A Gourmet Getaway in the Big Apple

Click here for our virtual flyer!

The Flavors of New York

2012 departures: September 28 – October 1

Did you ever wish you had a friend in New York City who could lead you through town, exploring its dazzling array of restaurants and

neighborhoods — and even be able to share a few culinary tips and secrets along the way?

With the Elite Experiences Flavors of New York tour, you can experience the city as you have always dreamed. Fabulous New York City lays claim to a cornucopia of ethnic foods — a legacy from the waves of immigrants that settled here over centuries. The Eastern European history that accompanies the city’s foodie icons — a bagel with a schmear, pastrami sandwiches and egg creams — is fascinating, fun and, well, delicious! Legions of produce laden Old-World push carts have been supplanted today by urban green markets, and cuisines from newer countries are layered in.

This four day, three-night Flavors of New York package will showcase the city’s best bites in an intimate-sized group for an uncommon epicurean adventure with culinary activities, fabulous food and time to explore on your own. You will stay in one of Manhattan’s most historic and stylish neighborhoods — Gramercy Park — and its haute bohemian hotel, the Gramercy Park Hotel, a member of Design HotelsTM. Here you will indulge in a special dinner at the celebrated restaurant Maialino and enjoy unique perks like coveted key access to the adjacent private park.

Other ingredients include a private culinary walking and tasting tour of the Lower East Side, a guided visit to the Italian food emporium Eataly with a noted cookbook author, and a Sunday lunch at one of the city’s acclaimed new restaurants, Mas (la grillade). Here, James Beard award-winning chef Galen Zamarra serves dishes created of seasonal ingredients from small, organic and sustainable farming operations in New York’s countryside. Lunch will be followed by a hands-on chocolate making class with a Master Chocolatier — and Champagne. There will be plenty of free time for shopping, theater, museums and other fabulous dining experiences.

A 4-day/3-night gourmet getaway in the Big Apple filled with delicious experiences. Below you will find all the ingredients for your epicurean adventure.

Tour includes:

Three-nights deluxe accommodations at the haute bohemian Gramercy Park Hotel in one of Manhattan’s most historic and stylish neighborhoods.

• A four-course dinner with wine at the Roman-style trattoria Maialino, in the Gramercy Park Hotel.
• A guided culinary walking tour of the Lower East Side with lunch at the legendary Katz’s Deli.
• Lunch at Mas (la grillade) where old world grilling techniques deliver simple and sophisticated food.
• Hands-on chocolate-making class with master chocolatier, Ilene Shane.
• A special guided visit to Eataly — the exciting emporium devoted to Italian food and wine — with noted cookbook author Michele Scicolone and a signed copy of her latest book. 

To join this adventure, contact your Affluent Traveler luxury advisor today. Availability is extremely limited.

Day 1, Friday

Welcome to New York City! Check-in at the boutique Gramercy Park Hotel, a member of Design HotelsTM, where you will luxuriate in generously scaled and beautifully appointed rooms that are all different, each with its own unique layout and distinctive collection of art and objects. Curated photographs and unique pieces of furniture inspired by a myriad of cultures add to the ambiance. Relax and take the afternoon at your leisure. We suggest taking a walk to the nearby Union Square Market, the city’s preeminent Greenmarket. Later that night you will dine at Maialino (baby pig), in the Gramercy Park Hotel. This Danny Meyer restaurant captures the warmth and comfort of a traditional Roman trattoria. Chef Nick Anderer will prepare a special four-course meal with wine. Dinner is included. 

Day 2, Saturday

After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet mid-morning for a private guided culinary tour of the Lower East Side. This storied neighborhood was once home to nearly a half million Eastern European Jews whose pushcarts lined the teaming streets. The tour will provide a fascinating history of the neighborhood and feature stops at revered eateries like Russ & Daughters (for exceptional smoked salmon), Katz’s for lunch (founded in 1888, this Jewish-style deli is NYC’s oldest and arguably its best), a fun nosh at the Essex Street Market, and more. The remainder of afternoon is at your leisure. Breakfast and lunch is included.

Day 3, Sunday

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and a morning at your leisure. Later you will meet up for a special lunch at Mas (la grillade) where you will taste the culinary creations of Chef Galen Zamarra, a classically trained chef who cooked at the original Bouley as well as a series of Michelin three-star restaurants in France. Sunday afternoon’s itinerary includes a hands-on chocolate-making lesson with master chocolatier Ilene Shane in her atelier at Sweet Bliss. Her clients include the veritable New York City institutions of Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys — and the indomitable Lady Gaga. Champagne will be served and you’ll get to take home your creations. Breakfast and lunch are included.

Day 4, Monday

After breakfast at the hotel, the morning will start with a short walk that will bring you to Eataly. Italian food writer and cookbook author Michele Scicolone will show you around this 50,000-square-foot multi-level emporium, which is devoted to the food and culinary traditions of Italy. It boasts seven restaurants, a rooftop beer garden and an onsite mozzarella maker. If your schedule permits, feel free to stay on to shop and lunch on your own. Breakfast is included.