Cost: $1,300 for the Week of Classic Techniques Master Class.
Lodging: Guests can stay in cottages or in Ballymaloe House.
Nestled in the middle of a 100-acre organic farm in Ireland, Ballymaloe Cookery School is heaven on earth for the fans of local food. Founded in 1983 by Irish chef and author Darina Allen, the school's philosophy is that respect for the ingredients and an understanding of where food comes from is key to success in the kitchen. The school offers everything from afternoon drop-in sessions to a 12-week certificate course. Intrigued by the burgeoning artisan butchery movement? A one-day demonstration class, How to Cure a Pig in a Day and Use Every Scrap, walks students through breaking down a side of pork and transforming it into terrines, sausages, hams, and bacon. Gardening classes are also available, and if you ask nicely, you might get to round out your farm visit by milking a cow.
For the baby boomers, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Here are four distinct (and distinctly appealing) options for where this most individual of generations should spend the golden years.... More
Anne Gudefin, Pimco's top stock picker, sees bargains in the consumer sector and safety in precious metals. More
