Culinary Vacation with Ruth Reichl (Two Guests - March 10-13, 2013)

An unforgettable honeymoon, anniversary vacation or special surprise trip for food and wine lovers.

Join Gilt Taste editorial advisor Ruth Reichl—renowned author of Garlic and Sapphires and onetime editor-in-chief of Gourmet Magazine—for this once-in-a-lifetime stay at a resort praised as “#1 in North America” by Travel & Leisure. Blackberry Farm is nestled in the shadows of the Great Smoky Mountains, and boasts views seen nowhere else in America. This vacation of culinary adventures for two includes a lesson on the heirloom fruits and vegetables of Blackberry’s famous gardens, a cheese- making class, a jamming session with a preservationist, a lesson on how to butcher, and many fantastic meals. You’ll join Ruth for a welcome dinner and a grand finale dinner (wine pairings from a Wine Spectator Grand Award–winning cellar are included). You’ll stay in a gorgeous room for three nights and have 4,200 acres of nature to explore. Blackberry Farm’s service is nonpareil—it has been named among the ten best in the world—and the Relais & Château property has earned the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List nod, among many, many other accolades. This trip will be limited to a small but spirited group of up to 20 couples.

Here’s what you get:

• A three-night, four day stay for two at Blackberry Farm from Sunday-Wednesday March 10-13, 2013

• A Classic Room for two on the farm grounds

• All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner daily), including two group dinners with wine pairings hosted by Ruth Reichl

• A hands-on cheese-making class with farmstead manager Dustin Busby

• An afternoon with the truffle dogs and trainer Jim Sanford in Blackberry's hazelnut orchard

• A course on the Art of Butchering with Michael Sullivan

• A wander through the garden and seed-saving class with gardeners John Coykendall and Jeff Ross

• A jamming class with preservationist Shannon Walker

• Wines from a Relais & Château-approved cellar

• Access to Blackberry Farm's fleet of Lexus automobiles

• Limited to 20 couples

• Resort named #1 in North America by Travel & Leisure

• 2009 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List

• Top Ten Best in World for Service (Travel & Leisure)

• Wine Spectator Grand Award since 1996

• Package typically retails for $9,993: $1495 per night accommodations + $4000 culinary tuition for two guests + taxes + gratuity

Check our Stories section all week for recipes and profiles of the artisans by Ruth Reichl and Francis Lam from their recent trip to Blackberry Farm.

Brand: Blackberry Farm