Santa Fe Culinary Tour for Women

Watch this beautiful video from our  2012 Santa Fe Culinary Tour.

Santa Fe Culinary Tour for Women

Number of days: 5

Itinerary dates: June 5 – 9, 2013

Tour Leader: Beth Whitman

* SORRY, SOLD OUT. PLEASE CONTACT US TO GET ON THE 2014 WAITING LIST.

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HIGHLIGHTS
* Experience a hands-on tamale-making class
* Enjoy daily chocolate tastings at local specialty chocolate shops
* Tour the Santa Fe Farmer’s Market with a guide from the SF School of Cooking
* Take a guide downtown walking tour and learn about Native American history
* Meander through galleries during art walk
* Suitable for vegetarians and meat eaters alike
* Every tour participant on a tour with a departure date in 2013 will receive a free Donner Bag from Overland Equipment in their color choice. See details here.

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The tour begins on Wednesday afternoon. Arriving via Albuquerque, participants will make their own way to the hotel in Santa Fe (airport shuttles available, a rental car is not necessary).

See Santa Fe Photo Gallery
Watch the video from the 2012 Santa Fe Culinary Tour

Day 1
Wednesday, June 5, 2013 (Meals: D)
The group will begin this exciting long weekend with a 1.5-hour guided walking tour of the historic downtown Santa Fe Plaza, beginning at 3:30pm.

With a local expert leading the group, you’ll walk through more than 400 years of history, art and culture as this personal guide presents an extraordinary introduction to Santa Fe and provides an entertaining, humorous and accurate portrayal of the “City Different.” The group will visit both the historic Plaza and the Palace of the Governors while you learn about St. Francis Cathedral and explore the Loretto Chapel with its miraculous staircase.

The walking tour includes a stop at Todo Santos, a local chocolate shop, and ends at The Shed, a local (legendary) restaurant serving up authentic New Mexican food. Overnight at Hotel Santa Fe.

HIGHLIGHT! You’ll love the wide range of options and delicious authentic New Mexican food served up at The Shed – a favorite of locals and visitors alike.

Day 2
Thursday, June 6, 2013 (Meals: B, L, D)
Breakfast will be at nearby Sage Bakery before the group heads to a local farm in Nambé to meet Erin Wade, owner of Vinaigrette Restaurant. You’ll tour the farm and learn about agriculture in the high desert.

The group will then take the beautiful “High Road” to Chimayo, located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. You’ll stop at Santuario de Chimayo, the most important Catholic pilgrimage site in the Southwest. You’ll then enjoy a delicious lunch at Rancho de Chimayo Restaurant, located in a century-old adobe home and one of New Mexico’s more popular places to dine.

On the return trip to Santa Fe, the group will stop at a winery for a tasting of the local delights before enjoying your second stop on the Chocolate Trail, The Chocolate Smith.

You’ll have time for a short rest in the afternoon prior to dinner at the spectacular Vinaigrette, where you’ll taste the produce from today’s farm tour. Overnight at Hotel Santa Fe.

HIGHLIGHT! Seventy percent of the organic produce served at Vinaigrette during peak season is grown on this bucolic, 10-acre farm. The property includes a 1,200 square-foot greenhouse bursting with micro-greens, herbs and other cool-season delights in the winter and a jungle of tomatoes and hothouse crops in the summer.

Day 3
Friday, June 7, 2013 (Meals: B, L, D)
This morning, you’ll have breakfast at Clafouti, a wonderful French bakery that serves up an interesting twist on baked goods and New Mexican spices.

The group will then take part in a 3-hour hands-on class at the Santa Fe Cooking School to learn the intricacies of making tamales. You’ll have a chance to try at least different types (Red Chili and Pork, Southern Mexican Chicken and Sweet Anise Seed) that highlight techniques helpful in tamale-making. You’ll then make your own and receive some in-depth information from the chef while the tamales cook!

After lunch, the group is in for another chocolate-tasting experience at C.G. Higgins, with the possibility of dipping your own chocolate covered fruit.

After a short break for some rest time, the group will reconvene for a “Free Friday” (gallery entrance is free) walk to see several museums which will include several galleries along Canyon Road and possibly the O’Keeffe Museum, History Museum and the Palace of the Governors. You’ll end the day with an olive oil tasting at Oleacea and dinner at La Boca for Spanish paella and a sherry tasting. Overnight at Hotel Santa Fe.

HIGHLIGHT! Tamales are an important part of New Mexican cooking. Today, not only will you get to enjoy a variety of these delicious treats, but you’ll take away detailed instructions so that you can prepare them at home.

Day 4
Saturday, June 8, 2013 (Meals: B, D)
This morning you’ll walk to nearby Santa Fe Farmer’s Market for a guided tour by a local chef. You’ll be able to sample fresh breads, cheeses and produce with plenty of free time for browsing and shopping for spices, food and souvenirs.

The group will have one last stop on the Chocolate Trail at Kakawa Chocolates for sipping chocolate.

The afternoon is free to explore!

In the evening, the group will enjoy a cooking demonstration and 5-course dinner of Native American foods in the home of local chef and food photographer, Lois Ellen Frank. You’ll learn about the flavors of the real Southwest reflecting the unique cultural mix of Santa Fe. Overnight at Hotel Santa Fe.

HIGHLIGHT! You’re in for a real treat on this evening. The food will be superb but you’ll also learn about the history of pre-contact food in the region and how food has evolved. Lois is a Native foods historian and is a winner of the James Beard Award for her latest cookbook.

Day 5
Sunday, June 9, 2013 (Meals: B)
After a group breakfast at the hotel, you may have time to wander the Plaza and do any last minute shopping before departing on your own for the airport in Albuquerque.

** Itinerary subject to change without notice.
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* SORRY, SOLD OUT. PLEASE CONTACT US TO GET ON THE 2014 WAITING LIST!

Costs:
Price: $1,495
Single Supplement: $450

Interested in sharing? We do our best to pair up same-sex travelers so as to avoid the single supplement. However, priority is given to the first deposits received. If you’re interested in sharing – PLEASE send in your deposit as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this benefit. (Why a single supplement charge? See this FAQ page for an explanation.)

Final payment due no later than April 5, 2013.

Price includes: 4 nights hotel accommodation in downtown Santa Fe, 4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners, guides, entrance fees, transportation included in events above, all services and gratuities and local taxes.

Price does not include: airfare, airport transfer or alcoholic beverages.

We recommend World Nomads for travel and/or evacuation insurance.

This trip is limited to 15 women and requires a $300 deposit to secure your spot.

Minimum required: 6 people

Read Booking Terms and Conditions

Santa Fe Culinary Tour Registration Form (SORRY – SOLD OUT)

For deposit and payments, please make payable and mail check to:

WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116

For questions, please contact Beth at:
info (at) wandertours (dot) com
888-818-9918

Santa Fe packing list: Provided upon registration

Santa Fe Culinary Tour 2013 Itinerary (PDF)

Tour Leader

About Beth
Though Beth has been a globetrotter for nearly 25 years, one of her very favorite destinations is Santa Fe (with New Orleans a close second).

With every visit she comes away with a new set of skills, such as tamale-making, and a bag full of spices. As a vegetarian, she is constantly amazed at the variety of options and the depth of flavor to be found in New Mexican cooking.

She gets pulled back to this city time and again and is delighted to be sharing her love of this region with a group!

Related links:
Santa Fe Photo Gallery