"Back in 2000, (a kitchen vacation) was a small niche market. Now it's not," says Olivia Townsend, owner of Epiculinary Distinctive Cooking Journeys. While women make up much of her clientele, she is seeing more interest among married duos, including "where the man initiates and drags the woman along."
Couples form the majority of cooking clientele at Trout Point, says co-owner and instructor Vaughn Perret, 51. Trout Point, in the upscale Relais & Châteaux chain, offers various culinary weekends spring through fall, when it closes for winter and two of the three owners move to Granada, Spain, to give courses.
"This year, there's been a spike in interest — almost all classes are filled," Perret says. "I think people are less dazzled with commercial (food)" and want to make their own.
