definitely a plus.

Lastly, a complimentary after-dinner offering of Lemoncello topped the evening off. Unfortunately, there was no room in our satisfied tummies for dessert.

This wonderful place must be a gold mine! Food this delicious served in such an electrically vibrant atmosphere has to be a recipe for success.

If you’re looking for a quiet intimate atmosphere where hearing every spoken word is important, you may want to consider another restaurant. However, if you desire some of the most excellently prepared Italian food in San Diego, Bencotto Italian Kitchen is a must!

Buon Appetito!

Enjoying a fine dining experience is always a great time to spend with friends and family. When in San Diego, be sure to eat at Bencotto Italian Kitchen restaurant. If you need help booking your next luxury travel itinerary, contact us today. Be sure to stop back to follow this luxury blog and read more fine restaurant recommendations.

Author: Val Patacchi
Hawaii Critical Care Supply, LLC
Hawaii Critical Care Supply

The BAUERs Il Palazzo hotel in Venice, Italy will be hosting a fabulous Christmas dinner. Make this landmark hotel the perfect choice to enjoy an unbelievable, VIP experience.

The BAUERs Christmas experience is offered each year and provides a festive and memorable time for all. This year’s event will be held at the De Pisis Restaurant, which is the gourmet restaurant at the Il Palazzo hotel in Venice, Italy.

It’s a time to relax and enjoy the Christmas holiday season in an elegant environment. Whether it’s with family or friends, make this a magical night. Located near the world famous Grand Canal in Venice, the opportunity to eat a fine meal at De Pisis Restaurant should not be missed.

The dinner will be offered on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Enjoy a six-course meal that will tantalize your taste buds. The dishes will all be inspired by both Italian style and taste.

On Christmas Eve, your dinner has a fish theme, beginning with Cuttlefish confit and Scallops. They will be served in a tripe ragout that sounds so delicious. For your first course, try a mouth-watering Seafood risotto with fishmonger, scaled, mussels and shrimps. Next is an enticing roasted sole with cardoons, horseradish and tasty applesauce. Finish your meal with a tasty pomegranate sorbet and the warm Panettone with mascarpone and coffee.

Guests who come on Christmas Day will be treated to a wonderful dinner consisting of a delicate duck salad. Next will be a serving of marinated beef and pieces of crispy polenta. There will be pleasant risotto and the braised veal cheek. For dessert lovers, end your meal with pomegranate sorbet plus divine chocolate bar that will be adorned by candied orange and pistachio gelato. Yum!

As you gaze out the window of De Pisis Restaurant at the Il Palazzo Hotel, be sure to savoir the incredible views of the nearby Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute. What a fine dining treat.

This is a dressy occasion and you will be able to appreciate good company, wonderful ambiance and a terrific meal. Experience the beauty of Christmas at The BAUERs.

Spend Christmas in Venice, Italy and enjoy a fine dining experience at The BAUERs – Il Palazzo Hotel. The Life of Luxury can help you plan that last minute trip to Europe and see the amazing sights of Italy. Return often to follow this luxury blog. Read about the latest luxury travel news and package deals.

Photo: The BAUERs

During the busy holiday season, it’s very important to try and stay festive. Hosting a holiday party can be stressful, but the the key to a great party is being a relaxed host.

The key is planning ahead, getting organized and staying on task. Hosting a holiday party can be a daunting task, but don’t let it ruin your life. You want everyone to have a VIP experience, but that won’t happen by just luck.

Between Thanksgiving and New Years, we all have a lot going on. Shopping, socializing with friends and family, cold winters …. it can be too much for some people. Stay calm, don’t get overwhelmed and take things one day at a time.

If you need some planning and hosting a holiday party, Maureen Petroskyhas offered some helpful tips to get you through it and throw a successful holiday party. It can literally be as simple as 1, 2, 3.

Maureen’s resourceful tips offer some time honored help to get you on the right path. Focus on the end goal and her “Go for Gold”, “Rule of Three” and the “Three P’s” tips will make your next soirée the talk of the town!

Tip #1: Go for Gold
• When decorating for the holidays, create a tabletop that lasts from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Go for a gold tablecloth, and simply switch out fall colored napkins for red, white, green or navy blue—and then add more glittery objects to take it from November to December. For New Year’s, you can just pluck off all the colors and turn the tabletop all silver and gold. It’s easy by just changing out linen napkins and draping different colored ribbons around the center of the table.

Tip #2 – Rule of Three
• From appetizers to drinks to desserts, you don’t have to be a trained chef or mixologist to entertain over the holidays. Keep it simple with 3-ingredient recipes. My go-to 3-ingredient appetizer is a fresh baguette sliced thin and toasted, top with a scoop of quality ricotta cheese, and then drizzle with truffle oil and finish with coarse sea salt and cracked pepper. For an easy cocktail that’s sure to impress, put ice in a tumbler and pour Sandeman Porto on ice and stir well with a bar spoon. Garnish with a slice of orange and sprig of mint.

Tip #3 – The Three P’s:
• This tip is really for entertaining anytime of the year! There are three things you need to make sure to have in your kitchen – port, poundcake and pain (which is French for bread). With these three items on hand, you can put out a festive spread with very little effort. Just pour that holiday port cocktail (or serve it straight up!) and top that sliced baguette with anything and everything—from manchego cheese and spicy honey to leftover cranberry sauce and cream cheese for easy appetizers. The pound cake is delicious on its own, but you can easily dress it up with oranges and dried cherries or even make a quick rosemary-infused whipped cream and top with pomegranate seeds. Voila! You’re ready to entertain in style.

If you need help planning or hosting a holiday party, contact The Life of Luxury. We can help or even recommend an event planner in your area to assist you and make your holiday party a huge success. If you like reading about entertaining tips and food related stories, please read our luxury blog.

The Thanksgiving holiday is wonderful time to enjoy the company of family and friends. Of course there is that tastey turkey or ham, plus all the side dishes and of course the mouth watering desserts.

But often, choosing the right wine to enjoy with your meal is overlooked. Forbes has put together a list of 5 top wines to help you find the perfect wine and food pairing.

As a general rule, if you are having turkey and its abundance of white meat, then choose a lighter red wine or a meatier white wine to go along with your Thanksgiving meal. Consider staying away from a bottle of Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc wine. You can’t go wrong with a delicious California Chardonnay as it would make an ideal choice.

Choosing a wine with a more fruit taste will also work well. Consider maybe a Rhone Valley wine from France or a bottle of Alsace wine.

A glass of nice wine is the perfect addition to make your Thanksgiving dinner a memorable one. You want to make it a VIP experience for everyone, so do a little homework up front and choose the correct luxury wine for all to enjoy.

Before you even begin to eat your Thanksgiving meal, start the event off right with a glass of champagne. Consider

A great recommendation is Henriot Cuvée des Enchantellurs 2000 (Price: $200 a bottle). A great choice from Champagne, France

Here is the list of 5 top wines. Enjoy the day, enjoy the company and make it a wonderful, holiday experience for all.

1) Corison Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 (Price: $100 a bottle)

From Napa Valley, California – a terrific red cab that teases with that hint of both old leather and cedar, due to the time honored, aging process. Be sure to decant approximately an hour before your dinner for the best taste.

2) Riesling Helfrich Grand Cru, Steinklotz 2008 (Price: $30 per bottle)

From Alsace, France – this Helfrich wine makes a great choice. The Riesling brings a perfect blend of lemon and honey, with a splash of Asian spices.

3) Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir 2007 (Price: $90 each bottle)

From Carneros, California – this balanced Pinot Noir wine is another great choice to pair with your Thanksgiving dinner. It includes full ripe fall blackberries for an undeniable and refreshing taste.

4) Chante-Alouette, M.Chapoutier 2012 (Price: $100 per bottle)

From Hermitage, France – a great sublime white with hints of white peaches and mangos. Oh so good.

5) Cristom Pinot Noir, Sommers Reserve 2009 (Price: $45 for a bottle)

From Willamette Valley, Oregon – another American Pinot Noir wine that is ready drink as soon as a pour a glass. It’s ripe taste will dazzle your taste buds.

We hope you enjoyed the above list of 5 top wines to try at your Thanksgiving dinner. Planning is key for a successful meal and dinner party. Go that extra step and choose your wines carefully.

Come back soon to read about other food and wine topics such as our list of the 5 top wines on our luxury blog. The Life of Luxury strives to provide the latest luxury news and we hope you enjoy what we do.

New Orleans, Louisiana is known for fantastic food and has over 1,400 restaurants to choose from. It doesn’t matter whether its seafood, sausage, chicken or even okra going into your gumbo, it’s going to make your taste buds come to life.

Be sure to enjoy a steamy bowl of gumbo when visiting New Orleans. A typical gumbo recipe includes okra that’s simmered for several hours in roux. It consists of both flour and either oil or butter.

There are several New Orleans restaurants that have been serving great meals to patrons for a very long time. For example Antoine’s is celebrating its 175 year anniversary. Amazing! Other incredible New Orleans restaurants include Commander’s Palace, Arnaud’s, plus Brennan’s, which recently finished a restaurant renovation.

With great restaurants, comes great chefs. Chef Alon Shaya is a James Beard Award-winning chef at Shaya. Or stroll down to St. Roch Market, where you can try various food vendors led by promising new chefs. For foodies that like to enjoy a supper club, which has been a popular fine dining experience, stop in to dine at Dinner Lab.

The “Big Easy” also offers numerous food festivals all during the year, where you sample and try out delicious foods.

Once you get your fill of great food, be sure to explore the city and discover the rich culture and arts that New Orleans offers. Joie de vivre is French for “joy of life” and that motto is deeply rooted in this city. It’s a cultural hotbed and resonates everywhere you look.

The city has long appreciated the arts and you can wander among its many museums and galleries. For example, the The National WWII Museum has now become the top visitor attraction.

The New Orleans Museum of Art is found in City Park, which is one of the oldest and largest urban parks found anywhere in the U.S. Newly reopened, check out the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, celebrating the culture of the America’s historic South.

Two other obvious choices to visit are the Contemporary Arts Center and Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Regardless of your choice, the vibrant arts scene in the Crescent City will definitely not disappoint.

New Orleans is such a unique city with Southern charm. It’s a perfect city to explore its culture and love of food by dining in one of many New Orleans restaurants.

The Life of Luxury can assist planning and booking your luxury travel reservations to Louisiana. Enjoy the magnificent food choices and a VIP experience at the numerous New Orleans restaurants. Be sure to return again to read our luxury blog for more travel tips.

Last week Carbone restaurant, the hot New York City establishment in Greenwich Village, opened in Las Vegas at the ARIA Resort & Casino. Mario Carbone, Rich Torrisi and Jeff Zalaznick are the top brass at Marking Major Food Group, and this is their first venture outside of the Big Apple.

The new Carbone restaurant strives to bring that classic Italian-American cuisine and merge it with top notch, Captain tableside service. The restaurant will use only world-class-sourced ingredients plus award-winning, culinary craftsmanship.

ARIA Resort & Casino is a luxury AAA Five Diamond resort, located on the world famous Strip in Las Vegas, widely known as the entertainment capital of the world. The luxury resort in Sin City offers its guests only the best in concierge services and endless luxury amenities. Enjoy your stay in VIP style!

When asked about the opportunity to open Carbone restaurant in Las Vegas, Chef-partner Mario Carbone was quoted, “It is very exciting to be a part of the booming food scene happening on the Las Vegas Strip. We are committed to bringing Las Vegas a truly memorable dining experience that is unlike anything this city has seen.”

Adding to the excitement of the restaurant’s grand opening, managing partner Jeff Zalaznick stated, “The glamour, history and attitude of Las Vegas make it a perfect fit for Carbone. We are not just replicating the New York City restaurant; our guests will experience a Carbone specifically for Las Vegas.”

The space within Carbone restaurant is carved into various rooms. Ken Fulk is a San Francisco-based star designer and created the unique atmosphere that combines theatrical edge along with Italian culture.

One of the new rooms is named The Blue Room. It’s available for private dining and is reached via a series of elliptical arches. Once inside, you are mesmerized by the stunning blue decor. The Blue Room features high, vaulted ceilings that are accented with golden-tipped lighting. A unique New York City touch is utilizing NYC subway station tiles on the room’s walls. Enjoy your favorite cocktail at the mahogany bar with an antique mirror.

The goal of Carbone restaurant is to deliver the best Italian-American cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere. The restaurant’s dishes only use the finest products sourced from around the world. Restaurant guests will enjoy their choice of indulgent dishes that has made Carbone the popular choice in New York City for the ultimate fine dining experience..

Several of the Carbone dishes that are expected to be the most popular are the famous Spicy Rigatoni Vodka, Veal Parmesan, Lobster Fra Diavola and Meatballs. The menu will offer seasonal specialties, and look forward to being treated to new additions that will be unique to the Las Vegas location at the n the menu along with seasonally changing specialties. The menu will continue to evolve and introduce dishes entirely exclusive to the Las Vegas location at the ARIA Resort & Casino.

Wine connoisseurs will enjoy Carbone’s vast wine selection to pair with their favorite dish. The wine collection consists of 550 labels, including top wines form Italy, France and the U.S.explores the best-of-the-best from Italy, America and France.

You can find Carbone in the luxury ARIA Resort & Casino, on the promenade level next to Jean Georges Steakhouse and BARDOT Brasserie. The new restaurant will be open between 5:00pm and 10:30pm Monday through Saturday.

If you are visiting Las Vegas, be sure to dine at the new Carbone restaurant for a terrific, Italian-American cuisine meal. The Life of Luxury can help book your luxury travel reservations and deliver a VIP experience during your Las Vegas stay. Come back again to read our luxury blog for new travel industry announcements.

Photo: Carbone

Another popular trend in the travel industry is foodie tourism. Driven by the popularity of TV food shows and the desire for travelers to enjoy great food and a fine dining experience, foodie tourism is hot. Luxury hotel and resorts around the world are creating fantastic opportunities and appease our gastro-pleasure desires.

Offering a collection of over 40 luxury and upscale independent hotels, resorts and residences all across the United States, Destination Hotels provides an incredible array of local, foodie programs – everything from foraging, to local farming and fishing experiences, plus get cooking tips from local chefs.

The culinary interactions being offered by Destination Hotels are all authentic. These culinary adventures are one-of-a-kind and are will deliver a memorable experience that your stomach will surely say “Thanks!”

Here’s a list of intriguing, gastronomic getaways from Destination Hotels:

Meet the Forager: The local gardener and forager at Suncadia, A Destination Hotel, guides guests through Hay Creek Garden to share secrets of the many earthy delicacies native to the area. This multi-course dinner showcases the garden’s complete summer harvest, including several types of carrots (red, yellow, purple, white), Arugula, Broccoli Raab, Mustard Greens, Snow Peas, Filet Beans, Eight-Ball Summer Squash, Edible Flowers, White Strawberries and more.

Catch, Keep & Eat King Salmon: In partnership with Cabela’s Outfitters, Fishing the Gorge and Skamania Lodge, A Destination Hotel, hotel guests have the opportunity to climb aboard a beautiful 24-foot Alumaweld Formula Vee boat for a guided King Salmon fishing experience on the Columbia River. Executive Chef Matt and Skamania’s culinary team will then turn the catch into a delicious meal for guests to enjoy fresh that night.

Pop-up Street Food Kitchen: Once a week at the Hotel De Anza, A Destination Hotel, the patio at The Satellite Kitchen is transformed into a pop-up street food kitchen that features a variety of food creations from local guest chefs. This culinary event displays new food concepts and classic favorites while highlighting the local ingredients from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Best of Land and Sea: Terranea Resort, A Destination Hotel offers a myriad of culinary experiences that immerse the senses and satisfy even the most discerning foodie, with the best of California’s coastal cuisine. Through the Farm-to-Terranea dining experience package, guests can participate in a farm tour and cooking demonstration with Terranea’s Chef Bernard, as well as a number of interactive workshops that highlight the sea salt and honey harvesting in the area. Wine and spirits sommeliers can quench their thirst at Terranea’s Pastry & Liquor pairing workshop with Executive Pastry Chef Pierino and Sommelier Szymon Piechaczek, or a wine pairing dinner at signature Mar’sel restaurant.

Orange Grove Dinner: The Orange Grove at Royal Palms Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona – a luxury Destination Hotel, is an idyllic dining vignette. The original resort, built in the middle of a citrus grove at the base of Camelback Mountain, creates an intimate setting for any occasion with its farm-fresh culinary offerings and inspired craft cocktails menus.

Blue Crabbing and Farmers Market: At Wild Dunes, A Destination Hotel, guests can catch wild blue crabs on Capers Island in South Carolina, a nearby boneyard beach that is a scenic boat ride away. Guests then enjoy an authentic beachside crab boil with their catches. For those looking to explore the historic downtown Charleston with a foodie twist, a local chef will guide guests through the Farmers Market Showcase who will pick out local produce and the prepare a fresh and wholesome lunch.

How Sweet It Is: The Carolina Inn, A Destination Hotel, and local bee keeper Marty Hanks, are working together to curate organic, homemade honey at Hank’s charming five-acre farm in Orange County. These painted and decorates hives will be harvested in July for guests to use and enjoy in the award-winning Carolina Crossroads Restaurant at the Carolina Inn.

Backyard to Table: Suncadia, A Destination Hotel, has put its own spin on the Farm-to-Table movement with the Backyard-To-Table Summer Foraging Dinner at the Nelson Farm in Washington. Chef Rick Shell and his culinary team have crafted an innovative multi-course dinner inspired by the vibrant flavors of the summer season. From Eight-Ball Summer Squash, to White Strawberries, to wild foraged mushrooms — the menu highlights the area’s glorious summer produce straight from the hotel’s backyard garden, which guests handpick themselves.

Water & Wine: Guests looking to work up an appetite and truly earn those wine calories will enjoy this unique tour offered by Stowe Mountain Lodge, A Destination Hotel in partnership with nearby Boyden Valley Winery & Spirits in the renowned Green Mountains. Guests are driven to the winery’s outpost in Cambridge, VT and enjoy a 90-minute paddle in a boat of choice (kayak, paddleboards or single or tandem canoes) followed by a special private winery tour. A wine tasting and a platter of fresh Vermont cheddar cheeses along with French bread will be provided as a reward for the hard work endured on the lake, and a guide will transport guests back to the car at the winery tour conclusion. Located in a restored 1875 carriage barn, Boyden Valley Winery is steeped in culture and agriculture heritage and offers 8,000 grapevines and 300 acres of maple trees tended to by the same family for four generations. Each wine features only the finest locally grown fruit from the loamy soils of the Lamoille River Valley.

In addition to the above foodie programs by Destination Hotels, the award winning travel company also also features 20 renowned golf courses, 19 indigenous spas, in addition to 105 exceptional bars and restaurants.

If a foodie experience at one of the Destination Hotels is what you’ve been wanting to try, please contact The Life of Luxury and we can help plan and book your entire luxury travel reservation. Enjoy a true VIP experience. Keep up with all the latest fine dining and travel news, by returning to this luxury blog.

Photot: Royal Palms Resort and Spa / Destination Hotels

Summer is in full swing and backyard BBQ parties are everywhere. If you are looking for a top of the line luxury BBQ, then consider the Kalamazoo K750HT grill.

The Kalamazoo K750HT grill is so popular with avid BBQ’ers, that it even made an appearance on the popular Showtime TV show titled “Ray Donovan.” Respected actor Liev Schreiber plays the lead character.

But Ray’s father “Mickey Donovan” played by legend Jon Voight, who is a both an Oscar® and four-time Golden Globe® winner took delivery of a “top of the line” Kalamazoo K750HT BBQ grill in the season-opening episode that was named “The Kalamazoo.”

Jon Voight tells his fellow TV show, apartment neighbors that they will able to enjoy a great barbecue once the grill was all hooked up.

Grilling season is a great time of the year. Social gatherings are even better with delicious tasting BBQ food, so you want to make sure you have the right grill.

It doesn’t get much more summer than that – a new grill and the promise of a great cookout. Since we are in the heart of the grilling season and Mick just got his new grill, I thought your readers might be interested in learning more about some luxury barbecues in case they want to replace their old ones.

Here are several of the best luxury BBQ grills on the market.

o K750HT ($16,495) or the K1000HS (priced at $25,195) from Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. A great choice. These luxury grills can cook with gas, wood and charcoal in any combination. They’re handmade in Michigan only when they are ordered

o Komodo Kamado’s Big Bad 32 (priced between $5,900 and $6,100). This high-end luxury grill uses refractory cement to retain heat. This process is same as used in blast furnaces.

o Grillworks’s The Grillery (custom pricing) because it’s one awesome BBQ grill.

o Lynx Smart Grill (priced between $6,000 and $9,499). Ever get lonely grilling? Well this top grill will even talk to you!

If you like reading about the best life has to offer and VIP experiences, follow our popular, luxury blog. The Life of Luxury is available to assist you and help you enjoy a luxury lifestyle.

Photo: Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet

Napa’s Meritage Resort & Spa in Northern California is proud to announce their Masters and Makers Winemaker Dinner Series 2015. Guests will be given an opportunity to gain an in-depth development in the process of wine, all while enjoying a culinary creative, multi-course dinner. You’ll also get the opportunity to talk to representatives from some of Napa Valley’s prominent wineries and personally speak with local winemakers.

The event will start with a reception at 6:30pm in the Vineyard Deck, and continue with dinner in the Estate Cave. Guests will be able to create their own ‘Bordeaux’ style of wine and enter to win a complimentary one-night stay at the luxury Meritage Resort and Spa. This incredible event began July 18 and will run through October 30, 2015.

Napa Valley is home to hundreds of wineries that produce some of the top wines in the world. Napa has produced some elegant Chardonnay and expressive Cabernet wines. Napa Valley is a tourist mecca and offers multiple boutique cellars, romantic caves, catered luncheon, private guided tastings, wine blending and seminars. You will be able to enjoy the many luxuries of cuisine, rich history, and many scenic landmarks.

Meritage Resort and Spa is an award winning AAA Four-Diamond Resort. It offers over 300 Tuscan inspired guestrooms & luxury suites. Stroll along the walking trails, and the Napa property even has its own vineyard. If a busy schedule keeps you from traveling to Italy, The Meritage will offer you an ideal experience offering charm, stunning landscapes, imaginative cuisine, and desired wine. The resort also offers other leisure activities and provides a luxury experience like no other for true, wine enthusiasts.

The Meritage has an Ultra Lounge, that features 6 luxury bowling lanes, full bar, pool table, and darts. You may also stumble upon The Meritage’s Estate Cave. One of its kind, and the only underground full service spa, tasting room, and banquet room. It offers natural stone and copper water features, combined with old world Florentine architecture. The Estate Cave is a destination in itself, combining luxury, romance, and authentic ambiance.

Join The Meritage Resort and Spa as it welcomes the most prestigious winemakers of Napa Valley. Depending on the date you choose to attend, the event cost is only $125-$175 per person. Each dinner will provide a VIP experience, seamlessly blending leisure and culinary delight. Don’t miss out on a chance to mix wine, cuisine, all in the beauty of world famous Napa Valley, California.

The Life of Luxury offers an endless list of luxury travel VIP experience options, like the 2015 Masters and Makers Winemaker Dinner Series at The Meritage Resort and Spa in Napa, California. Return again to follow our luxury blog and stay abreast of all the latest luxury travel news.

Photo: The Meritage Resort and Spa / Rex Gelert