ONE DAY EXPERIENCE

Cooking on Etna Mountain
Our a noted authority on Italian and Sicilian gastronomy, lives and teaches in her lovingly house in Viagrande, on the slopes of Mt. Etna near Catania. Here, surrounded by orange groves and vineyards which flourish in Mt. Etna's fertile soil, the sensual pleasure of Sicilian cuisine comes alive. She is the author of the book in 2 volumes, Sicilia - La Cucina del Sole, a collection of 486 Sicilian recipes, with quotations from authors associated in some way with the cuisine of the island. Other books published include Cucina del Sole - La Buona Tradizione Siciliana, Autunno - Cucina delle stagioni, Inverno - Cucina delle Stagioni ("Autumn" and "Winter", the first two books of a series dedicated to seasonal recipes) - Agrumi (citrus fruit), Le Olive (the Olives) and Cucina Casalinga Siciliana, published in Japanese.

The courses are held in a typical Sicilian house of the 18th century, surrounded by green countryside. The area is known for its orange and lemon groves, vineyards producing DOC wine (the red, rosé and white wines of Etna).The lesson is orientated towards direct exchange with the students, in a pleasant atmosphere, with the aim of conveying not only the cuisine but also the culture, traditions, habits and customs from which it stems. The courses are based on the more famous Sicilian recipes, focusing on pasta, fish and vegetable dishes. Other courses available on request include: Italian cuisine, Haute cuisine, Country-style cookery, Plate and table decoration, Etiquette, Ecole ménagère, Quick recipes, Hand-made pasta, Lectures and tasting of olive oil, Lectures and tasting of Sicilian and/or Italian cheese. Standard cooking class time: 3 hours plus lunch or dinner with tasting of the dishes prepared.

Cooking in Palermo
You will meet the Chef to venture to one of Palermo’s historic markets (Il Capo, La Vucciria or Borgo Vecchio) were will purchase all the ingredients necessary to prepare your meal. Along the way, you will also taste some of Palermo’s most typical foods, such as “panelle” and “pane con la milza”. The hands on cooking class are held in a typical restaurant. The dishes you've prepared will be served with just the right Sicilian wine, and dessert accompanied by local biscotti and Sicilian dessert wine.

Cooking in a Wine Estate (Palermo)
Arrive at 10:00 a.m. in a beautiful country between Palermo and Agrigento, one of the most important wine-producing estates in Sicily . Our cooking teacher and cookbook author, conducts cooking classes, as she has for more than 15 years, at Casa Vecchie, in the middle of the vineyards. Dinner and overnight stay.
Today she will share her knowledge of local cuisine and its history and you will learn how to prepare the caponata, arancini and cannoli with ricotta cheese. Lunch. In the afternoon you will explore the countryside and enjoy the vineyards. A look at the wine cellars with her immense barrels and tasting of the various wines will accompany the dinner.

Cooking School on Madonie Mountain (Palermo)
Driving through the Madonie Region you will arrive in Gangi, where you will meet our teacher at her cooking school. She is two-time James Beard Award winners for "Best Italian Cookbook.”: 100 Ways To Be Pasta, Sicilia Home Cooking.
She will be ready to teach you the tricks of natural and simple flavors. You will enjoys the foods made in class during lunch.

COOKING SCHOOL IN MENFI (Agrigento)
Cooking lesson , Olive Oil Tasting and Farm Tour.
Departure for Menfi, to visit Villa Ravidà, an early sample of neo-classical architecture with frescoed ceilings located in an enclosed courtyard in the town of Menfi.
The owners, the Ravidà family, are mostly known for their award winning olive oil, RAVIDA, and have been running cookery courses to highlight its use in their daily cuisine. The region around Menfi is rich in archaeological sites (Selinunte, Mozia, Segesta) with an unusual mixture of traditions being reflected on the food and culture. You will visit the estate "La Gurra" where they produce wine and olive oil. The olive oil was already known for its excellent quality. Meeting with Natalia Ravidà, the author of bestselling “Season of Sicily” a cookbook on Sicilian family food. Farm tour, lunch and olive oil tasting. Relax in the garden.

Cooking and Olive Oil Tasting in Agrigento
Arriving at Olive Estate in the afternoon, meeting Silvia and Giuseppe and visit at the estate, the oil mill and the farm. Special Extra Virgin Olive Oil Tasting with Giuseppe.
4:00 p.m. Silvia offers special cooking courses for her guests, in which she emphasizes typical ingredients and tasty traditional recipes, as well as revealing the little tricks of Sicilian cuisine. Her favorite recipes are anelletti al forno (baked pasta rings), pasta con le sarde (with sardines), polpettone (Italian meatloaf), stir-fry “da strada” (“on the road”), and especially desserts with almonds or ricotta cheese. Dinner is included.

Cooking and Wine Tasting on Mount Etna
Arrival on Mount Etna. Transfer to the Wine Estate and meeting with the family. Visit of the farm, the cellars date back to 1815, are surrounded by the orga¬nically cultivated vineyards, where for centuries the traditions of winemaking have been handed down from generation to generation. Luisa will show you the vineyard, the old palmento (milestone) and the barrique, than you will taste their best wine and a delicious red passito of Etna. Lunch at the estate.

Wine Tasting on Mount Etna
Arrival to the ancient wine estate located on the slopes of the volcano Etna. The farm, which belongs to a noble Sicilian family, is surrounded by extensive vineyards and has a panoramic view of both Mt. Etna and the sea. You will visit the winery with the owner and taste their best wines as Etna Rosso, Etna Bianco and the extraordinary Murgo Brut during the lunch.

Making Sicilian Cannoli in Erice
Arrival in Erice, enchanting medieval village, legendarily linked to the myth of the goddess Athena. Meeting with Mrs. Maria Grammatico at her old-fashioned pastry shop situated right in the heart of the village. Visit of the workshop and pastry lesson by Mrs. Maria who will teach us to prepare our famous “cannoli alla ricotta” (ricotta cheese rolls); a delicious tasting of almond and pistachio cakes will follow the class.