Boot camp at the Culinary Institute of America
Cost: $2,195 for five-day Culinary Boot Camp: Basic Training; $1,195 for a two-day Sophisticated Palate program.
Lodging: New York's Hudson River Valley has a host of small inns and B&Bs.
You hear "CIA." You think: "Don't mess around." And you'd be right: The Culinary Institute of America is the nation's top real-deal cooking school, known for turning out some of the world's best-known chefs. Curious whether you'd have the chops to make it through even one day of class? Check out the school's Enthusiast programs: The two- to five-day Boot Camps in a variety of topics -- from butchery to specialty breads -- are sure to whip you into shape. (Classes run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Depending on the type of vacation you're after, you can choose from three locations: The flagship campus is in New York's Hudson River Valley, but a more coddling experience is available at the Napa Valley location in St. Helena, Calif., where the CIA Sophisticated Palate program includes private tours of wineries, trips to farmers' markets and restaurants, and instruction in pairing wine with food.
So sharpen your best knives (or shell out for the Tool Kit provided by the school), pack comfortable shoes, and get ready to sweat.
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