Puglia’s food: the authentic Mediterranean cuisine
Puglia is a food and wine lover's paradise. It is home to the true Mediterranean Cuisine with an emphasis on seafood, vegetables, hand made pasta and bread, artisan mozzarella and olive oil.
The cuisine from Puglia and Lecce is the true peasant cuisine, and the authentic Italian cuisine as cooked in Italian homes. Recipes are based on seasonal ingredients and vary from month to month.
Lecce and Puglia produce excellent extra virgin olive oils, with its more than 50 millions olive trees. Pugliese vintners pursue wines that balance sweetness, acid, alcohol content and density. The region counts 25 D.O.C. wines.
This school organizes luxurious culinary events in Puglia which are designed to include an authentic experience that best captures the unique food and traditions of this Mediterranean cuisine.
Cinzia and Marika will be your hosts and chefs for the week. They will meticulously plan every single detail of your experience to insure only the best for your luxurious vacation in Puglia.
Your cooking classes are held in a luxurious and charming private villa/palace with a pool, where you will have the run of the beautiful gardens and terraces. Cooking classes are small, hands-on and the approach is very personal and relaxed. This program combines dishes with the best wines from Puglia and Southern Italy.
The course includes visits to the best food and fish markets, tours of local farms, introductions to artisans producing home-made pasta, bread, cheese and mozzarella, salami, chocolate, ice-cream, figs with almonds.
You will have the opportunity to learn or practice your language skills while dining at private homes with selected local families or at the best restaurants in Puglia.
In addition to the course, you will also experience the vibrancy of Puglia’s arts and cultures: Pizzica local dances; visits to the artisan workshops (ceramic, papier machè and leccese stone); visits to textile designers who craft the finest fabrics in order to design tailor made clothes.
Accommodation in a beautiful villa with a pool:
What makes this culinary tour so special is the fact that you will stay in a beautiful historical villa palace. The villa palace belongs to a local aristocratic family and dates back to the 17th century. It is close to the countryside and 15 min by the Adriatic sea.
The palace has a huge swimming pool and many beautiful gardens and terraces where to enjoy al fresco meals or where to take a cooking class.
All rooms are huge and have private en-suite bathrooms and air conditioning. The villa is walking distance from the main square where you can experience the relaxed Mediterranean life style. The palace's location is faraway from the tourist tracks.
Location during the culinary week:
Lecce is the beautiful baroque capital of Puglia (Apulia), also known as the Florence of the South. The churches and monuments are astonishing and the whole town is very elegant with its Roman amphitheatre and many squares with coffee bars.
Santa Maria di Leuca, Otranto, Gallipoli, Castro are just some of the many beautiful sea towns with some of the best sandy beaches and cleanest waters in Italy.
Weather in Puglia:
Puglia has a typical Mediterranean climate. It is sunny most of the year. Temperature can be 20-25°C at midday.
Sample Itinerary
Arrival/ Day One:
Arrival at Brindisi airport and private transfer to the villa. (There will be only one scheduled pick up from the airport).
Welcome aperitif and outdoor dinner at the villa prepared by a local cook.
Day Two:
After breakfast, visit of a local fruit and vegetable market.
Lunch in an excellent restaurant! In the afternoon relax by the pool.
Dinner will follow accompanied by a selection of best local wines.
Day Three:
After breakfast, cooking class.
Lunch at the villa.In the afternoon you will relax by the pool.
Dinner at the villa prepared by a local cook.
Day Four:
After breakfast, cooking class.
Lunch based on your creations.
In the afternoon, visit of a beautiful local village. Dinner at the villa.
Day Five:
After breakfast, cooking class.
Lunch will follow based on your creations.
In the afternoon we go to the beautiful Otranto sea town. You will have time to visit the many monuments and for your shopping.
Dinner in a restaurant in Otranto.
Day Six:
After breakfast, we leave for the whole day and we go to Lecce, the beautiful baroque capital of Puglia for the whole day.
Lunch in a famous Slow Food restaurant.
Dinner at the villa prepared by a local cook.
Day Seven:
After breakfast, cooking class.
Lunch based on your creations.
In the afternoon we relax by the pool.
Farewell dinner at the villa prepared by a local cook.
Day Eight:
After breakfast private transfer to BRINDISI airport.(There will be only one scheduled pick up from the villa).
Dates of the program:
The program runs from May 23 - 30, 2009. This 8-day / 7-night program. You may ask for a similar program customized at a different time of the year.
Total price is 2095 Euro per person, based on double occupancy. There is a supplement of 400 euro for the single occupancy.
Please NOTE EVERYTHING that is included in this wonderful package:
7 night accommodation in a beautiful palace; all breakfasts; a tour escort speaking Italian, English and French; all lunches and all dinners at the villa; selection of some of best local wines during all meals at the villa; 3 meals in select restaurants (house wines included); all excursions and transfers with a private van; private transfers to and from Brindisi airport at scheduled time.
It also includes 4 private, hands on cooking classes provided in English by two local cooks.
Price does not include: meals and beverages not listed; airfares, travel insurance and optional activities.
Booking and Deposit:
To confirm your reservation, we require a deposit of 1100 Euro per person. Final payment of 1095 Euro per person is due by February 1st, 2009.
This school accept payments in euro currency through bank transfer or credit card via paypal. Please consider that in both cases we require the above NET payment, after all bank transfers and credit card fees..
The purchase of travel insurance is MANDATORY for this trip. It must be purchased separately, and proof of insurance must be provide to Ciao Laura, LLC to confirm the booking. Travel insurance is available through Travelex, Travelguard or Travel Insurance International
Cancellation Policy:
Full payment is due on Feb 1st, 2009. Due to the nature of this specific tour, all payments are non-refundable after Feb 1st, 2009.
The school reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to its start, in which case the money would be refunded in full.
Occasionally changes must be made in a scheduled program because of circumstances beyond control, but the school will make every effort to find an equally interesting alternative.
Please Note:
You may choose between a twin and a double room. If there is no preference, a roommate will be assigned. All rooms are equipped with twin beds or double beds: please specify your preference.
Each bedroom has its own private bathroom. The property is a private villa.
Apart from the instructors providing the cooking classes, there will be a cook for all our meals at the villa, a maid who prepares breakfast and a maid who provides general housekeeping and daily room cleaning during the whole tour.
Arrival/Departure Times:
Check-in time will be anytime after 4 pm on May 23rd, 2009. Check-out time is 10 am on May 30th, 2009.
