“CIA Sophisticated Palate: The Ancient Cookfire”
February 19th, 2008“Indulge your passion for food, wine, and cooking with the Napa Valley’s legendary vineyards, bountiful farms, and innovative chefs as your inspiration.Invigorating Mornings in the Kitchen
Invigorating Mornings in the KitchenWhile a typical day in CIA Sophisticated Palate is anything but typical, you can expect to begin each day at about 8 a.m. with breakfast. Then you’ll move right to the kitchen for orientation, lecture, hands-on cooking, food and wine pairing.
During “The Ancient Cookfire,” you will:
- Master live-fire cooking, one of today’s “hottest” culinary techniques.
- Learn to use a variety of fire-cooking equipment, including grills, wood-fired ovens, Big Green Eggs®, hobo packs, rotisseries, and spits.
- Gain proficiency in cold and hot smoking methods.
- Explore the techniques and flavor-infusing properties of smoke roasting and learn to maximize the flavor of your cuisine with enhancers such as marinades and dry rubs.
- Examine appropriate uses for high-heat grilling versus low-heat grilling.
- Attend a wine and food pairing seminar to enrich your knowledge of the wines that best match fire-cooked foods.
- Enjoy a beverage demonstration by a guest mixologist.
Exclusive Afternoons in the ValleyThe essence of the CIA Sophisticated Palate program is inextricably tied to its location-Northern California’s magnificent Wine Country-and you’ll spend your afternoons experiencing it in a way virtually no one else has.
Blessed with seemingly endless sunshine, bountiful farms, and prolific vineyards, it’s no wonder the Valley is both a favorite travel destination and a hotbed of culinary innovation. For more than 30 years, chefs in this celebrated region have created innovative cuisines with local, freshly harvested ingredients at their core. The resulting foods-intensely satisfying and environmentally conscious-have spawned nothing less than a revolution in American cooking. When perfectly paired with one of the region’s lovingly crafted wines, the result can only be described as culinary nirvana.
Each afternoon, you’ll see, taste, and explore the very best of the Valley. You’ll benefit from the CIA’s relationships with premier growers, vintners, food producers, chefs, and restaurateurs as you take exclusive off-campus excursions designed just for CIA Sophisticated Palate participants. These visits will get you up close and personal with the people who make the Valley so special-you won’t be taking a standard public tour. Instead, your afternoon might include a visit to a private estate or farm, a behind-the-scenes tour with an olive oil producer, or a chat with a winemaker while you sample a yet-to-be-released Pinot. ”
