Arrive To: Check-in and registration, followed by meeting your Group Leader and program registration.

Dinner: A delicious three course dinner featuring local foods is served this evening.

Evening: Program Orientation and Introductions. Review your week and meet your fellow participants.

Lodging: Newport Beach Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Dinner

Mantunuck Oyster Experience, Tewie Rum Distillery, Guilded Age Cocktail Reception

Breakfast: This monring breakfast is included at the hotel featuring both cold and hot entree's.

Morning: LECTURE: When exploring the aquaculture shellfish farm behind the Matunuck Oyster Bar restaurant, you not only learn about where your food comes from, but you also walk through its breeding grounds here on the southern coast - and if you’re lucky, you harvest a few oysters to eat later. On a program led by Perry Raso, 32, owner of those two enterprises, he showed a dozen or so adventurous customers who had slogged to the aquaculture site in nearby saltwater Potter Pond the spot where he also grows gracilaria, a tannish, tasty seaweed served in his restaurant. Aquaculture, “is the fastest-growing food-producing trade in the country.’’ He uses about 30 percent of what he grows in Potter Pond at his restaurant, and also sells to retailers, in addition to buying oysters from some of the other 35 or so aquaculture businesses in the state. We will walk through the farm, sample oysters, and wine.

Lunch: A light lunch is served at the Oyster Bar featuring coastal offerings.

Afternoon: LECTURE/FIELD TRIP: In 2007, Newport Distilling Company received the first license to distill in the state since the closeure of the John Dyer distillery in 1872, which marked the end of a rich rum producing history in the state. Naturally, the goal is to recreate the rum that had been world famous 250 years ago during the boom years of the sugar trade. Using the same blackstrap molasses, local water, and pot still techniques, this rum has been resurrected and is now called Thomas Tew. We'll gain an understanding of the production process and uncover the history as we tour the facilty.

Afternoon: LECTURE: We conclude our day with a visit to the Viking Hotel where we will experience a Gilded Age Cocktail Seminar. This afternoon we learn about the cocktails served during the Gilded Age in Newport with a roof top reception at the historic Hotel Viking.

Dinner: Feel free to explore the wonderful city of Newport, RI. Dine on the water or in one of the many historic restaurants like the White Horse Tavern where it is said that George Washington once visited.

Lodging: Newport Beach Hotel and Suites

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: Breakfast is included today with a selection of cold and hot entree's. We head North to Boston today, before traveling onward to Southern Maine

Morning: LECTURE/FIELD TRIP: This morning we'll join Michele Topor’s on her award-winning North End Market Tour of America’s oldest Italian neighborhood. passion for all things Italian. Trained as a professional chef, Michele has taught cooking, catered, and consulted on Italian food since 1979. We'll discover the pasticerias that offer the best biscotti, amaretti, sfogliatelle, cassata, taralli, cannoli and other confections. Visit an authentic salumeria in search of the best olive oil, balsamic vinegar, olives, salami, cheese, prosciutto and pasta. Savor the scents of a 70-year-old coffee and spice shop and an Old World candy store. Visit an enoteca to learn how to select aperitivi to begin, wine to complement, and digestivi to conclude your meal. Learn and be inspired by how the Mediterranean diet has influenced people’s health since antiquity. Understand how the Italians adapted their dishes to their new country and created the familiar Italian-American cuisine.

Lunch: A traditional Italian lunch is served at one of Boston's famed North End restaurants.After lunch we'll continue to Freeport, Maine.

Afternoon: LECTURE: The Stonewall Kitchen Cooking School located in York, Maine offers great food and clear, concise instruction in an atmosphere that is relaxed, comfortable and friendly. You’ll go home with a clear understanding of how to recreate these recipes in your own kitchen and have the opportunity to learn about the finest tools, appliances and utensils. Our class today will feature Maine products and could include baking or appetizers.

Dinner: Tonight enjoy dinner on your own in downtown Freeport where you can choose from many restaurants that include fine to casual dining.

Lodging: Hilton Garden Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Portland Maine Culinary Walking Program, Fishery Talk, Rising Tide Brewery

Breakfast: A full breakfast is included today featuring both hot and cold selections.

Morning: LECTURE/FIELD TRIP: This morning we meet with a local historian/fishing expert who will talk about the Maine fishing industry, fish varieties, aqua farming, - and rules and regulations that impact the industry. Carve a path through the streets of the charming Old Port on a leisurely-paced walking program. This area was once home to fish houses, canneries, industrial factories and textile mills. Today the air is fragrant with the fresh ocean breeze and scents of coffee houses, bakeries, and award-winning restaurants, with a surprise around every corner as we wind our way through the scenic narrow streets. Our friendly and engaging food experts will take you to several Old Port venues where you will have an opportunity to sample delectable, Maine-inspired foods and obtain a behind-the-scenes look at the artisans who craft these culinary delights. Along the way, you will learn the colorful local history of the "Port City."

Lunch: Lunch featuring Maine products is served at one of the Old Port's fine restaurants.

Afternoon: FREE TIME: This afternoon you will have free time to explore the wonderful city of Portland. Enjoy the many shops, galleries and museums the city has to offer. Enjoy a cruise in Casco Bay or relax overlooking the ships coming in and out of the of port.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own this evening in either Portland or Freeport. We will decide on our options during our trip.

Lodging: Hilton Garden Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast: A full breakfast is served this morning with a selection of entree's.

Morning: FREE TIME: Enjoy free time to relax and enjoy the city of Freeport, famously home to LL Bean and a wealth of shopping and dining opportunities.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch on your own today in Freeport.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: Visit Wilbur's Chocolate of Maine. Learn their story of their chocolate covered bluberries, candy making techniques and sample many of their delicious candies. FIELD TRIP/LECTURE: Wolfe's Neck Farm is a 626-acre saltwater farm, scenically located a couple of miles outside Freeport. Wolfe's Neck Farm is committed to continuing its longstanding tradition of natural farming practices and of being good farmers and good stewards of the land. Today, Wolfe's Neck Farm partners with area farmers to pasture beef cattle, and we are hoping to develop more relationships with farmers who want to work the land at Wolfe's Neck Farm. Wolfe's Neck Farm is a leading demonstration farm and educational resource center for innovative and sustainable practices in agriculture and natural resources. The emphasis of our educational program will vary with the seasons.

Dinner: DINNER/LECTURE: This evening we enjoy a traditional Maine Lobsterbake on the farm. Learn about the lobsters, cooking and eating techniques.

Lodging: Hilton Garden Inn

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: A full breakfast is included this morning with selections of cold and hot entree's. Before boarding the bus and heading for Vermont.

Morning: FIELD TRIP/LECTURE: Learn the history of the Shaker's in New England. Also learn about the Shaker Foodway's. Speak with the chef at Canterbury and enjoy Shaker inspired cuisine for lunch. The village provides educational and entertaining experiences every day, as visitors are welcome to watch and talk to traditional artisans as they work their craft. Demonstrations vary from broom making to letterpress printing to working with wood, and they change daily. We will enjoy a hand pie making class with everyone receiving a pie.

Lunch: Enjoy a traditional Shaker inspired lunch at the Village Restaurant.

Afternoon: Check into our Vermont resort for the next two evenings EXCURSION: This afternoon we visit the Vermont Country Store where we will sample many fine foods including cheese, syrup, sausage and more that are made in Vermont.

Dinner: A delicous three course dinner featuring locally raised and grown products. This evening we meet with Chef Alfonz as he discussed the preperation of the dinner and products.

Lodging: The Pointe Hotel at Castle Hill Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: A delicious breakfast buffet breakfast including hot and cold selections is served at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP/LECTURE: Each program will be tailored for our group. The program will be led by Andrea Scott, a Vermont state certified educator. It will include the following topics: Overview of a working orchard; information on apple varieties; development, etc.; how an apple gets from the tree to the package; what it takes to be an orchardist; how to run an orchard effectively. Visit the bakery and hard cider making facility and sample many of their fine products.

Lunch: Lunch will be served at the historic Waybury Inn (Home of the Bob Newhart Show) where we will enjoy a light lunch and a piece of their famous Gingerbread Cake along with the recipe.

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP/LECTURES: Crowley Cheese Factory: Award-winning Crowley Cheese has been made in the Green Mountains of Vermont from the same recipe, in the same manner, since 1824. Hand-made the old-fashioned way, it's cheese the way it used to be -- all natural, with no additives or preservatives. Pure, simple, delicious: cheese that everyone will love. All-natural Crowley Cheese is made by hand from fresh, whole, unpasteurized milk without additives or preservatives. With a distinctively smooth, creamy texture, Crowley Cheese is often compared to a cheddar "without the bite."

Dinner: A fabulous farewell dinner is served this evening at the resort or a top local restaurant with choice of entree's.

Lodging: The Pointe Hotel at Castle Hill Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: A hearty breakfast is served at the hotel this morning before departure.

Morning: Today we journey to the TF Green Airport and our Newport Hotel. We should arrive at the TF Green Airport by 12:00 PM and the hotel by 1:00 PM.

Meals Included: Breakfast