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 Cooking School Vacations
TUSCANY
Radda-in Chianti (Chianti Classico)
Tutti A Tavola invites you to join them for three days of hands-on-lessons instructed in English.
Includes market visits, and recipes:
$595.00 per person. In addition, stay in the beautiful refurbished farmhouse, locally known as an "agriturismo" (bed & breakfast equivalent)
The package price including four night's accommodation: $850.00 per person
Lucca
Lucca – Villa Borbone
Seven nights hotel – Six days of Cooking Classes $2800.00 per person
Cooking classes in Montecarlo 2005 (13 km from Lucca)
Already in the Middle Ages the small village of Montecarlo, a superb example a of medieval "Borgo", was well-known for the special wine production.Right in the centre of the medieval "Borgo" of Montecarlo an acient and noble Palace has been restored and transformed in an elegant and small hotel. In the hotel restaurant the "chef" Liborio Lavelli Tamitaly holds his cooking classes divulging the secrets of the local cooking tradition and the possibility to discover the Italian "arte del cibo".
We can offer two alternatives:
Three night stay with two cooking lessons:
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First day: Arrival at Pisa/Florence Airport, transfer to Montecarlo, welcome drink in hotel and dinner. Overnight.
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Second day: breakfast in hotel and first cooking lesson (Italian Pasta) ending with the lunch. Afternoon excursion with English speaking escort to discover the town of Lucca with its main monuments: Piazza Anfiteatro, the Duomo, the Walls… Dinner in a good, traditional restaurant in the town centre. After dinner return to Montecarlo and overnight.
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Third day: breakfast and second cooking lesson (vegetables and soups) ending with lunch. Afternoon dedicated to the visit of a farm-house with wine and olive-oil production. Special dinner in the elegant first floor "sala" with beautiful fire-place with guided wine tasting.
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Fourth day: breakfast and transfer to Airport
Price per person in double room from 1012 Euro ($1100.00 USD approx)
The rate includes:
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3 night stay in hotel with breakfast;
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2 cooking classes with English speaking chef;
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Visit of Lucca with English speaking guide;
Seven night stay with four cooking lessons:
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Day one: Arrival at Pisa/Florence Airport, transfer to Montecarlo, welcome drink in hotel and dinner. Overnight.
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Day two: Breakfast in hotel and first cooking lesson (Italian Pasta) ending with the lunch. Afternoon excursion with English speaking escort to discover the town of Lucca. Dinner in a good, traditional restaurant in the city centre. Return to Montecarlo and overnight.
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Day three: breakfast in hotel and second cooking lesson (Vegetables and soups) lunch at the end of the lesson. Afternoon free for different activities: walking in the country, horse riding, bicycle.. Dinner in nice "trattoria" nearby the hotel. Overnight.
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Day four: breakfast in hotel and full-day excursion to Florence with English speaking guide. Morning visit of the main monuments (2,5 hours), lunch in typical "osteria" and afternoon free for shopping or personal visits. Return to Montecarlo, dinner in hotel and overnight.
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Day five: breakfast in hotel and third cooking lesson (second courses), lunch at the end of the lesson. Afternoon visit of two local farm-houses with the wine canteen, wine and olive oil tasting, dinner. Return to hotel and overnight.
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Day six: breakfast in hotel and fourth cooking lesson (sweets and pastry), lunch at the end of the lesson. Afternoon visit of two elegant and beautiful Villas in the surroundings of Lucca with English speaking guide. Dinner in typical restaurant, return to Montecarlo and overnight.
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Day seven: breakfast in hotel and full day excursion to the Marble Caves in Carrara. Lunch in Pietrasanta and visit of the beautiful Duomo. Return to Montecarlo and special dinner in the hotel first floor "sala " with beautiful fire-place, guided wine tasting and award ceremony.
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Day eight: breakfast in hotel and transfer to airport.
Price per person in double room from 2,416 Euro ($2,600 USD approx)
The price includes:
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7 nights in hotel with breakfast;
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Transfer to and from airport of Pisa;
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4 cooking classes with English speaking chef;
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All meals as specified in the program;
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Half-day visit of Lucca, full-day in Florence and to the Marble Caves;
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Half-day visit of two Lucca Villas (including entrance fees);
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Visit of two local farm-houses with local products tasting;
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Special dinner with guided wine tasting on the last night.
Montecatini - Spa & Cooking
Three nights hotel – Two days of Cooking Classes $500.00 per couple (Spa treatment included)
Elba Island – Hotel Airone (Spa and Cooking)
Chef Alvaro-Five nights hotel – Three days of Cooking Classes – one spa treatment $1400.00 per couple
Siena – Villa Lecchi (17th Century Villa)
Three nights hotel – Two days of Cooking Classes $600.00 per couple
Cortona – Hotel Il Portole
Chef Franco and his wife- Three nights hotel – Two days of Cooking Classes $400.00 per couple
Volterra - classes in a different kitchen every day
Especially dedicated to those who love Italian cuisine, wine and culture, this is a touring "hands on" cooking course by expert home-cooks, teaching traditional Tuscan and Mediterranean cuisine. Every day you will have a cooking class by a different cook, in a different kitchen, so to give you a wide experience of cooking styles. And every day you will have an excursion to visit a special place of our region
- Sunday - Arrival in the afternoon, not before 5 pm. We can pick you up at San Miniato station. Check in at your lodge (room with bathroom in a Tuscan holiday-farm). Traditional dinner.
- Monday
- Starting in the morning, cooking class by Anna at Marrucola, based on Tuscany and Etruscan recipes. After lunch tour to San Gimignano, the medieval "towers town". Dinner at a country restaurant.
- Tuesday - Open market in San Miniato. Cooking class by Ivonne at the Yoga Center, based on vegetarian and Mediterranean recipes. After lunch, excursion to the township of Lari where we can visit Martelli's pasta factory and the 14th Century Medieval castle of the Medici family. Dinner at your lodge.
- Wednesday
- Loredana's cooking class based on traditional Italian pasta, at her farm-house Vallacchi. After lunch a guided tour to discover all San Miniato treasures and history. Dinner at your lodge.
- Thursday
- Tour to Volterra, in the fascinating town you'll discover the Etruscan, Roman and Medieval history and art. Lunch in a garden of a winery. Then to Michela's farm-house to enjoy an evening making and baking pizza and schiacciata in an antique wood-fire brick-oven... and eating all together with good wine and Vin Santo.
- Friday
- Wine tour to visit important and antique wineries of our area, including wine tasting of their wines. Also olive oil tasting in the olive mill of San Miniato. Lunch at a country restaurant specialized in game. Free afternoon with options (shopping, massage, relax at the swimming pool). Dinner at Marrucola.
- Saturday
- Departures within the morning.
Cost per person in farmhouse accommodation: 1,818 Euro ($2,000 USD approximately)
Chianti Classico – Country House
Chef Giulietta - Three nights hotel – Two days of Cooking Classes $700.00 per couple
VENETO
Venice – Villa Luppis (An amazing Villa from the 12th Century)
Chef Luciano -Five nights hotel – Three days of Cooking Classes $1400.00 per couple
UMBRIA
Stroncone – Four star Country House – Painting and Cooking
Chef Tatiana: Three nights hotel – Two days of Cooking – One day Painting $900.00 per couple Trevi – Historical 17th Century Villa
Trevi - Hotel – Relais de Charme
A historical Demeure in the charming medieval borgo of Trevi, recently renovated and reported to the original splendour of the beginning of the 17th century. The Antica Dimora alla Rocca is a huge building with 19 rooms & suites, some of which with frescoes ceiling, some other with wooden ceilings of typical Umbrian architecture The Gourmet- Restaurant "La Prepositura" is an exclusive "minimalist" meeting point where guests can taste the deliciousness of local Cusine, with an extremely careful service and professional staff. Thanks to the central regional location of Trevi, very close to other towns of interests in Umbria such as Spoleto (17 km), Assisi (28 km) and Spello (11 km) the Hotel - Relais de Charme is a prestigious basis for undertaking excursions in whole Umbria.
COOKING CLASS MINI-STAY, 2 nights/3 days
(Valid all week-ends of 2005 except for Easter, all National & Religious Holidays)
fridays
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Afternoon Check-in, complimentary covered car parking
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Welcome drink and flower gift for Ladies
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Typical dinner and overnight
saturdays
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Breakfast a-la-carte/buffet
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Two-hours Cooking Class and tasting-lunch with the recipes prepared, matched with Umbrian wines
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Free Afternoon: visit the local Museum of Olive Oil Culture (free gift entrance)/ half day excursion to Spoleto or Montefalco / Gourmet shopping in Foligno are suggested
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Dinner and overnight
sundays
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Breakfast a-la-carte/buffet
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Two-hours Cooking Class with tasting-lunch made of the recipes prepared, matched with Umbrian wines
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Check-out
PRICE per person for the full package based on four participants: EURO 300,oo (approx $350 USD) (dinners beverage not included)
SPOLETO
SPA WELLNESS & COOKING - 3-NIGHTS PROGRAM
A long week-end dedicated to wellness and Umbrian ancient cuisine, in a pleasant mix of relax and fun: in a beautiful ancient Monastery surrounded by acres of woods and fields and in a wide, modern and well-equipped kitchen, Mrs. Marinella De Simone, owner, ancient Umbrian Cuisine expert along with housewives from the surroundings, will lead our guests in preparing special Umbrian dishes "hands-on" that they will taste themselves at dinner time, and a qualified Staff will lead our guests throughout the relaxing and detoxifying items. We use organic and bio-dynamic certified vegetables and meats from our farm and Umbrian organic olive oil. Participants: from 4 to 16 people. Accommodation: in suite, on a full board basis Period: 3 nights/4 days - From Thursday afternoon to Sunday afternoon
Prices per person (2005):
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Euro 1100 in suite based on double occupancy
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Euro 140,00 supplement per person if there are only 2 participants
PROGRAM
Includes: All meals; gourmet welcome dinner and farewell gala lunch, sightseeing tour of Assisi, Torgiano, Wine & Olive Oil Museum, Vineyard, wine tasting, Shiatsu massage, hydromassage,, Visit of Olive Oil press, Cooking classes, reflexology treatment.
LOMBARDY:
Lake Como – Villa D’Este (one of the leading hotels of the world!)
Five nights hotel – Three days of Cooking $1,850.00 per person
Bellagio – Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni on Lake Como (Spa treatment included)
Three nights hotel – Three days of Cooking – $1000.00 per person
PIEDMONT
Cortemilia (near Turin - where the 2006 Winter Olympics will be held!)
Chef Carlo gives you a hands on instruction with accommodation in his charming three star hotel, a private tour of his wine cellar, and phenomenal lectures in English on the wines of the valleys of Piedmont.
Two classes, including hotel for two nights:
$350.00 per person
Lake Orta – Villa Crespi (a fantastic hotel with beautifully decorated rooms)
Chef Sebastiano
Three nights hotel – Three days of Cooking – $1550.00 per person
LIGURIA
Cinque Terre – Portovenere – Grand Hotel (watch the sunset over the ocean while you learn in a professional teaching kitchen)
Chef Paolo
Seven nights hotel – Six days of Cooking – $1800.00 per person
Albenga -Tour & Ligurian Cooking classes
3 nights/ 4 days - 504 Euro $550.00 per person (approx)
1st day
Arrival in Albenga’s countryside and check-in at the farmhouse Visit to the "Oil museum" with a tour to the history of "Olio extravergine di oliva" with a lesson to learn how to do olive-oil. Visit of the historical medieval centre and shopping.
8.30 p.m. Gourmet’s dinner in a typical restaurant
2nd day
Breakfast. Ligurian Cooking Lesson: Let’s start from the ABC of Ligurian tradition
Lunch. Everybody in the kitchen! (second part of the course)
Diplomas delivery and The Cook’s Dinner
3rd day
9.00 a.m. Breakfast Departure for Varigotti and visit to the ancient Saracen village Lunch in a typical restaurant tasting the specialities of the Ligurian country
Departure for Final Borgo and tour to the wonderful medieval centre
Visit and wine tasting in a wine-cellar
Forget-me-not Dinner
4th day
9.00 a.m. Check-out and transfer
Accomodation in double room: 504 Euro
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English speaking interpreter
1 visit to a wine-cellar and 1 wine tasting
1 aperitif
1 Cook-book
1 Forget-me-not kit |
The price includes:
3 nights B&B in Farmhouse
3 Gourmet dinners
2 Lunches
Ligurian cooking course
2 visit to the Oil Museum and 2 oil tasting
Some informations about the Ligurian cooking courses
Where does it take place? It takes place in a pictoresque village of the Ligurian country a few minutes by car far away from the towns of Albenga and Alassio.
Who are the chefs?
The chefs that teach cooking are professionals that have been working for years in the best known local restaurants.Their recipes are the same that their grandmothers cooked, using the natural and simple tastes and smells of the Ligurian tradition.
What is the aim of the course? Let people know the tradition and the secrets of Ligurian cooking, giving a good result to local cultivations and the vegetables of the kitchen-gardens, with its fragrances and peculiarities. A dietician will teache the nourishing properties of Ligurian food.
Gourmet Dinner The first night the students can approach to the themes that they will be teached the next day.
The Gourmet Dinner aims at refining the knowledge and the taste of the student.
The Cook Dinner …after a whole day in the kitchen, it’s the right moment for a gastronomic break…
The courses
Some of the courses you can learn to cook are: puff-paste with beets and olives, artichokes flan with sheep’s milk Ligurian cheese fondue, "ravioli" made with Ligurian herbs, acacia-honey "semifreddo" and other tasty morsels.
SICILY
Agrigento - Minicourse of classic Sicilian food, each lesson lasts three hourse and is instructed by Vincenzo Meli and Prof. Francaviglia.
Cooking Class at the Hotel Kaos 4* of Agrigento; 3 Nights in a bed and breakfast at the Hotel Kaos di Agrigento - cost per person 700 Euro (approx $750 USD)
During the lesson, mediterranean cooking is taught- the basics for learning the secrets of the chef - the lesson can focus on appetizers, first or second courses.The course will be given partly in a class situation, and partly in the kitchen - they will go over utensils, ovens, and temperatures.
NOT SURE WHERE TO SPEND TIME DOING A COOKING COURSE?
There are some areas of Italy that are more famous and well known than others - and those may be the places that first come to mind when deciding where to do a Cooking School.
For example, Tuscany is beautiful and has become more popular because of movies and books that feature its rolling hills and vineyards. However, there are lesser known areas of Tuscany and the rest of Italy that are still free of tourists and full of locals jumping with joy to teach you how to cook - often at prices that are must lower than the "famous" areas.
For instance we can help you to decide if you want to learn to cook, and speak Italian at the same time, by spending a day with a local "Signora" who barely speaks English but is so full of charm that you'll be using your hands to cook and communicate!
If you are more of a professional, we will put you with a professional Italian Chef (who speaks perfect English) and he will show you how he prepares the meals for his four star hotel kitchen in the Cinque Terre, using the local seafood as the base of his menu.
So tell us how serious you are about cooking, or drinking wine, or just hanging out and getting to know the Italians, and we will send you in the right direction!
Suggestions: To help you with some ideas of the regional dishes, we have listed some cities and their regions.
Then we have mentioned a few physical aspects of the area, in addition to at least one famous gastronomic ingredient from the area, and the activities we suggest you explore there. Call us for prices.
City: Cortemilia
Region: Piedmont
Known for: Hazelnuts and Truffles
and: beautiful vineyards
Suggested activites: Walking & Vineyard visits
City: Portoferraio on Elba Island
Region: Tuscany
Known for: Seafood
and: Mediterranean Ocean & white beaches
Suggested activities: Beach vacation, hiking
City: Radda-in-Chianti
Region: Tuscany
Known for: Fresh Produce & Tuscan Beans
and: Rolling Vineyards and Hilltop Villages
Suggested activites: Walking Tours & Vineyard
visits
City: Parma
Region: Emilia Romagna
Known for: The best food in all of Italy (ask
an Italian)- Parmigian Cheese, Prosciutto
and: Fantastic Castles & the Po River Valley
Suggested Activity: Visits to Parmigian Cheese
factory, and bike riding (nice and flat!)
City: Orvieto
Region: Umbria
Known for: Olive Oil, Bruschetta, Roasted
Chestnuts
and: Hidden Villages and Rolling Olive Groves
Suggested Activity: Walking Tour
City: Como
Region: Lombardy
Known for: Rich sauces and Polenta
and: Silk manufacturing, Beautiful Lake Como,
Great shopping
Suggested Activity: Boat rides to Bellagio &
Cernobbio, shopping, hiking
MENUS
These are some sample menus that are typical of our cooking classes. In a day class, you will make the entire meal from appetizer to dessert. During the week long classes, you will make a different meal every day.
Santa MARGHERITA
May 19-26, 2005 Menu of the Week
Sunday Dinner
Crostini Piccanti
(Spicy Tomato Bruschetta)
Tagliata con Rucola
(Sliced Florentine Steak on a Bed of Arugula)
Verdure Grigliate
(Grilled Vegetables)
Biscotti con Vin Santo
(Biscuits dipped in Sweet Dessert Wine)
Monday Lunch
Trattoria lunch in Cortona
Monday Dinner
Crostini Toscani
(Bruschetta with Chicken Liver Pâté)
Spaghetti ai Carciofi
(Spaghetti with raw sliced Artichoke)
Coniglio Dolceforte
(Sweet and Sour Rabbit)
Crostata di Limone
(Lemon Tart)
Tuesday Lunch
Accompanying the wine tasting at La Braccesca
Tuesday Dinner
Fiori e Salvia Fritta
(Fried Zucchine Flowers and Sage Leaves)
Lasagne alle Verdure
(Vegetable Lasagna)
Agnello Disossato Farcito con Menta e Aglio
(deboned Lamb stuffed with Mint and Garlic)
Zabaione con Fragole
(Zabaione with Fresh Strawberries)
Wednesday Lunch
Picnic at Santa’Anna
Wednesday Dinner
Free Night
Thursday Lunch
Picnic in Francesca’s Garden
Thursday Dinner
Caponatina
(Sweet and Sour Vegetables)
Tagliatelle Melodia
(Tagliatelle with a symphony of fresh Herbs)
Stracotto alla Fiorentina con Spinaci saltati
(Braised Beef in Red Wine Sauce with sautéed Spinach)
Torta di Ricotta
(Ricotta Cheese Pie)
Friday Lunch
Lunch at Castiglioncello del Trinoro
Friday Dinner
Dinner at La Grotta in Radicofani
Saturday Lunch
Pizza Regina Margherita
Saturday Farewell Dinner
Garga Salad
(Trattoria Garga’s House Salad)
Risotto allo Zafferano
(Risotto with Saffron)
Oca Finocchiata
(Goose with Wild Fennel)
Tiramisù alla Pesca e Pistacchio
(Tiramisù with fresh Peach and Pistachio)
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Cooking Classes in Italy - from one day to one week!
Day classes