Asian Cuisine

Our Cuisine & Culture journeys feature well-known food personalities, and include many exciting Asian culinary experiences. Not only do clients dine and imbibe extremely well, but they also learn about all aspects of food creation and cooking, including visits to interesting markets, private homes and, of course, fine restaurants.

Chinese

Although Chinese food is ubiquitous, the authenticity of the cuisine is questionable in most of the Western world. So why not go directly to the source? One could eat a different Chinese dish every day for every meal of his life with nary a repeat. The major cuisines of China are Cantonese, Zhejiang (more commonly referred to as Shanghainese), Sichuan, and Northern Chinese; there are subdivisions within each and other provinces certainly have distinctive flavors and dishes as well.

Cantonese Cooking Lesson - Hong Kong

Cantonese food has spread the farthest and the widest from its birthplace, the coastal, southern province of Guangdong. Clients begin their culinary tour of China in Hong Kong, one of the world's most cosmopolitan cities. Home to a number of renowned chefs, Hong Kong is justly famed for its cuisine, which fuses the old with the new. Meet a renowed chef and accompany him to a wet market, where the best produce and meats can be found. Here, guests may witness some startling scenes — seeing fish flailing about after being scooped out of a tank is common. But given that freshness is an obsession with Cantonese chefs, clients may elect to turn a blind eye in favor of being able to more thoroughly savor the chef's gourmet meal later. Many wet markets are in multi-story structures, the top floors of which usually have no-frills restaurants — think paper-thin tablecloths on plastic patio furniture. Have lunch with the chef, as he explains the basics of Cantonese cuisine. Then, return to his home for a cooking lesson/demonstration and drinks and dinner with some of Hong Kong's most colorful personalities.

Shanghainese Street Food - Shanghai

Jet to Shanghai to receive a primer the city's signature dishes via its street food. The executive chef at Jean-Georges regularly breakfasts at the stalls on Changle and Xiangyang roads, as do many local chefs and gourmets; he or another culinary expert meets guests there to start the day with a sampling of steamed meat or vegetable buns, scallion flatbread, egg-filled crepes, and other delicious options.

Northern Chinese, Peking Duck and Chinese Islamic Cuisine - Beijing

Arrive in Beijing where clients are treated to the capital's classic dish, Peking Duck. Guests will have the opportunity to see master chefs at work preparing this dish, which is a laborious process that involves a tremendous amount of skill. Another cuisine that is particular to the area is Chinese Islamic food. Although most of China's Muslims live in the western part of the country, Northern Chinese Islamic food originated around Beijing. Hence cooking methods are quite similar, but many dishes that are found all over Beijing, such as lamb skewers, are actually signature Chinese Islamic dishes. Visit with a Uighur family living in Beijing; they will prepare a lamb dish and bake flatbread sprinkled with scallions and sesame seeds, a staple of the Chinese Islamic diet.

Sichuan Hot Pot - Chengdu

The central Chinese province of Sichuan is home to some of China's spiciest foods, although the Sichuan people have a different definition of the word spicy. The unique Sichuan peppercorn, used in most signature dishes such as mapo tofu and kungpao chicken, creates a sensation in the mouth that numbs the tongue, as opposed to other spicy ingredients that administer varying blasts of heat to the palate. Try your hand at tempering these peppercorns in a cooking class in the provincial capital, Chengdu, and enjoy a classic Sichuan meal of hotpot afterwards.

Indian Subcontinent

"Who wants to cook aloo gobi when you can bend it like Beckham?" Unfortunately the latter cannot be taught by anyone currently affiliated with Remote Lands, but the former can. The rich, tantalizing flavors of Indian cuisine are truly unique, and a culinary tour of India is one of the best ways to immerse oneself in the country's myriad of cultures.

Punjabi - Chandigarh

First, aloo gobi. Hailing from Punjab, a northwestern state in India, this classic is cooked with cauliflower, potatoes and ginger, a deceptively simple combination. Feast on this and other Punjabi specialties upon arrival in Chandigarh, the joint capital of Punjab and Haraya, which was planned by Le Corbusier.

Fusion Indian - Delhi

Traveling south, stop in Delhi, India's cosmopolitan capital. Fusion cuisine has taken root here in the past few years and the ambassador for this movement is Suvir Saran, one of India's most celebrated chefs. He opened Devi in New York City to rave reviews, and Veda in Delhi has enjoyed similar press coverage. Visit a local market with Chef Saran to see what inspires him, and return to Veda for an unforgettable meal, complete with wine pairings that perfectly enhance Indian flavors.

Goan - Arambol

The seaside province of Goa has long been the honeymoon capital of India, and its cuisine reflects its colonial past as a trading port. There are recognizable Arabian and Portuguese influences, and staple ingredients include local coconut and fish. Go fishing with a Goan fisherman in the seaside village of Arambol and return to his home for an informal cooking demonstration and a meal with his family.

Bengali - Darjeeling

Travel northwards again to Darjeeling in West Bengal province, where clients are met by the Maharajkumar of Burdwan and his wife for a traditional Bengali meal consisting of dishes that are rarely cooked in the home anymore, such as prawn coconut curry and steamed fish wrapped in banana leaves. Guests are encouraged to do as the locals do and eat with their hands. Darjeeling has long been famed for its tea plantations; meet with a plantation owner who will create a special blend of tea just for you.

All travel is bespoke and completely personalized. Please read about how we work, and contact us for a complimentary consultation so we can create the perfect experience for your own highly discerning needs and desires.