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Amateur chefs (and Indagare Connoisseur members) who dream of learning from the city’s greats should mark their calendars: in late October, Relais & Chateaux hosts a Culinary Festival with some of the Northeast’s most acclaimed chefs. The events, including demonstrations and cookbook signings, will take place at the Maison, the company’s elegant multi-purpose space in Midtown. A highlight is Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who will host a cooking demonstration on October 28. Also on the schedule are Dominique Ansel, the pastry chef of Daniel (October 29); Jonathon Cartwright, cookbook author and top toque at the White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, (October 27) and Justin Ermini, of the Mayflower Inn & Spa, who will give a spa cuisine demonstration and tasting while the skin care company Orlane provides mini spa treatments. The stylish Maison, complete with a sitting area and library, opened last year and has become a serene space for travelers to learn about the Relais & Chateaux portfolio, which includes international small luxury hotels and gourmet temples. In October, the state-of-the-art, open-plan kitchen will be the perfect arena for these culinary heavyweights. Reservations are restricted to Indagare Connoisseur members and Relais & Châteaux’s 5C Club. They are on a first come-first serve basis, so be sure to book soon. Contact Indagare at 212-988-2611.

Dates & Times:

• Spa Cuisine (Mayflower Inn & Spa)

  October 3, 2008

  1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

• “A Sampling of the Flavors of Maine” (White Barn Inn)

  October 27, 2008

  6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

• Jean-Georges Vongerichten

  October 28, 2008

  Noon-3:00 p.m.

• “Savoring Fall Sweets” (Daniel)

  October 29, 2008

  4:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m.

Read a member’s postcard about his experience cooking in the kitchen of the Relais & Chateaux restaurant Aureole in New York.