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Travel for the taste of it

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Next departures
ESP Spain Jamón ibérico HRV Croatia Istrian truffles SVN Slovenia Kremšnita MEX Mexico Mole COL Colombia Arepas PER Peru Ceviche

From the market.To the table.Good food starts with a journey.

The Gourmet VacationChef-led culinary journeysEat, drink & discover
Who we are

A table for more.

Meet your host Hi, I’m Richard. Chef by trade. 45Traveler reviews2019First journey on WeTravel Read our story
The rest of the table
William Chief Creative Officer Virgin Islands Jenny Chief Imbibing Officer France Ana Chief Cultural Officer Croatia
There’s always room for one morePick a journey and take a seat.
Founded by a chefDifferent roads, one shared tableSmall groups
Where we travel

Explore by appetite.

Latin America
Featured destination Long lunches, late dinners. Spain eats on its own clock: a slow lunch at three, pintxos at eight, dinner at ten. Every region keeps its own kitchen, and each one is… Explore Spain
SpainLong lunches, late dinners. CroatiaAn Adriatic table, island by island. MexicoA cuisine the world protects. All destinationsEvery country we travel to.
EuropeCome hungry. Leave inspired.Latin America
Travel with

Who you travel with matters.

Chef Michelle Weaver Michelle Weaver Former Executive Chef, Charleston Grill Chef César Zapata César Zapata Phuc Yea and Antaño Chef Cody Taylor Cody Taylor Heirloom Market BBQ Chef Ricky Moore Ricky Moore Saltbox Seafood Joint
Celebrated chefsJames Beard Award winners and local masters. At the table togetherCook, taste and explore alongside them. Hosted by RichardChef, guide and Chief Eating Officer.
Chef-ledEvery journey is led by a chefSmall groups
Host & founder7 upcoming

Richard GruicaFounder & CEO, The Gourmet Vacation

Chef Richard Gruica
Richard Your host & guide Founder & CEO
Meet your host

Hi, I’m Richard.

Chef by trade.
Host by nature.
Chief Eating Officer.

From an early age, I saw how food and drink could unite people, regardless of their backgrounds, making everyone happy. That is why I started The Gourmet Vacation.

On every journey I introduce guests to the small producers, family wineries and kitchens I love, and to the people who have a true passion for what they do.

Forget ordinary, experience extraordinary!

Travel with Richard WeTravel profile ↗
45
Traveler reviews
2019
First journey on WeTravel
12
Countries we travel to
7
Cities with Good Eats and Meets groups

A few things about Richard

  • FounderThe Gourmet Vacation
  • CommunityGood Eats and Meets, Meetup’s largest gastronomic group
  • Pop-upsThe Gypsy Table, a roaming culinary series
  • KitchenChef and seasoned restaurateur
  • CameraWriter and photographer
  • Home baseBarcelona and Charlotte
Chef Richard Gruica
Biography

The story so far.

Founder & CEO, The Gourmet Vacation · Charlotte, United States

From an early age, Chef Richard Gruica saw how food and drink could unite people, regardless of their backgrounds, making everyone happy. With his passion for gastronomy, he decided to create the most incredible of edible journeys. Through extensive research, he presents some of the finest examples of tradition, craft and small producers from across the globe to the guests of his tours. More significantly, guests get to meet and enjoy the people that have a true passion for what they do. Forget ordinary, experience extraordinary!

Website ↗
Upcoming journeys

Travel with Richard.

Destinations

Where Richard travels with us

Past journeys

Previous journeys

The Chef Mark Allison Taste Croatia TourDubrovnik · Orebić · Korčula Chef Maneet Chauhan’s Flavors of Croatia Culinary TourDubrovnik Chef John Currence’s Big Bad Croatian Culinary TourDubrovnik
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