Epicurean Journeys: Food-Focused Experiences for Discerning Palates
June 4, 2025 by Hidden Doorways
The most profound travel memories are often forged not through sight, but through taste – where the first bite of perfectly spiced curry transports you deeper into Rajasthan than any guidebook ever could or that one incredible sip of wine connects you to centuries of Italian tradition. These carefully curated epicurean experiences transform meals into transformative journeys, revealing destinations through their most intimate language: food.
From ongoing culinary immersions woven into luxury properties to once-in-a-lifetime special events featuring world-renowned chefs, each promises to create memories that linger long after the last bite.
Ongoing Experiences
Culinary Immersion in the Himalayas | Shinta Mani Mustang, Nepal
Woven into the very fabric of a stay at the Shinta Mani Mustang is an extraordinary culinary program that immerses guests in the rich traditions of the Himalayas through two distinct experiences. By day, authentic lunches with locals in their very own homes offer the most genuine connection to regional life, while evenings feature a rotating dinner program that ensures no two nights are the same. Guests might experience a Foraging Dinner showcasing wild mushrooms and river trout, a Trade Route Dinner blending Indian and Tibetan flavors from ancient caravan paths, or a nine-course Momos Across The Himalaya feast celebrating the beloved Tibetan dumpling in both traditional and innovative forms. Each meal draws from ingredients foraged from the pristine landscape through a unique Forager’s and Farmer’s program that supports local networks, protects livelihoods, and preserves centuries-old culinary methods.
The Spice of Life | The Leela Palace Udaipur, India
Alongside the many breathtaking dining spots at The Leela Palace Udaipur is a unique opportunity to dive into the world of spice – the hallmark of Rajasthani cuisine. An adventure facilitated by a resident expert who escorts guests to local bazaars via tuk tuk to shop for authentic spices and sample the goods at famed eateries before returning to the Sheesh Mahal kitchen for a private culinary masterclass. Guests can expect to come away with a sound understanding of the spices required to create the most authentic Rajasthani dishes and unforgettable memories of enjoying them under the stars.
La Dolce Vita | Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni, Italy
If Italy is known for anything, it’s La Dolce Vita – particularly when it comes to eating, and the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni in Lake Como is no exception. Here the curtain is lifted for diners to experience a multitude of processes firsthand. From the ancient art of wine tonging – a historical 18th-century method where hot iron tongs and ice water create a thermal shock to cleanly break vintage bottle necks – to fresh lobster linguine prepared tableside. At their Michelin-starred Restaurant Mistral, guests witness the creation of signature liquid nitrogen ice cream and coccumella coffee, a traditional Neapolitan coffee preparation technique performed in the room.
A Royal Feast | Airelles Le Grande Contrôle, France
Feast like royalty at Versailles with an exclusive dining experience by the legendary Alain Ducasse at Airelles Château de Versailles, Le Grande Contrôle. The first chef to have three restaurants awarded three Michelin stars each, diners are in the best of hands to indulge in an unforgettable culinary event. Among a grand, gilded dining room, guests are swept away to 18th-century France with a menu inspired by the feasts of kings. Ducasse reimagines classic French fine-dining dishes with a modern twist – always prepared with the finest seasonal ingredients to adhere to his dedication to sustainable dining.
Sensory Pleasures | Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives
Set among the white sands and crystal waters of the Maldives, Gili Lankanfushi is a feast for the senses in its own right. But their sensory culinary experience might just be the cherry on the cake. Guests are handed blindfolds before being guided to their table where a dinner like no other awaits. A guessing game of flavors and ingredients to challenge one’s olfactory senses. Culminating with a grand reveal of the dessert course where guests can remove blindfolds for the waiter to share the stories and pictures of the meal that has just been devoured.
Lunch Break Illusions | Musha Cay, Bahamas
Owned by world-famous illusionist David Copperfield, it’s no wonder that every experience on the private island of Musha Cay offers a slice of magic – even a simple lunch break. Here a two-mile-long sandbar rises from the ocean during low tide, where a picnic lunch can be prepared for guests to feel like they’re dining among the crystal waters. Once the tide rises, the sandbar disappears again – as if it were all an illusion.
Special Culinary Events & Packages
A World-Class Gastronomic Gathering | The Dolder Grand, Switzerland
Once a year, The Dolder Grand hosts a gourmet festival – the Epicure – graced by a total of 111 guest chefs with a combined 249 Michelin stars between them. Over the course of five evenings from September 9th to the 14th, fine dining chef and The Dolder Grand’s Culinary Director Heiko Nieder is joined by a different guest chef for a unique 4-hands dinner. This year’s installment sees chefs from England, Finland, Taiwan, Belgium, and many other countries.
Community-to-Fork Feasting | Trisara, Phuket
Home to PRU, Phuket’s first and only Michelin-starred and Green Star restaurant, Trisara knows a thing or two about fine dining with conscience. Taking their community-to-fork philosophy to a new level, they recently unveiled five transformative dining concepts: La Crique brings French Riviera elegance to the Andaman Coast, Thai Library celebrates Southern Thai heritage, 7.8° North Bar offers refined cocktails, Cielo & Spice features Silk Road flavors with live jazz Sunday Brunch, and NOÉ on the Beach serves as an exclusive retreat for resort guests. To celebrate this culinary evolution, the new Trisara Culinary Experience offers a curated stay in private pool villas with panoramic ocean views, daily breakfast by the Andaman Sea, private airport transfers, and a choice of lunch or dinner at either La Crique or Thai Library, plus nightly food and beverage credits and access to all resort experiences, transforming stays into complete immersion in Phuket’s most sophisticated dining destination.
Chef Swaps | Mii amo & Twin Farms, USA
From the deserts of Arizona to the forests of Vermont, Mii amo and Twin Farms have joined forces for two unique culinary exchanges. In June, Mii amo’s resident chef Zach Woodworth joins Twin Farm’s Nathan Rich for a one-off experience exploring the resort’s holistic approach to sustainable farming and ingredient provenance. Later in August, Woodworth heads to Twin Farms to deliver a unique dining experience as part of a weekend event that includes yoga, art classes and more, creating a rare opportunity to experience both properties’ distinct culinary philosophies.
Master of Fire | Kokomo Private Island, Fiji
From August 1-3, Lennox Hastie, one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs, returns to Kokomo Private Island to host a three-day culinary immersion like no other. Known globally for his award-winning Sydney restaurant Firedoor, Hastie has built his reputation around fire as an art form. Guests of the event can expect a beachfront feast where fire meets finesse, a castaway open-fire picnic on nearby Namara Private Island with fresh local catch, and an intimate fire-cooking masterclass where Hastie shares the philosophy and precision behind his craft.
Vintage Excellence | Halekulani, Hawaii
Where Hawaiian shores meet some of the finest French vintages – an incredibly unique event awaits at Halekulani‘s award-winning restaurant La Mer. On June 27, Hawaii’s longest consecutive AAA Five Diamond and Forbes 5-Star restaurant hosts a special tasting dinner featuring the renowned wines of Château Cheval Blanc. Guided by renowned French Cellar Master, Carole André, guests will be led through an immersive experience of culinary excellence with the most exquisite wine pairings.
Alpine Food & Wine | Hotel Yellowstone, USA
For culinary enthusiasts looking for a stateside break in June, it would be worth planning around the Jackson Hole Food & Wine Festival – ideally located near to the glorious Hotel Yellowstone. This three-day event (June 26 – 28) offers a one-of-a-kind food and beverage experience featuring wine tastings, Michelin-starred dinners and more.
