Chefs on Summer Vacation

Summer is one of the most popular times to travel. Our favorite chefs, Zarela Martinez, José Andrés, Wilo Benet, and Ana Quincoces, have gathered together to share their favorite travel stories; from what’s in their travel bag and their favorite local spot for wine to fun activities See how your favorite chefs spend their summer vacations.

Some of us go on vacation to relax on a beach and sip piña coladas. For cookbook author and restaurateur Zarela Martinez, that could not be further from the truth.

“I can’t just sit back and relax,” says Martinez. “I also can’t stand the sand and sweating, so the beach is never an option. Instead, my idea of a vacation is going to the market, immersing myself in the culture, and doing fun activities, so I need to be in a place where I am going to learn the culture,” she continues.

Martinez’s favorite vacation spot, if she had to pick one, is the Mayan Biosphere in the Yucatan, Mexico.

“It was such a learning experience and it changed my whole life. We went through a Mexican cloud forest in search of this tiny bird with a six foot tail, it was so much fun!” she says. Martinez got quite a scare while crocodile watching at night. “Out of nowhere, a croc came up to our boat and scared everyone; I thought it was actually pretty funny to see everyone so startled,” she says.

Like many travelers, Martinez always carries a camera, and a little something unexpected.

“I like to bring measuring cups and spoons as a gift for people when they give me recipes. It’s my way of saying thank you,” says Martinez. She also brings chile along for the trip, in case she misses something Mexican.

When asked about her favorite meal from one of her trips, Martinez ranked her 18-course tasting in Peru, as number one.

“The meal was served on a beach in Lima, and my favorite dessert of the evening was this popsicle dipped in chocolate, that formed a sweet, crunchy crust. I can taste it now,” she says.

Whether she is shopping in local markets, learning about a country’s hidden treasures, or taking a class or two, Zarela Martinez does all she can to make each vacation a new and exciting experience.

Next, Spanish super star chef, José Andrés, shares his favorite vacation spot…

For chef and restaurateur José Andrés, a lifelong traveler, prepping for a trip and where to go are easy answers.

“I’ve been to so many interesting places I my life, but my favorite place is and will always be Spain,” said Andrés. “This is where I was born and where I come from. I know Spain so well and it will always be home. I love bringing other people with me on my trips to show them the amazing beauty of my country. “

And though he loves his home country, one of Andrés’ best vacation experiences was in a tourist hot spot.

“This past December I spent some time in Puerto Rico to open Mi Casa at Dorado Beach, my restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Reserve,” said Andrés. “It was over the holidays so my family joined me and we got to spent some time exploring the beauty of the country.  We did everything from kite surfing to scuba diving, golfing, a water park, and they have great food and great dancing. Puerto Rico has it all.”

Aside from outdoor activities, what dos the happy chef most love to do on vacation? Not surprisingly, the answer involves eating.

“I love getting to know the local culture, talking with people and trying the local foods. I find a lot of inspiration in travel and art and every country is so unique so I try my best to get out of my comfort zone and experience what the locals see, live and taste every day.”

If you want to eat like the chef, here are his top recommendations.

“There are many mnay places I would recommend….if you are in Barcelona go to Quimet and Quimet, if you are in Port-a-prince you must have a rum sour at Quartier Latin, if you go to San Juan, Jose Enrique is amazing, if you go to Phnom Penh the capitol of Cambodia, the Foreign Correspondents Club which is open to the public is a really fun place so those are just a few places,” said Andrés.

Finally, what’s next on the schedule?

“I believe Haiti in the next 5-10 years will be an amazing travel destination,” said Andrés. “I think in many ways it already is… I’ve been there many times and though I go for aid with my NGO, World Central kitchen, I still have a great time because it’s really a beautiful country with such rich culture and cuisine. I love the boullion stew with djon djon made with the amazing black mushrooms from the forests of Haiti. Its an amazing dish.”  

Next, Puerto Rican chef Wilo Benet, shares his vacation essentials…

Recently back from a trip to Spain, chef and restaurant owner Wilo Benet shares his vacation essentials from where to eat to what to order.

“I love everything about Spain; the language, the food and wine, the people, and just the overall great incentives to visit,” he says.

While in Spain, Benet frequented the tapas bar La Favorita in the Burgos region, which happens to be a local favorite. Benet highly recommends ordering jamon, croquetas, blood sausage, monkfish and his favorite drink, gin and tonic.

“Easily the best gin and tonic I’ve ever had,” he says of the drink at La Favorita. “The tonic water was effervescent and they put a spoon upside down, poured the drink onto the spoon and let it flow into the drink. There’s just something about doing it that way that makes the gin taste that much better,” he says.

Although he gets anxious before leaving for a vacation, Benet is not one for relaxing tours and historical museums. He has a background in photography and believes that the camera is an integral part of traveling, as is adventure.

“I love to do anything and everything adventure related,” he says. “I especially love the dining scene, markets, restaurants, manufacturing, anything related to food is always key for me when I travel.”

Benet has had the opportunity to travel all over the world. From enjoying water sports with his family in Anguilla, to taking a private plane over the region of Napa Valley, he is a huge fan of new experiences.

“In 2000 we took a family trip to Italy and it was absolutely beautiful,” says Benet. “Funny story, though. While we were in Rome, my wife Lorraine, my oldest son Gonzalo (who was nine at the time), and myself decided to try and sandwich together in the small seat of a scooter. The police caught on to what we were doing and quickly instructed us to ditch the idea,” he laughs.

What’s next on Benet’s travel itinerary? A trip to Flushing Meadows for the U.S. Open.

“Evian water is flying me out to New York at the end of the summer. I’m not going to lie, I’m really looking forward to going to Katz Deli for a brisket sandwich,” says Benet.

Next, Ana Quincoces relives some of her best trips…

For chef and cookbook author Ana Quincoces, vacation is all about food, family, and friends. 

“I have been fortunate enough to travel extensively, but the best vacation I have had to date was with my daughters on safari in Kenya and Tanzania,” says Quincoces who is a huge animal lover herself and considers seeing such beautiful creatures in their natural habitat a true privilege. “I love to be outdoors so anywhere I can hike is heaven to me,” she continues. “Scouring the local markets and the farmers markets for unique ingredients is also a favorite pastime.

Quincoces even carries a food journal when she travels, as well as a foldable market bag to bring back local market finds.

“I like to write notes about interesting meals and ingredients,” she says. “I always try to recreate the meals I have enjoyed when I travel for family and friends at home.”

When it comes to food on vacation, Quincoces says that the best she has ever had is unequivocally, in San Sebastián, Spain.

“It has more Michelin starred restaurants per capita than anywhere else in the world. It is a very colorful town with great people and great restaurants,” says Quincoces who visits as often as she can. One of her favorite travel experiences was in San Sebastián, when Quincoces and her friends took a walk after dinner one evening and came across some locals singing traditional Spanish songs.

“They were singing outside a local watering hole. It was right out of a movie,” she said.

For those who have not yet been to San Sebastián but are looking for a great local spot, Quincoces suggests the pinxos bars; her favorite is Fuego Negro.

“They do some interesting stuff and incorporate a little molecular gastronomy into everyday street food. I also love Arzak there as well, which is perhaps one of the greatest restaurants in the world,” she says. For simple fare in London, Quincoces heads to Notting Hill for fish and chips, which is served in a newspaper cone that she douse with malt vinegar. She also hopes to get to Israel in October and Antarctica some time next year.

“I would love to get to Antarctica next year; it’s the only continent I have not visited,” says Quincoces. “I would love to fly to Valparaiso or Bueno Aires and take the Drake Passage to Antarctica Sound and then visit South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. I hear it’s just beautiful.”

There is nothing more exciting than seeing the world and experiencing new cultures and cuisines. How do you plan on spending your summer vacation?