Planners know that excellent F&B has become the standard for meetings and events. This means group dining that is nutritious as well as delicious. “There’s a lot of value to light and healthy foods and being thoughtful about the different needs of attendees, says Zenia Henderson, Chief Program Officer, National College Attainment Network (NCAN). “I’ve certainly seen an increase over the years from attendees requesting healthy food.” In this story, we feature six destinations worldwide that offer a dazzling array of chef-driven, experiential, local, healthy dining options for groups. Read on to learn more about group culinary adventures in Madrid, New Zealand, Orlando, San Francisco, Taiwan and Washington, DC.
Planners might be surprised by the diversity of Taiwanese cuisine, says Vivian Lin, Director, Taiwan Tourism Administration’s Los Angeles Office. “While night markets will forever be a fun way to experience a broad range of Taiwanese snacks, Taiwan is also increasingly known as a destination for affordable luxury dining,” she says. There are more than 340 Taiwanese restaurant recommendations in the Michelin Guide’s database, with more being added regularly.
Most venues in Taiwan have banquet-style service, notes Lin, with round tables receiving a series of large dishes on rotating turntables for sharing. “This format makes for a fun interactive experience among MICE groups. As we’re an island nation, the most popular dishes tend to be fresh and delicious shellfish and a variety of fish soups and sauces.”
There are many opportunities for innovative, food-focused adventures in Taiwan, says Lin. At YUPASU Tsou Restaurant in Chiayi county, a unique aboriginal-cuisine restaurant with incredible mountain views, she recommends the barbeque platter of pork and sausages roasted over longan tree flames, the stir fried hundred-mushroom dish and the Chinese tea. Lin also recommends Joye Ye Cottage farm and guesthouse in Miaoli county, where groups can enjoy tasty, highly rated vegetarian cuisine at its Sanyi restaurant along with the opportunity to participate in a traditional indigo dyeing workshop.
For contemporary takes on Taiwanese cuisine, Lin recommends Jin Du Garden Restaurant in Nantou county. Established in 1994 and famous for its Taiwanese-style banquet dishes, the restaurant offers food made from local ingredients and creative techniques. “The chef is an expert in turning seasonal ingredients into creative dishes,” says Lin. Among the restaurant’s banquet dishes are Shaoxing Dongpo pork, flower-scented sturgeon, bamboo-fragrant rice, plum sauce bamboo shoots, chicken with angelica and other specialties. “All dishes are reasonably priced, so groups can try a wide variety without breaking the budget,” notes Lin.
Taiwan’s major cities like Taipei and Taichung have thousands of restaurants that cater to every budget and attendee preference, says Lin. “In addition to the cooking styles developed by Taiwan’s earliest Han settlers and the country’s indigenous people, Chinese regional cuisines are well represented. This includes spicy Sichuan (Szechuan) as well as Cantonese- and Shanghai-style delicacies.”
Gastronomy in Madrid is more of a way of life than a trend, says David Noack Perez, Director, Madrid Convention Bureau. “Whether it’s grabbing some tapas in one of the Spanish capital’s century-old tabernas or savoring the dishes served in its traditional establishments and 26 Michelin-starred restaurants, we love coming together around a table.” Madrid’s food scene has grown in leaps and bounds, notes Perez. “Cuisine in the capital is known for its diversity and use of first-rate ingredients, and visitors to the city see our food scene as one of our most remarkable attractions,” he says. “According to the latest MICE Tourism Report, visitors rate the city’s gastronomy as its main standout feature.
As Spain’s capital city, Madrid is a culinary melting pot for the entire country. The city’s most characteristic dish is cocido madrileño (a meat and chickpea stew), and one of the most popular culinary offerings is tapas. Churros con chocolate (deep-fried dough with hot dipping chocolate) and rosquillas (oven-baked doughnuts) are among traditional Madrid sweets.
Group culinary adventures abound. These include tapas tours visiting traditional tabernas in the city’s historic center and all manner of cooking classes. As well, Perez recommends a culinary experience at the Food Hall at Galeria Galeria, with 13 restaurants (some of which are run by Michelin-starred chefs) and an open-plan market with 20 stations offering food from around the globe. There are many opportunities for luxe culinary experiences in Madrid, he says. Recently, for example, a group was driven in Bentleys to an “ephemeral experience” dinner created by a Michelin-starred chef, paired with five Premier Grand Cru Classe wines.
Finally, concludes Perez, “it should be noted that Madrid has its own Designation of Origin distinction. A trip to a vineyard with a Wines of Madrid designation is another appealing way for groups to spend a day learning about production processes, tasting signature wines and getting a fascinating look at the region’s culinary heritage.”
New Zealand is famous for its world-class cuisine. “Locally grown, sustainably produced and superb quality is the catch-cry for group dining across the country, from our large convention centers to our great restaurants, unique venues and everything in between,” says Tourism New Zealand’s General Manager NZ and Business Events Bjoern Spreitzer.
In Queenstown, a gorgeously scenic and popular incentive destination, the food scene offers fantastic choices for groups, Spreitzer says. This ranges from dine-around options in its top restaurants to picture-perfect vineyards, all offering first-class local fare.
Just a 20-minute drive from Queenstown is the picturesque historical gold-mining settlement of Arrowtown, with the historic farm homestead Ayrburn that has recently been converted into a rustic-luxe dining hub available for group buyouts. Also in Arrowtown, the 1,200-acre Royalburn Station, one of the oldest farms in New Zealand, now offers two venues for events, each with beautiful rural views. The smaller Prohibition House is a renovated 1920s cottage nestled in a private valley. Hay Shed Terrace, with sweeping mountain views, offers a large flat terrace for large events. The farm grows its own lamb, beef, eggs, honey and organic market garden produce and is an amazing spot for a bespoke feast, says Spreitzer.
Queenstown (and the adjacent Central Otago area) is renowned Pinot Noir country, and at wineries such as Kinross, groups can be winemakers for a day. Spreitzer notes that New Zealand is also becoming known for award-winning beer and spirits. Soon to come from the country’s largest distillery, Scapegrace, is a new hospitality venue perched on the banks of Lake Dunstan. For a literal gin on the rocks, Altitude Tours’ world- first Helicopter Gin Tour offers an incredible scenic flight and mountaintop gin-tasting adventure.
Major international gateway and incentive hub Auckland is also a foodie haven, notes Spreitzer, with acclaimed dining in the city and a quick day trip to the scenic vineyards and distilleries of Waiheke Island. As well, New Zealand is a major proponent of mocktails and delicious new beverages for the “sober curious,” he says. Auckland cocktail company Black Pineapple Co., for example, hosts group lessons in making virgin Espresso Martinis, (or “Marti-nos”).
Orlando’s culinary scene is fueled by the dedication of talented chefs, restaurateurs and service staff, says Casandra Matej, CEO, Visit Orlando, “making Orlando a vibrant hub for international cuisine, attracting food enthusiasts and enhancing the group dining experience. “This year we’ve welcomed new concepts from Michelin-recognized and celebrity chefs, alongside champagne bars, sober speakeasies, omakases and arcade bars.” Orlando boasts 7-Starred, 11-Bib Gourmand and 30-Recommended Restaurants in the 2024 Michelin Guide: 26 of these welcome groups.
Many of Orlando’s 6,000 restaurants are located near the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), and there are abundant options for planners to create customized dining experiences, says Matej. The convention center itself has earned planner accolades for high-quality service, creativity and menu items, she says.
Planners are requesting local and farm-to-table cuisine, reports Matej, and restaurants with unique atmospheres and/or celebrity chef affiliations. As well, “planners are also seeking more rooftop restaurant and bar experiences like you can find at Ceiba, the elevated rooftop dining experience found at the newly opened Conrad Orlando. We’re also seeing a growing number of elevated sports bars opening at several convention hotels,” notes Matej. “Opening soon at Pointe Orlando is Sport & Social, part of the new Live! Plaza for special events.”
Among experiential dining experiences, “Harmonary” at Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, features an evening of courses by the award-winning culinary team paired with live music and storytelling. At the OCCC, attendees can see the center’s sustainable food sourcing at work in the lobby where the 2,000-sf Center-to-Table Gardens reside. The 88 aeroponic growing towers for tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, herbs, etc., ensure only the freshest greens and herbs for meeting menu offerings.
New on the restaurant scene is Arcade Monsters in the Convention District; Bar Kada, with small plates by Michelin chef Michael Collantes as well as cooking classes and pairing dinners; eet by Food Network’s Maneet Chauhan, the only Indian-inspired restaurant in Disney Springs; Summer House on the Lake at Disney Springs with California-inspired cuisine; and Flutes, a French-inspired champagne bar in Winter Park. Coming soon is an expansion of Bandbox Orlando, a spirit-free nighttime speakeasy in the Ivanhoe Village district and Moso Nori, a new concept in Winter Park by Michelin-recognized chef Henry Moso.
“There are so many great local dishes to choose from at our theme parks, convention hotels and neighborhood eateries,” concludes Matej. To help planners navigate the many choices, Visit Orlando has just revamped OrlandoMeeting.com with more modern and easy-to-navigate design, better performance and dedicated neighborhood pages.
Sustainability is an evergreen driving force in San Francisco’s culinary scene, says Nicole Rogers, Executive VP & Chief Sales Officer, SF Travel. “The Bay Area was the birthplace of the farm-to-table movement in the U.S.,” she says, “and the tradition of providing the freshest food possible continues. This way of thinking has paved the way for innovative restaurants such as Aphotic, a seafood restaurant committed to serving only locally and sustainably sourced seafood; Copra, an upscale Indian restaurant featuring mamu, a new mushroom protein; and many more.
San Francisco’s culinary scene is as varied as its people, notes Rogers, with diverse Asian cuisine and iconic dishes such as sourdough, Mission-style burritos and fresh seafood specialties like cioppino and Dungeness crab. MICE groups love to sample a mix of old and new, Rogers says. “Attendees want to experience the classics but are also excited about trying new restaurants. San Francisco is home to the most Michelin-starred restaurants in California, offering numerous options for groups to try food from some of the most innovative chefs in the world.”
Among favorite group venues, Rogers cites the elegant Bar Sprezzatura, an aperitivo and cicchetti bar located in the city’s Financial District opened in 2022 and Californios, a two-starred Michelin restaurant in the SoMa (south of Market) area, with elevated Mexican cuisine made from locally sourced ingredients.
For a fun and immersive culinary celebration of San Francisco’s Chinese American community, Rogers recommends China Live, with a mix of dining spaces including the famous “Eight Tables” dining experience that offers a private, elevated dining experience in what has been ranked as one of the most beautiful restaurants in America. As well, groups shouldn’t miss a Ferry Building food tour, says Rogers. “San Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building is packed with incredible food options and a farmer’s market that is open three days a week. Edible Excursions offers group food tours that provide insights into all that it has to offer. These tours run on the same days the farmers market is active, allowing attendees to explore the region’s fresh produce and sample everything from gourmet chocolate and cheese to French pastries, ice cream and Latin cuisine.”
“There’s only one place where you can dine on a rooftop overlooking the White House or host a group with the Washington Monument in the background,” says Elliott L. Ferguson, II, President and CEO, Destination DC. “DC’s dining scene is infused with political and cultural landmarks, creating an atmosphere where history and contemporary cuisine intersect. Our unique setting allows attendees to enjoy world-class dining while soaking in the iconic sights of the nation’s capital.”
DC’s dining landscape is constantly evolving, notes Ferguson, with neighborhood restaurants catering to every preference and budget. Among popular group dining experiences, DC’s food halls offer everything from quick bites to private dinners. Among them, Union Market is a bustling marketplace where diverse vendors serve smoky barbeque, savory arepas and fresh seafood. La Cosecha offers an eclectic array of Latin-inspired dishes and The Block Food Hall features a mix of minority-owned vendors, creative cocktails and Filipino delicacies with modern twists.
Located near the Convention Center, Love, Makoto has customizable dining experiences that range from an omakase journey to Japanese small plates. The Square, located beneath International Square’s glass atrium, offers a bold dining experience that fuses emerging culture with innovative cuisine. In Georgetown, groups can experience the ultimate power lunch or dinner at the iconic 1789 Restaurant & Bar, with four elegant event spaces.
In addition to a surge of high-profile restaurant openings from celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Gordon Ramsey and Jose Andres—who has more than 10 restaurants across the Capital Region—DC has several Michelin-starred establishments. New on the scene is La Grande Boucherie, located in a former 1930s bank building just one block away from the White House. Reverie, Chef Johnny Spero’s Michelin-starred tasting experience in Georgetown, welcomed guests again this spring after tragically burning to the ground in 2022. For a sampling of dining experiences, Destination DC arranges dine-arounds for groups to experience different restaurants in the same neighborhood or area.
DC’s culinary renaissance is also informed by experiential cuisine, with offerings like artificial intelligence cocktails, blindfolded dining, Embassy Chef tastings, sushi-making and more. “Washington, DC is more than just a political hub; it’s a culinary destination,” concludes Ferguson. “With an abundance of dining options including innovative food halls, intimate speakeasies and scenic rooftop venues, conference attendees have endless opportunities to explore and enjoy the city’s dynamic food scene.”
esmadrid.com/mcb/en/plan-your-event; businessevents.newzealand.com; orlandomeeting.com; sftravel.com/meetings; eng.taiwan.net.tw; washington.org/meetings