SIX UNFORGETTABLE DAYS IN DAKAR, SENEGAL
Join award-winning Chef Serigne Mbaye and embark on a transformative journey to Dakar, Senegal, where vibrant culture, rich history, and culinary delights await. Join us for an unforgettable experience curated to immerse you in the heart of Senegalese life, intimate gatherings with local artisans and chefs to insightful explorations of the city's art, architecture, and youth culture. Delve into the past at UNESCO World Heritage sites and celebrate the present with exquisite meals and performances. This is more than a trip; it's an opportunity to connect deeply with Senegal's soul and the experience the other place Chef Serigne calls home.
Experience Cost: $4,900
(does not include taxes, airfare, ground transportation or hotel accommodations)
Itinerary
Day 1: You’ve had a long flight and are still adjusting to the time change, so this evening will be an easy, casual gathering on the hotel grounds where you’ll meet Chef Serigne and hear stories of his Senegalese roots and upbringing. Over delicious cocktails and a curated selection of street food prepared by the best of Dakar’s roadside vendors. We’ll get to know one another and review the upcoming week’s itinerary.
Day 2: Today we’ll meet Aissa Dione Tissus, a world-renowned artist and textile designer, credited with reviving Senegal’s artisan textile industry. You’ll be welcomed into her private atelier and have up close access to see the textile weaving process and learn from Aissa about the significance of the art and the preservation of Senegalese/African culture. Lunch will feature a Creole gumbo, prepared by renowned New Orleans food writer, Lolis Eric Elie and soupa konja, prepared by Chef Serigne. The dual courses will be accompanied by a discussion of the west African influence on the iconic foods of the Americas. As the late afternoon sun sinks into the ocean, we’ll dine and dance to the worldly sounds of reggae, jazz, and an Afro-Cuban groove from one of West Africa’s most iconic dance band.
Day 3: We’ll head to Medina, the neighborhood celebrated in Youssou N’Dour’s song of the same name. It’s the area that locals consider to be the true heart of Dakar. Joining us here will be a fascinating scholar with a long history of studying and advocating for the youth of Dakar. In conversation with some of the city’s top creative representatives, from hip hop artists to architects to graffiti designers, you’ll learn more about Dakar’s youth movement and their influence on urban culture today.
Tonight, we’ll enjoy a delightful meal thoughtfully created in collaboration with a much-admired local chef at an exquisite property in the city center.
Day 4: An important highlight of the week’s itinerary will be a visit to Goree Island, a UNESCO World Heritage site that from the 15th to 19th centuries was the largest slave trade center on the African coast. We’ll bear witness to the historical significance of the Maison des Esclaves (House of Slaves) and the stories told of what life was like behind those walls. Lunch will feature fish freshly procured from local fisherman and grilled with traditional Senegalese accompaniments cooked on a “stove” consisting of three stones.
Our evening will begin with an intimate viewing and discussion over cocktails and canapés about a private collection of African art and design. Chef Serigne’s signature dish, Last Meal, was inspired by Gorée Island. With that as a first course, you’ll then be delighted with a very special appearance by a modern nomadic Fulani chef who will create a meal that celebrates her culture’s rich food heritage, all in the exquisite home of a revered Senegalese designer.
Day 5: This morning, in small breakout groups, we’ll explore the city on foot. Take an architecture walk, participate in a chocolate workshop, or take in the colorful culinary and crafts markets of Dakar, seeing them through the eyes of our local food and design experts who will help guide you in your decisions about what to take back home! Later in the day, we’ll convene at a contemporary art and architecture hub where we’ll engage in conversation about the recent and exciting rise in prominence of women across various industries that were typically dominated by men, and enjoy a delicious lunch created by an entrepreneurial young chef who is well on her way to the top of Dakar’s food scene. In the evening, Chef Serigne will prepare a spectacular dinner, his interpretation of modern Senegalese food to be served at one of the city’s most beautiful and creative venues, followed by a lively performance by acclaimed local musicians.
Day 6: After a morning of optional activities and an authentically Senegalese lunch, we’ll bid a final adieu. As we say farewell to Chef Serigne and all the new friends we’ve made this week, we’ll share food, stories and lots of laughs before we depart for the airport and our flights home (or perhaps to the next stop on your African journey!)
Accommodations
Enjoy your stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Dakar Sea Plaza and take in the vibrant beauty of Senegal at this five-star hotel. This modern design hotel in the elegant Fann neighborhood on the Cape Verde Peninsula has everything you need, including convenient amenities and facilities. The hotel has two restaurants, two bars, and a fitness center and spa. Accommodations are not included with the ticket price. You are responsible for booking your own hotel reservations. Book your room here.