Four-Time James Beard Foundation Nominee to Host Truffle Hunting and Wine Tastings in the Southeast Region of France
CHARLESTON, S.C. (PRWEB) February 28, 2018 -- Food and wine enthusiasts looking for a truly unique culinary experience can join award-winning Charleston, S.C., Chef Bob Waggoner on a one-in-a-lifetime river cruise in July 2018. The southeastern France river cruise includes hunting for truffles, cooking classes, the chance to experience and purchase wines not found in the United States, and farm-to-table dishes.
Waggoner is hosting the S.S. Catherine Uniworld River Cruise, traveling the Rhône and Saône rivers in France for eight days, starting July 22, 2018. Waggoner currently teaches cooking classes and hosts culinary experiences at his downtown Charleston location, In the Kitchen with Bob Waggoner. But for this summertime river cruise, he’s returning to France, where he spent 11 years at a constellation of Michelin-rated restaurants and working with top chefs. A California native, Waggoner received his formal training with Michael Roberts at Trumps in Los Angeles.
“During the truffle hunting experience in Vivers, France, I will lead guests in search of the ‘black diamond’ at a truffle farm,” Waggoner said. “We’ll venture through the truffière with the owners and their trusted dog, learning how they cultivate the black diamond. Truffle hunting is like catching a fresh fish and immediately throwing it in a sauté pan, you haven’t had a truffle until you’ve pulled one from the ground and taste it at that moment. It is one of those amazing things few people get to experience.”
Guests also will celebrate the tradition of winemaking by tasting Louis Latour wines at Chateau Grancey in Beaune, France. The wine tasting and tour will give guests the opportunity to taste and purchase wines not available in the states. While many areas around the world produce exceptional wines, southern France remains a premier wine-producing area. It is one of the only areas that has the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage designation, one of four UNESCO sites guests will visit on this adventure.
Wine, truffles and a taste of history are only a few of the highlights of this culinary journey that provides an in-depth culinary view of southeastern France. Waggoner was the first American chef to own his own restaurant in France, the Le Monte Cristo, and the only American to serve as chef de cuisine with Chef Jean-Pierre Silva at the two-star Michelin, Le Vieux Moulin in Beaune, France. He is also one of the few Americans to be Knighted with the “l’Odre du Mérite Agricole” from the Government of France.
With stops in Lyon, Tournon, Tarascon and more, the S.S. Catherine, features a two-story lobby with a specially commissioned Murano glass chandelier and whimsical life-size glass horse. The ship accommodates 159 guests and 57 staff members. Riverview staterooms and suites have handcrafted Savoir of England beds draped in high-thread count 100 percent Egyptian cotton sheets and European duvets, along with a menu of pillow options. This high-end experience will be a journey through southern France -- the same beautiful countryside and culture that inspired masters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne and Gauguin. There are a limited number of reservations available. Book the Uniworld Burgundy and Provence River Cruise with Chef Bob Waggoner via DMC Travel Tailor at 917-653-9346 or info(at)dmctraveltailor(dot)com.
Until hosting the Burgundy and Provence experience, Waggoner continues to sell out cooking classes in his showcase kitchen located in downtown Charleston, S.C. location. During the In the Kitchen with Bob Waggoner cooking classes, guests learn techniques while preparing several dinner courses, along with wine, in a state-of-the-art kitchen.
Learn More
Instagram: @inthekitchenwithchefbob
About Bob Waggoner
Chef Bob Waggoner has played a lead role in defining Charleston’s amazing culinary scene. Fusing Lowcountry cooking and his own French-influenced technique, Waggoner creates contemporary new southern cuisine using seasonal and regional ingredients, and has captured critical acclaim by producing menus that combine unusual ingredients with classic techniques. Waggoner was the executive chef of Charleston Grill at Charleston Place for a dozen years. Every year Waggoner led the kitchen at Charleston Grill, it was awarded AAA Four-Diamond and the Mobile Four-Star award, and in 2001 he was nominated four times for The Beard Foundation "Best Chef Southeast" award. Always well regarded as a media-savvy chef, he won an Emmy for his television show “Off the Menu” with Turner South, and was the host of the PBS series "U Cook with Chef Bob" and "U Travel with Chef Bob." He has also worked with top country musicians in Nashville on the hit show "Sing for Your Supper."
About UniWorld
Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is located in Los Angeles and operates a fleet of 21 river cruising cruise ships along the rivers of Europe, Russia, Egypt and China.
About DMC Travel Tailor
DMC Travel Tailor is an upscale travel concierge company, founded in 2016. DMC Travel Tailor assists clients in making dreams into memories one trip at a time with their extensive travel experience and the exclusive perks they offer their clients through their Virtuoso affiliation. Trips can be custom-tailored to the client’s needs and desires. They contribute five percent of their total profit to Camp Happy Days and volunteer their time with them to help make this world a better place.
###
Melissa Nelson, Fisher Creative, +1 843-312-2950, [email protected]
Share this article