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Culinary Excursions: 10 Savory Cooking Retreats
by Carrie Miner
Going on vacation doesn't mean staying out of the kitchen Not content to sit back and be served, modern gastronomes are flying to far-flung culinary destinations where the emphasis is on creating flavorful food and dining delights.
If you want to stretch your cooking talents while exploring some of the greatest, general aviation-friendly destinations in the country, then prepare to be amazed. In this gustatory guide, you'll find everything from dedicated epicurean events to intensive, week-long gourmet vacations.
So get geared up for a creative menu of cooking techniques, fabulous recipes and hands-on instruction and before long you'll be sautéing shoulder to shoulder with some of the best chefs in the country.
 Spa Cuisine Southwestern Style
With food taking the focus in everything from TV to travel, it isn't any wonder calorie-conscious gourmands are looking for ways to combine the current cooking craze with a fit lifestyle.
Located on 55 stunning acres in the scenic red rocks near St. George, Utah, the Red Mountain Spa breaks out from traditional spa offerings with its School for Adventure Cuisine package. This five night, cuisine-oriented getaway focuses on healthy cooking and the fundamentals behind the development of deliciously nutritious gourmet meals.
Each afternoon, Executive Chef Chad Luethje takes culinary adventurers on a savory excursion through the world of spa cuisine. The two-hour, afternoon classes, held in the resort's teaching kitchen, cover soups and salads; healthy cooking techniques; the healthy harvests of grains, fruits and vegetables; and wholesome breads and desserts. Chef Luethje says that he focuses on the underlying principles of creating a colorful and nutritious menu in the themed classes.
"Students take home 12 to 15 recipes each day but, instead of focusing on the individual recipes, I like to teach the underlying principles in a template-based method of instruction," says Luethje. "By teaching [participants] how to reduce fat and calories while still maintaining flavor and presentation, they can continue eating healthy with what they learn here."
 And if you think healthy spa food is bland, think again. Students learn to create dishes straight off the tempting menu at the resort's Canyon Breeze Restaurant, which offers such succulent dishes as fire roasted poblano chile relleno, coriander crusted chicken, molasses seared North American elk, Mediterranean grilled vegetable orzo salad and vanilla & mascarpone sabayon.
"Chefs rarely get to come out of the kitchen and talk to guests, much less help make a positive impact on their lifestyle," says Luethje.
"It is rewarding to see [students] excited about taking these techniques home with them."
And while healthy cooking and dining remain the primary objective at Red Mountain Spa's School of Adventure Cuisine, it isn't the only thing you'll have to fill your time after you put down at the St. George Airport [SGU].
The Red Mountain Spa features health inside and out with a luxurious spa menu, healthy living classes, a state-of-the-art fitness center and unlimited outdoor activities including hiking, cycling, mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing and golf. Best of all, pilots looking to spread their wings a little further can explore the nearby "Grand Circle of National Parks"—Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Grand Canyon National Park.
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