Do you fancy venturing into the heart of the Indonesian jungle, foraging for wild delicacies, and cooking them over an open hardwood fire – all under the watchful eye of one of the world’s most famous outdoor cooks? Of course, because it sounds fantastic!
Well, look no further than the incredible Culture & Cuisine trip provided by our sister brand Emperor Adventure.
Created by professional chef, explorer, and social media influencer Tait Miller, this 12-night expedition through the stunning Raja Ampat region offers an unforgettable – and potentially life-changing – immersive experience for the select few guests lucky enough to secure a place.
Your home for this journey will be the beautiful liveaboard vessel, Emperor Raja Laut, where just 12 guests will be welcomed aboard. You’ll be taken to some of the most breathtaking locations in this remarkable corner of the world, immersing yourself in a rich tapestry of food, tradition, culture, and nature.
While the natural beauty and deep history of Indonesia provide the stunning backdrop for this cruise, it’s Tait who truly brings the experience to life. His passion for the natural world and deep culinary knowledge ensure that every day of this journey is filled with exploration, discovery and, of course, delicious food.
After over a decade spent working in top London restaurants, Tait eventually followed his true calling: to connect with nature and rediscover the roots of cooking. His desire to learn has taken him around the world, cooking outdoors in wild, remote locations – and now he’s bringing that knowledge to you.
Tait explains: “After working my way through restaurants, I felt that I still hadn’t found my place in the industry.
“I wanted more connection to the ingredients I use and an understanding of the history of cooking. With this, I started slowly gaining knowledge, practicing skills and forging a path towards the life in the wild that I wanted to live.
“My first truly magical experience was in Scotland Cairngorms National Park. Doing fireside cooking with two friends after bike-packing to a remote loch is a memory that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
“Cooking in the wild changes the way people experience food. The true connection to our food comes from the environment we find ourselves in, whether it is a crisp apple eaten in an English orchard or a fresh Moringa smoothie under towering forests in Indonesia.
“Raja Ampat is one of the most exciting places you can feel this. The diversity of ingredients and the uniqueness of finding hidden gems in such a remote part of the world makes for an unrivalled culinary experience.”
This Cuisine & Culture journey is layered with adventure. Guests will explore breathtaking islands, forage for ingredients, cook under open skies, dine on remote beaches, visit awe-inspiring locations, and meet unforgettable people – learning all the time from Tait’s deep well of experience and insight.
“For me, educating myself has been key to my journey – and Raja Ampat has been no different,” he says.
“I worked with locals to learn traditional ferments and how to process local vegetation, and we will create menus that utilise all of these new skills.
“The wild cooking sessions will involve learning about grilling over local hardwoods, discovering the speed of fermentation in this tropical climate and things like the simple joys of freshly-picked papayas eaten on a white-sand beach.
“It’s hands-on and will be all hands to deck as we forage amongst the trees, learn from a local permaculture expert and cook on remote beaches.
“For example, we will have homemade Tempeh. It’s fermented in the traditional style, wrapped in banana leaf, and then later fried in a perfectly sticky Indonesian-style sauce. It’s a showstopper!
“We will make tepache (a sweetened drink made from the peel of pineapples) and, of course, such treats as slow-grilled fish with lemongrass and an Indonesian forage greens curry.
“The whole experience will be based around my cooking philosophy – discovery of what nature and the land wants to feed me.”
Only 12 lucky guests are able to join Tait on this incredible adventure and they will never forget the sensory overload awaiting them. The sights, sounds, smells and, of course, phenomenal tastes will stay with every single guest long after they have returned home.
Why not be with one of the fortunate few who can boast they were there?
For more information or to book a place on this epic adventure, contact our friendly team on [email protected]