Travels with Doc – Miami and the Keys

Travels with Doc—Miami & The Keys
April 15-22, 2016
Join Dr. John Sconzo and Travel Directions, Inc. on a journey in Miami and Key West to
uncover Southern Florida cuisine, its dining trends and the chefs that make it shine. This is a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join food experts, including chef/author Norman Van Aken.
During this 7-night tour, you will be treated to an intimate experience in gastro-tourism with
many special treats throughout the week.
The trip will consist of 5 nights in Miami and 2 nights in Key West.
Restaurants include Alter, gastroPod, Eating House, Bakery Bachour, and others.
Trip leaders are Dr. John Sconzo, a leading food writer and photographer, chef/author
Norman Van Aken, the ‘Father of New World Cuisine,’ and Charles Grabitzky from Travel
Directions, who leads small groups around the world.
Dr. John Sconzo is the author of
www.docsconz.com. His passions include food, dining and photography and
he has journeyed around the globe
developing relationships with chefs and
writers in the food world. John is located
in Glens Falls, NY.
Charles Grabitzky has been providing guided
tours with Travel Direction throughout the
world over the past twenty years. Travel
Directions is located in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Brief Itinerary Description (full itinerary details following)
April 15—22, 2016
Friday, April 15
Day 1, Arrive in Miami for five nights, Cocktail Reception
Saturday, April 16
Day 2, Miami—Gastro Tour—Little Havana (B,L,D)
Leaders are Chefs Jeremiah Bullfrog and Norman Van Aken
Dinner at Alter
Sunday, April 17
Day 3, Miami—Gastro Tour—Wynwood (B,L,D)
Leader is Chef Brad Kilgore
Dinner at gastroPod
Monday, April 18
Day 4, Miami—Gastro Tour (B,L,D)
Lunch at Eating House
Cocktail Workshop hosted by Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli
Tuesday, April 19
Day 5, Miami— Gastro Tour (B,L,D)
Pastry Workshop hosted by Chef Antonio Bachour
Dinner at Bachour Bakery and Bistro
Wednesday, April 20
Day 6, Fly to Key West for two nights (B,L,D)
Afternoon Gastro Tour led by Chef/Author Norman Van Aken
Thursday, April 21
Day 7, Key West—Morning Fishing Charter (B,L,D)
Afternoon Gastro Tour and Feast led by Chefs Norman Van Aken and Martin Liz
Friday, April 22
Day 8, Fly to Miami, End of Trip (B)
Breakfast (B) - 7
Lunch (L) - 6 Dinner (D) - 6
April 15, Fri—Day 1 Arrival to Miami
Our journey begins at the The Angler’s, a Kimpton Hotel in Miami Beach, for five nights.
Guests will arrive throughout the afternoon and evening. Cocktail Reception at 8pm at the
hotel to introduce the fellow travelers and leaders.
April 16, Sat—Day 2 Miami Gastro Tour (B,L,D)
This morning we are met by both chef Jeremiah from gastroPod and trip co-leader chef and
author Norman Van Aken for a day of exploring Miami’s hidden culinary treasures in the
Little Havana neighborhood.
There is no better way to explore this neighborhood than with
these master chefs who know all of the tiny spots and markets
that make this neighborhood so special and famous.
Included will be stops to various eateries to sample Cuban
cuisine and the other ethnic influences found in Little Havana.
In the evening we dine at chef Brad
Kilgore’s restaurant Alter, recently
named the top restaurant in Miami in
2015.
April 17, Sun—Day 3 Miami Gastro Tour (B,L,D)
Today’s gastro tour focuses on the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami. Chef Brad Kilgore
from Alter, the restaurant from the previous night, will show us around this unique and
vibrant neighborhood.
The Wynwood Art District is home
to over 70 art galleries, museums
and art collections. Chef Kilgore will
guide us through the food and art
world that makes Wynwood so
special right now.
In the afternoon, we will have some time to
unwind in Miami Beach before we head back
to Wynwood later in the evening to dine at
Chef Jeremiah Bullfrog’s restaurant
gastroPod.
April 18, Monday—Day 4 Miami Gastro Tour (B,L,D)
Today is another great day of gastro tourism in Miami. The focus of the day will center
around chef Giorgio Rapicavoli as we will be having lunch at his restaurant, Eating
House.
Prior to lunch, however, we will have a morning
coffee clinic in Miami Beach at Panther Café.
Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli will prepare our
lunch at Eating House.
Later in the afternoon and evening, he will join
us back at The Angler’s to provide a cocktail
workshop demonstrating his vision of Miami
and its tastes.
April 19, Tue—Day 5 Miami Gastro Tour (B,L,D)
Today we are rejoined by chef and author Norman Van Aken as we head to the Redland
region to visit Homestead, home of one of the greatest fruit stands in all of South Florida,
“Robert is Here.” We will grab a breakfast bite and visit this tropical fruit paradise.
We return to Miami for lunch before meeting with worldrenowned pastry chef Antonio Bachour where we he will
provide our group with a private pastry workshop. This
will be followed by dinner at his new restaurant, Bachour
Bakery and Bistro.
April 20, Wed—Day 6 Travel to Key West (B,L,D)
This morning we leave Miami and fly to Key West with chef/author Norman Van Aken for a
stay of two nights at the Cabana Inn. We will visit Key West and understand its culture and
food through the eyes of this top chef.
It will be a relaxing afternoon of gastro sightseeing
with a chance to take a ride on the Conch Train and
a dinner later at the Hogfish Bar and Grill.
April 21, Thu—Day 7 Key West (B,L,D)
Today is our full day of fun and food in Key West. We start the day with a a morning fishing
charter in the beautiful waters off Key West. The afternoon includes a special Pig Roast with
chefs Martin Liz and Norman Van Aken. We should be able to throw the fish we caught onto
the grill as well. What a way to end a great tour of Southern Florida.
April 22, Fri—Day 8 Return to Miami (B)
In the morning after breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for the
flight to Miami. Once in Miami, the tour ends.
Add Ons
If you are interested in adding extra time before or after this trip, please let us know.
We can help with golf packages, cruises, and many other tours or reservations.
Chef Bios
Trip Leader—Norman Van Aken
Norman Van Aken is the “Father of New World
Cuisine” and for his lifelong contributions to the
culture and region was selected by the St. Petersburg
Times as “one of the 25 people who mattered the
most in Florida’s history.” He is one of the only
chefs in America to have won “The James Beard
Award,” “The Robert Mondavi Award,” and “The
Food Arts Silver Spoon.” He is the author of
multiple books on his career and the food that
inspired it.
Jeremiah Bullfrog—Gastropod
Chef Jeremiah continues to build his
reputation as one of South Florida’s most
innovative purveyors of haute cuisine. His
latest venture, gastroPod, is a 1962 Airstream
customized with the latest culinary
technology.
Brad Kilgore—Alter
Chef Brad Kilgore is a well-recognized
Miami-based chef originally from Kansas
City with more than 10 years of experience
working at fine dining restaurants, including
Chicago’s L20, Alinea and Boka. Alter was
recently named Miami’s top restaurant of
2015.
Tour Restaurants—Chef Bios (cont.)
Giorgio Rapicavoli—Eating House
Chef Giorgio Rapicavoli is Miami’s first Chopped
winner, named a James Beard Rising Star Semifinalist and one of Forbes’ “30 under 30.” He was
named executive chef at Chispa in Doral at just 21
and then honed his craft during his three-year executive chef stint at 660 at The Angler’s. Eating
House was started in 2012.
Antonio Bachour—Bakery Bachour
Antonio Bachour was named one of the “Top 10
Pastry Chefs” in 2011 by Dessert Professional
Magazine. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Antonio
worked as the sous chef for the Ritz-Carlton in
San Juan and then became pastry chef at Talula
in Miami. Since then he has split time between
Miami and New York working with various
restaurants. Bakery Bachour is opening in 2016.
Travels with Doc—Miami and the Keys
PRICE—3,995.00 USD (based on double occupancy)
Single supplement: $1,200.00
A deposit of $1,995 is due to secure a place on the trip. Reservations are taken on a firstcome / first-serve basis.
Final payment is due 45 days prior to the start of the tour.
Checks and Credit cards accepted (additional 3.3% processing fee for credit cards).
INCLUDED
NOT INCLUDED

7 Overnights at hotels or inns

Airfare before or after trip

7 Breakfasts, 6 Dinners, 6 Lunches


All Transportation within Florida
(private coach, economy-class airfare
during trip)
Lunches and dinners not mentioned in
the itinerary

Travel Insurance (highly recommended)

Tips to tour, hotel staff

Accompanying Tour Leader—Dr. John
Sconzo

Accompanying Tour Leader—chef/
author Norman Van Aken

Accompanying Tour Leader—Charles
Grabitzky from Travel Directions

Comprehensive sightseeing including
all admissions
TRAVEL DIRECTIONS
369 Broadway, Suite 7
Saratoga Springs, NY USA 12866

Guided food excursions
Tel: 518 944-8957

Tasting and Wine-Pairing Menus
www.mytraveldirections.com

All taxes
[email protected]
Mr. Charles Grabitzky
General Terms and Conditions
Cost Includes: All accommodations in hotels per
itinerary, all meals and wine pairings mentioned
in itinerary, economy-class air transportation
during tour, excursions, sightseeing and entrance
fees, special access permits, transfers to and from
group flights, taxes and service charges, and services of our tour leaders and local experts.
Not Included: Airfare before or after the trip, extensions, passport, visa, immigration fees, meals
not indicated, travel insurance, items of personal
nature (email, DVD, laundry, excess baggage
charges, etc.), any extras resulting from ordering
food a la carte or through room service, tips to
hotel personnel, drivers and local tour escorts.
Reservations: To reserve your place, an advance
payment of $1,995 is required at the time of reservation. Payment is accepted by credit card* or
check. Receipt of your initial payment indicates
your acceptance of our complete Terms and Conditions. * Credit card payment service fee 3.3%
Final Payment: Due no later than 45 days prior
to departures.
Travel Insurance: We strongly recommend that
the traveler purchase travel insurance covering
lost or damaged baggage, medical needs, trip
cancellation and certain travel-related accidents.
Contact us for further information.
Cancellations and Refunds: Requests received
in writing before January 30th, 2016, are subject
to an administrative fee of $500 per person. Between January 30th, 2016 and March 1st, 2016, a
cancellation fee equal to the advance payment
fee will apply to all programs/payment. No refund is possible for cancellations received 44
days or less prior to commencement of the tour,
and there is no refund for no-shows.
Refunds: In the case of the tour being canceled
due to unforeseen circumstances before Jan 30th,
2016, refunds will be made in full (credit card
processing fee of 3.3% will be deducted from refund).
All arrangements are on an inclusive basis, hence
no refund can be considered for any absence
from the tour or for any unused meals or services.
Responsibility: Travel Directions acts only as agents for
the hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines or
owners or contractors providing accommodations, transportation or other services. All coupons, exchange orders,
receipts, contracts and tickets issued by Travel Directions
are issued subject to any and all tariffs, terms and conditions under which any accommodations, transportation or
any other service whatsoever are provided by such hotels,
airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines or owners or
contractors or by persons in their employ. By the acceptance of tour membership and/or such coupons, exchange orders, receipts, contacts and tickets, the tour member agrees that Travel Directions, nor any of its affiliates or
subsidiaries shall be or become liable or responsible for
any loss, injury or damage to person, property, or otherwise in connection with any accommodations, transportation, or other service, resulting directly or indirectly from
any acts of God, dangers incident to the sea, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of government or
other authorities, de jure or de facto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots,
thefts, pilferage, epidemics, quarantines, medical or custom regulations, defaults, delays, or cancellations of or
changes in itinerary or schedules, or from any causes beyond Travel Direction’s control, or from any loss or damage resulting from insufficient or improperly used passports, visas or other documents, and that Travel Directions, nor any of its affiliates or subsidiaries shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or
liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of any of the foregoing causes. Travel Directions reserves the right to decline, accept or retain any person as a
tour passenger should such a person’s health, mental condition, physical infirmity, self-conduct, or general deportment impede the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare or enjoyment of other tour passengers.
The right is reserved to substitute or change hotels, and
alter the itinerary or reverse the places to be visited as situations warrant. A refund of unused land tour services is
the limit of Travel Directions’ liability. The right is reserved to cancel the tour prior to departure. Travel Directions is not responsible nor liable for defaults of those persons/companies not directly under control of Travel Directions.
The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for
any act, omission, or events, during the time passengers
are not on board their planes. The passenger contact in use
by the airlines concerned when issued, shall constitute the
sole contact between the airlines and purchasers of these
tours and/or passengers. The services of an IATA/ARC
member carriers or their affiliates may be used for the
transportation of these tours.
Travel Directions‘ Tour Reservation Form
Travels with Doc—Miami and the Keys
April 15-22, 2016
SEND TO: Travel Directions, Inc., 368 Broadway, Ste.7, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Or RESERVE BY PHONE: (518)944-8957
To hold your space on the tour, a $1,995 per person deposit is required, refundable until January 30th, 2016, less $500 per person administrative fee policy. Checks and credit
cards are accepted for the deposit (credit card processing fee of 3.3%).
A check made payable to Travel Directions, Inc. is enclosed in the amount of
$______________
Please charge the deposit of $______________ to my credit card:
Please circle one:
VISA
MASTERCARD AMEX
Card Number: _____________________________________ Expires: __________
Signature on Card: _________________________________ Sec Code: ________
I will be sharing a room with ________________________________ or
Single Supplement ($1200 extra)
Name: ___________________________________________________________
(exactly as it appears on your ID)
Home Address: ___________________________________________________
City: ___________________________ State: ________ Zip: ______________
Home Telephone: _________________________________________________
E-mail: ___________________________________________________________
Please check:
____ I decline travel insurance.
____ I will be purchasing travel insurance either through Travel
Directions or an outside agency.
I have read and understand the General Terms and Conditions and Responsibility
Clause outlined in the itinerary:
Signature(s): __________________________________________ Date: _____________