Learn to Cook, Four Seasons Style
In these kitchens, gourmet food lovers of all ages get hands-on training from top Four Seasons chefs.
Eating delicious food when staying at a Four Seasons hotel or resort is a given—but learning to make that food for yourself from some of the most talented chefs around the world? That’s perhaps the best souvenir you can take home.
Making Connections in Chiang Mai
At Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai in Thailand, a cooking class offers you the chance to get in on the secrets that chef Pirun Pumicome picked up from his grandmother and mother, his two strongest inspirations for becoming a chef.
The class starts with a tour of a local market, where you’ll pick out the prime ingredients for that day’s meal. You’ll also have a chance to try some local snacks, such as Chiang Mai sausage and Thai sweets.
Once back in the expansive cooking facility, class participants tackle four dishes, all tied together by the theme for the day. Major ingredients are prepared in advance, so you can focus on the chef’s techniques for making a fresh chilli paste or trying your hand at traditional Thai vegetable carving.
Sharing Knowledge in Bali
At Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, an emphasis on fine food can be found everywhere, from the new open-kitchen restaurant, Sundara, to the cooking classes where participants learn to prepare Balinese, Indonesian or Italian meals.
Balinese chef Wayan Ariana loves teaching guests about Balinese cuisine, but he also enjoys the lessons he picks up along the way. “I have learned about the cultures of food from students, and in some cases even their life stories,” Ariana says.
Kids can get in on the cooking, too, with a class for children ages 6–11. Adults with a sweet tooth should sign up for a weekly pastry class, where a chocolate soufflé, crêpes rolled with coconut, and chocolate chip cookies are the order of the day.
Good and Healthy in Los Angeles
Though you’ll find desserts on the menu in the cooking classes at the California Health & Longevity Institute, located at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village in Los Angeles, vegetables are the stars of the show, and registered dietitians teach the classes. “Guests can expect to really get a good basic understanding of what they need to change about how they eat,” says Paulette Lambert, RD, CDE, director of nutrition at the Institute.
The meals are anything but boring. Themes change seasonally and include Mediterranean grilling, meals that heal, and light Mexican and Italian. Participants get 10 to 12 recipes per class, which range from pleasing appetisers to delicious main courses to tempting desserts.
Even experienced cooks can benefit from these lessons, but no expertise in the kitchen is required. As Lambert says, “If you enjoy eating good food, you’ll enjoy the class.”
