American Express Vacations is attempting to help meet the growing demand for fine cuisine by offering travelers exclusive getaway packages that combine private dinners, winery and market tours, and instruction from top chefs.

“More and more, travelers see local cuisine as a means of immersing themselves in the culture and customs of their vacation destinations,” said Francesca Bonavita, executive vice-president and general manager of American Express Vacations, who added:

“Another reason for the increased interest in culinary travel is that travelers are becoming more interested not only in experiencing the finest celebrity-chef restaurants, but also learning the craft itself.”

Each month American Express Vacations introduces a new exclusive culinary travel package in the pages of Food & Wine magazine. Packages include:

• "A California Dream for Wine Lovers" package at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa in the wine-growing region, with the three-night Sonoma Connoisseur package offering in-room wine, daily wine tasting and dinners at the Sante restaurant. Packages start at $1,025 per person.
• The five-night "Caribbean Cuisine Celebration" at the CuisinArt Resort & Spa in Anguilla where highlights include a six-course menu at the chef’s table, a tour of the resort’s hydroponic farm  --  the only one of its kind in the Caribbean  --  and a hands-on luncheon. Packages start at $1,235.
• “Learn to Make Margaritas and More in Mexico” is a vacation aimed at couples looking to celebrate a romantic occasion. The four-night package from Casa de Sierra Nevada in San Miguel de Allende combines instructional classes at the property’s Sazon cooking school and a dinner for two at Andanza, a AAA four-diamond restaurant.  Classes offered at Sazon include a market tour with Chef de Sazon and others.