If you’re a big fan of Indian cuisine and TV’s MasterChef, you can now head off to India to learn how to cook with the show’s 2010 winner Dhruv Baker.
The holiday takes place in Jaipur in October and will see Dhruv give cookery demonstrations in a former palace, as well as at the city’s Amber Fort. The holiday will also include visits to spice bazaars and local markets, as well as a Thali dinner in Jaipur’s City Palace.
The Splendours of the North trip will last for nine days and cost £2,135 per person, departing on October 16. It is part of a new range of cooking holidays inspired by the TV show and put together by tour company Cox & Kings.
All the tours feature culinary experts and many also include time with popular contestants who have appeared on MasterChef programmes across the world. The holidays, including both multi- centre tours and shorter single-centre trips, offer the opportunity to discover local cuisine and explore the countries’ most interesting sights.
Keri Moss, joint winner of MasterChef: The Professionals 2012, will be accompanying the inaugural tour to Marrakech in March. She said: “I am really excited to be part of MasterChef Travel and am looking forward to discovering the sights and smells of Marrakech. I’ve always enjoyed cooking Moroccan food – I was the tagine queen in a previous job. I love using different spices in my cooking so I’m keen to see the spice markets, and test out my haggling.”
The Marrakech trip has departures on March 25 and September 22 and 23. The four-night Souks & Spices of Marrakech tour is priced from £1,395 per person, including accommodation in a riad, transfers, excursions and flights.
Other MasterChef Travel tours joined by MasterChef UK contestants include:
Turkey: Legacy of the Ottomans – 5 days from £1,195 per person
Departing September 10, 11 & 12, 2014, MasterChef: The Professionals 2012 winner Keri Moss Keri will join guests on a walking tour to discover the food and culture of European and Asian Istanbul and give an interactive cookery demonstration followed by dinner.
Italy: Glories of the Amalfi coast – 7 days from £1,960 per person
Departing October 7, 9 & 11, 2014 with MasterChef UK 2011 finalist Sara Danesin Medio. Sara will join the tour for two days in Amalfi. Highlights of the tour with Sara include visits to buffalo mozzarella and limoncello producers as well as an interactive cookery lesson and dinner in Ravello.
China: An oriental odyssey – 13 days from £3,545 per person
Departing October 9, 11 & 13, 2014 with MasterChef UK 2013 finalist Larkin Cen. Meeting the tour in Beijing for two days, Larkin will give a cookery demonstration at the Hutong Cuisine Cookery School and among other visits, he will join guests on a walking tour of a night food market, have a dim sum dinner at the Peninsula Hotel, enjoy a traditional tea with a local family and take a rickshaw tour of the Hutongs.
Spain: Culinary passion of the Basques – 6 days from £1,895 per person
Departing October 10, 12 & 14, 2014 with MasterChef: The Professionals 2011 winner Ash Mair. Over two days in San Sebastian, Ash will give an introductory talk on the cuisine of the Basque Country, which he is passionate about, and will join guests on a cider tasting and lunch in Astigarraga and a pinxtos (tapas) tasting tour. As well as giving a cooking demonstration, Ash will accompany a walking tour of La Brexta market.
Italy: Flavours from the heartland – 8 days from £2,195 per person
Departing October 13, 15 & 17, 2014 with MasterChef UK 2011 finalist Sara Danesin Medio. Sara will join the tour in Tuscany for two days, which include a cookery lesson and lunch at Villa Casa- grande as well as Tuscan olive oil and ham tasting in Montepulciano and wine tasting at Borgo Casabi- anca in Vallombrone, where Sara will also give a cookery demonstration and join guests for dinner.
Vietnam: The lush & fragrant land – 15 days from £3,325 per person
Departing November 4, 6 & 8, 2014 with MasterChef UK 2008 winner James Nathan. James will accompany the tour for two days in Hanoi and will give an introductory talk on the food of Vietnam as well as join a tour of the local street food market and take the group for dinner at his favourite stall. James will give a cookery class at the Hanoi Cooking Centre and join for dinners and lunches throughout the two days.
Mexico: Flavours of a vibrant land – 12 days from £3,225 per person
Departing November 10, 12 & 14, 2014 with MasterChef UK 2010 winner Dhruv Baker. Dhruv will meet the tour for two days in Oaxaca, Mexico’s food capital. He will accompany a walking tour of the town, which includes a visit to the Abastos food market, give cooking demonstrations and join guests for lunches and dinners.
Thailand: The exotic lemongrass trail – 11 days from £3,150 per person
Departing November 11, 13 & 15, 2014 with MasterChef UK 2012 finalist Andrew Kojima. Andrew (or ‘Koj’, as he is known) will take guest on a tour of Chiang Mai night market and have dinner at one of his favourite stalls as well as join a morning visit to the local food market and give two cookery lessons followed by lunch with the group.
