Vermont
Culinary Curiosities: Vermont’s Farmlands With Your Grandchild
Program No. 23093RJ
Dish out delectable regional cuisine using fresh Vermont ingredients from local farms as you learn from expert-led cooking classes and become a trained chef!
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
6 days
5 nights
What's Included
14 meals (
5B, 4L, 5D
)
9 expert-led lectures
6 expert-led field trips
5 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
5 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Essex, VT
Meals:
D
Stay:
The Essex
Activity Note
Inn check-in available from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Program Registration. 4:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived.
Dinner:
At the Inn.
Evening:
We will go outside to the Inn’s fire pit where we will make our own s’mores and begin Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Day
2
Menu Formation, Knife Lesson, Foraging, Baking Competition
Location:
Essex, VT
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Essex
Activity Note
Walking up to 1 mile indoors and out; periods of standing in the kitchen. Closed-toe shoes are required in the kitchens.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
We will meet in our kitchen classrooms with our chef instructor, plan today’s menus for class, and discuss the upcoming activities for the week. Next, we’ll shift focus and have a lesson on knife skills and kitchen tools before cooking locally grown and raised products in the kitchen to create our fabulous lunch. As for final preparations, everyone will be plating and serving one another the meals to which everyone contributed.
Lunch:
At the Inn, we’ll enjoy the delicious meal we helped to prepare.
Afternoon:
Heading outside with our Group Leader, we will go on a foraging expedition in the forest surrounding the resort to look for wild edible foods. We’ll conclude the afternoon with a baking competition led by the baking chef instructor. All of us will be provided with ingredients to make similar pastries, but everyone will be encouraged to create their own unique version. You may wish to adjust flavors, decoration, or make other additions.
Dinner:
At the Inn.
Evening:
We will gather in the Ballroom for a group game night with our Group Leader.
Day
3
Morse Sugar Farm, Cold Hollow, Ben & Jerry’s
Location:
Essex, VT
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Essex
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 60 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 1/2 mile throughout the day; uneven and unpaved surfaces.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
After breakfast we board the motorcoach and set out for our first field trip of the day to Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks. Upon arrival, we’ll hear a talk on maple sugaring given by Morse Farm staff in their century-old sugarhouse. We’ll then follow up our field trip with a traditional and delicious sugar-on-snow experience. We’ll then transfer with our Group Leader through historic Montpelier, Vermont’s state capitol, to the Waterbury-Stowe area.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant. Meal choices pre-selected prior to arrival at the program.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will board the motorcoach and make a short journey to the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Here we will meet with the staff Mill to learn about the production of cider and cider products as we go behind the scenes to learn about the steps that take place from tree to bottle. As we go, we’ll learn about their storage facility, pressing and pasteurizing rooms, and the many delicious apple products they make including donuts, cider, and apple cider jellies. Our last stop of the day will be to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory where we’ll enjoy a factory tour with the Ben & Jerry staff ending with a tasty sample. We’ll ride back to the Inn after our field trips.
Dinner:
Dinner is at your leisure this evening at the resort. Dinner vouchers will be provided upon check in for you to make reservations on your own.
Evening:
At leisure. You might like to enjoy the resort facilities including the pool, walking trails, and fire pit, spend time with fellow Road Scholars, or just relax.
Day
4
Iron Chef Competition, Pasta Making
Location:
Essex, VT
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Essex
Activity Note
Walking and standing in kitchen.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
To begin, our Group Leader will give us a demonstration showing the differences between store bought and farm fresh eggs. We’ll then join our chefs for a fun morning culinary competition, dividing into teams and putting our skills to the test as we make a tasty lunch.
Lunch:
At the Inn.
Afternoon:
Next, we’ll jump in for a class on “not your average pasta” where we will learn how to make your own pasta and create fillings to stuff your pasta for this evening’s meal.
Dinner:
At the Inn, we’ll enjoy dishes we prepared during our afternoon class.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
5
Allenholm Farm, Shelburne Farms, Echo Lake, Cooking Class
Location:
Essex, VT
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
The Essex
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 80 miles throughout the day, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking up to 1 mile throughout the day; unpaved and uneven surfaces.
Breakfast:
At the Inn.
Morning:
We will board a motorcoach and ride to a local orchard for a field trip where we’ll learn from orchard staff about apples grown in the Champlain Valley. We’ll also have an opportunity to meet friendly farm animals and enjoy a short tractor ride. Next, we will ride to the historic Shelburne Farms. Upon arrival at the farm we will make a short wagon ride to visit the Cheese Hub to watch the cheesemakers and will have an opportunity for a Q&A session with the cheesemaker. Following the cheese presentation we make a short walk to the Farmyard to visit with the variety of animals housed on premise.
Lunch:
A box lunch will be served at the Farm. Meal choices pre-selected prior to arrival at the program.
Afternoon:
Following lunch, we make a stop at the Farmstand to select fresh produce to be used in the preparation of this evening’s meal. We’ll then board the motorcoach and journey to the Echo Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. Here we have the opportunity to explore the museum at our leisure and take in one of the featured short films focused on Lake Champlain and the area marine life. We then return to the hotel for our final classes of the program. We will be joined by the Inn’s pastry chef for a cooking demonstration before we have a fun opportunity to make things that have been discussed during our earlier idea-forming sessions but haven’t had time to make yet. Using the local products, we brought back from our morning field trip; we will make delicious evening meal creations.
Dinner:
At the Inn, we’ll enjoy the dishes we made. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with fellow Road Scholars during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
We’ll gather in the Ballroom to enjoy a movie night and homemade popcorn with our Road Scholar friends. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Day
6
Program Concludes
Location:
Essex, VT
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Inn check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the Inn. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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