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Savor the Big Easy: Cooking, Culture & Classic Jazz

Hands‐On Cooking Class, Your Choice of Tour, Jazz Brunch and 3‐Night Stay for 2

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This Experience for 2 Includes:

  • Hands-on cooking class and dinner at New Orleans School of Cooking
  • Choice of immersive tour, to explore the city your way!
  • Jazz brunch at the legendary Court of Two Sisters
  • 3-night stay at Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel in a standard room
  • Winspire booking & concierge service

There’s a reason New Orleans doesn’t just get visited — it gets felt. Music spills from open doorways, spice lingers in the air, and every street hums with stories layered deep in time. Here, meals are slow and soulful, jazz is a living language, and conversations unfold like traditions passed hand to hand. It’s a city that invites you to lean in, savor every note and flavor, and walk away feeling like you didn’t just see it — you lived it.

Cook Like a Local: A New Orleans Cooking Experience & Dinner

Step into the New Orleans School of Cooking and let the aromas do the talking — butter sizzling, spices blooming, and roux slowly deepening to perfection. This hands-on culinary experience invites you to roll up your sleeves and dive into the flavors that define the city.

Under the guidance of passionate local chefs, you’ll learn the techniques behind iconic Louisiana dishes — stirring dark, velvety roux, seasoning seafood and sausage with just the right kick, and discovering how classics like gumbo, jambalaya, Creole dishes, bisque, and étouffée come together layer by soulful layer.

The experience concludes as a shared, sit-down dinner, where you enjoy the fruits of your labor alongside classic New Orleans desserts such as Bananas Foster or freshly made pralines — sweet finales that capture the spirit of the city.

This is part cooking class, part celebration, and entirely unforgettable — a flavorful, laughter-filled evening where every bite tells a story of New Orleans’ rich culinary heritage.

Choose Your Story: New Orleans, Your way

Select one small-group guided tour that matches your curiosity — from elegant history to the city’s darker legends.

  • French Quarter Ghost Tour
    Step into the shadowed corners of the French Quarter, where tragedy, mystery, and true crime collide. Your guide reveals the real stories behind New Orleans’ most famous hauntings — blending documented history with chilling folklore that still lingers in the streets.
  • Voodoo Tour
    Discover the powerful spiritual traditions that shaped New Orleans, from Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau to rituals, symbols, and spellcraft unique to the city. This immersive walk explores the intersection of culture, history, and belief — separating myth from meaning.
  • Garden District Walking Tour
    Wander beneath moss-draped oaks through one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Admire grand antebellum mansions, sweeping verandas, and quiet streets where elegance and Southern history live side by side.
  • French Quarter History Tour
    Explore the heart of New Orleans through its architecture, cuisine, and cinematic past. Along the way, uncover hidden courtyards, iconic landmarks, and the stories that shaped this vibrant, multicultural city.
  • New Orleans Cocktail Tour (Drinks not included)
    Make your way through legendary French Quarter bars while learning the fascinating history behind New Orleans’ most famous cocktails. Each stop reveals how politics, culture, and celebration shaped the city’s unapologetic drinking traditions.

Every route reveals a different side of New Orleans — mysterious, elegant, spirited, or historic. You choose the story. The city brings it to life.

Jazz Brunch, NOLA-Style

Settle beneath the iron balconies and whispering palms of the Court of Two Sisters’ legendary courtyard, where jazz drifts through the air and sunlight filters softly through the canopy above. As the band strikes up a familiar New Orleans rhythm, plates arrive brimming with the flavors the city is famous for — fluffy biscuits, creamy grits, and rich, slow-simmered dishes layered with spice and soul.

Indulge in classic brunch favorites kissed with Creole flair: eggs prepared just the way you like them, smoky sausages, crisp bacon, and decadent sides that taste like they’ve been perfected over generations. Sweet notes follow with warm bread pudding and seasonal treats, while your included mimosa sparkles in the glass, perfectly chilled and endlessly sippable.

This is brunch the New Orleans way — unhurried, indulgent, and alive with music. A moment where conversation flows easily, the jazz sets the pace, and the city’s timeless charm wraps around you like a favorite song.

Your Downtown Retreat

After days filled with spice, stories, and soul, retreat to the Renaissance Pere Marquette Hotel, a polished sanctuary tucked into the rhythm of downtown New Orleans. Step through its doors and feel the pace soften — elegant interiors, plush comforts, and a sense of timeless Southern hospitality welcome you home. Perfectly positioned for evening strolls, live music, and late-night bites, the hotel offers the best of both worlds: effortless access to the city’s energy, and a quiet, refined escape when you’re ready to unwind and savor the memories of the day.

Why This Experience Captivates Donors and Closes Bids

  • Iconic Destination, Instant Appeal – New Orleans is universally loved for its music, cuisine, and culture. One glance at this package and donors immediately get it — and want it.
  • Experiential Over Ordinary – This isn’t just a trip; it’s hands-on, immersive, and story-driven — cooking Creole classics, strolling storied streets, and savoring live jazz in a historic courtyard.
  • Perfect Balance of Fun & Ease – A thoughtfully curated mix of guided experiences and relaxed free time makes this effortless for the winner and irresistible for bidders.
  • Broad Donor Appeal – Ideal for couples, friends, or milestone celebrations — food lovers, music fans, and culture seekers all see themselves in this experience.
  • Authentic, Not Tourist-Trapped – From the New Orleans School of Cooking to Court of Two Sisters, every inclusion feels local, meaningful, and deeply rooted in the city’s soul.
  • Strong Perceived Value – A 3-night stay, multiple included experiences, and Winspire’s concierge support make this feel like a premium, high-value win.
  • Proven Auction Performer – Culinary and culture-focused getaways consistently spark competition — this one checks every box for emotional bidding.
  • Zero Risk, All Upside – Backed by Winspire’s seamless booking and support, nonprofits can confidently offer this experience knowing it delivers unforgettable memories and strong results.

Package Redemption

Winspire Travel packages and experiences must be booked within one year of the purchase date. The actual travel date must occur within two years of the purchase date.

Booking & Concierge Services

Winspire provides a team of seasoned travel professionals to help you redeem your experience. We will book all travel-related details and reservations for every part of your experience. Included within our services, Winspire can assist with extra hotel nights, airfare, and additional guests as a full-service travel agency.

Additional Information

Reservations are subject to availability, blackout dates, and major holidays. Reservations must be booked 60 days in advance of travel. Purchases through charity fundraisers are non-refundable.

Blackout Dates

The week of major US holidays and major local events. Additional dates may apply.

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