ChefHostess Nathalie Dupree, cookbook author, teaching chef and PBS TV personality will host a weeklong culinary vacation in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, in February, 2009. San Miguel was named a Mexican National Monument and was recently designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It will be Ms. Duprees first venture in Mexico and will feature a “complete culinary vacation and artistic exploration.” There will be 5 days of classes to be held at the Sazon Cooking School, operated by the Sierra Nevada Hotel,a member of the Orient Express family of fine hotels, trains, cruises and cooking schools. Classes will take place daily from 1:00 until 3:00 pm. Ms. Dupree will do a complete meal per day and in her words promises to “take the fear out of creating fine cuisine while putting the fun in.” A wide array of morning activities will also be provided. On Monday morning, a walking tour or the historic city will be provided acclimating everyone and pointing out the history of this fabulous colonial city. A food market tour will also be included. The rest of the morning will be open for individual explorations. Morning 2 will include a visit to the fabulous DaNisha sculpture studiofactorygallery followed by a short ride to Decoraciones San Miguel for a look at the factory and gallery featuring custom furniture, ironwork, bronzes, lighting, decorating accessories, art and antiques. Next door, is the famed Instituto Allende, a 17th century hacienda, and now a cultural center filled with historic murals, galleries, fountains, jewelry shops, and breathtaking views of the city. On Morning 3, the group will be driven into the surrounding countryside with a visit to another UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sanctuary of Atotonilco, called the “Sistine Chapel” of Mexico followed by a short ride to the Galleria Atotonilco , a unique Gaudiesque hacienda and gallery. Participants will see a fabulous collection of oneofakind ceramics, sculptures, folk art, country furniture and antiques, as well as paintings, weavings, etc, which can be purchased. Morning 4 will feature a guided tour of La Fabrica Aurora, the areas foremost art and design center,with studios, galleries, furniture, sculpture, decorating accessories. The tour will also include meetings with the artists, and much more.

Website: http://www.nathalie.com/