Cooking Under a Golden Sunset

Everything was perfect! There really was nothing that i would have changed. The staff at Hotel Tramonto d'Oro were amazing. The hotel itself was perfect. The cooking classes were great. (I have cooked with friends since I've been home!), the sight-seeing was great. It was just the "right" amount for me. I like to be able to sleep in a bit and have some time to relax and nap on vacation. I liked that on most days we did not leave til 10am, this was plenty of time for sleeping in a bit and breakfast and we were back to the hotel, had cooking and then time on our own. I used this time for the pool or beach, sometimes napping and reading before a late dinner. I also enjoyed sight-seeing in the small group setting. That's priceless! I fell in love with the town of Praiano. Myself and the whole group I was with said that we loved all the towns we visited but we were so glad that we were staying in that small, little town. You, togther with the Hotel Tramonto d'Oro have put together a wonderful package! Laurie, IL

I enjoyed all of the instructors---so patient and gracious! The accommodations were lovely. The hotel staff were incredible. They made you feel so welcome. Capri and the excusion on the boat were memorable! Ravello was beautiful! I would have enjoyed more diversity in dining choices for the evening! I do not enjoy eating at the same spot every night but I do undersatnd the reason for this because of the arrangement with the hotel. [Note from TIK: there is one dinner out at a different restaurant, the others are at the hotel.] Vida M., IL

We absolutely loved our vacation and would go back in a minute if we could. The hotel, both staff and facilities, were perfect! Not being in a tourist center, but close to those areas, was definitely the way to go. Praiano is a delightful place. When our friends ask us about the trip, we tell them honestly that we would not change one thing. There was plenty of free-time, we never felt rushed, and there was enough variety in the day to keep us from being bored. Something else that made this a special trip was getting to know our fellow cooks. We had never taken a trip that involved spending a lot of time with people we didn't know and that was a bit of a concern - Would we like them? Would they like us? Would our vacation be ruined if there were personality conflicts? and so on. It was a waste of time to worry; our fellow cooks were great fun and we learned so much from each of them. There are so many memorable moments that we can't come up with just one. This is the first time we have used a service like The International Kitchen. In the past, we made all of our own trip plans and arrangements. We will definitely be using the services provided by your staff when we travel abroad again. Everyone we dealt with was friendly, very helpful, and quick to answer our questions. Nicholas, IA

Perfection !!!! Praiano and the beautiful Hotel Tramonto D'Oro was the ideal location to experience everyday life on the Amalfi Coast. With its location between Positano and Amalfi; we had ample time to tour the areas we wanted to visit and be back in plenty of time for our cooking classes in the late afternoon. What made our experience so special was the warmth and care we received from each and every staff member. From the moment we arrived they were sensitive to our needs and went out of their way to ensure our comfort. The cooking classes, not only fun but informative, were a special highlight!!! Working with the talented chefs (Salvatore & Ciro) we were able to bring home more than memories and photographs. We have had a great time trying out our new recipes at home and toasting ourselves with Limoncello !!!! There really are no words to describe the beauty of the Amalfi Coast and Capri. A special moment that comes to mind was our visit to Ravello and Amalfi. Our tour guide was amazing in her knowledge of history....there was not a question she could not answer. She made it a very special experience. The only negative that comes to mind is that we did not stay long enough. As we became acquainted with the region we found more areas we would have enjoyed exploring. There will most definitely be a next time !!! Susan & Steven H., IL

I was hesitant about sight-seeing in the mornings and then cooking in the afternoons. However, I loved this schedule! The sights were excellent, we had a driver and a guide, both spoke English and were very friendly. We were able to rest a bit then head down to the kitchen. The kitchen was so clean, we truly could have eaten off of the floor - that was impressive. The recipes were good, basic recipes and authentic. The Chef's answered any questions we had even if it was in regard to recipes we were not using. They also gave variations and suggestions on how to avoid common problems and what to do if something went wrong in the process of preparation - like a hole in the pizza dough or stiff dough, etc... The only thing I would change is eating the food right after we prepare it. Sometimes that would be between 4-5:00 and dinner was at 8:00. We were not able to eat our dinners on 2 nights because we were still full from the late lunch. Hany F., FL

First, we were sent aprons, duffel bags and exciting information of what to expect before we left for the trip. The accommodations were beautiful, looking out to sea on the Amalfi coast, clean and service was clearly a priority. The food was excellent and the wait staff were attentive and tried to communicate. The cooking classes were fun and informative, besides being delicious. The chefs needed an interpreter but it was not difficult to follow or to learn. We got to not only eat what we prepared but then dinner was included. The one improvement would be to have the lessons earlier in the afternoon, however, using the restaurant kitchen made that difficult because they were open for lunch. The tours we went on were good but we ran out of time to visit due to cooking times but it is difficult to do it all. We enjoyed the limoncello tasting, wine tasting and trip to Positano, the boat trip was okay but a bigger boat with more leisure time on the water would have been a big improvement. The owners of the hotel were friendly and personable, even eating some of our efforts in the kitchen at a table with us. There was some free time that I would have enjoyed being with the interpreter to explore the little town, maybe meet some of the locals, or to go up to the mountains with the destination of a local family to see how they live. Please do not misunderstood it was an absolutely wonderful experience and we would recommend it to anyone. Lee M., USA

The trip...exceed our expectations. The entire trip was awesome. The folks at the Tromonto D'oro made us feel like family and were incredibly organized. The classes were personal (we were the only ones and the young male chefs adorable. I thought I was a good cook but found there is room for improvement. My son and I have been eating a lot of pasta since we got home. We were very happy that we choose the Amalfi Coast. It is gorgeous and we love water. The hotel owners even gave us a gift when we left including an apron a wall hanging both with a map of the area, a pasta cutter and dish made by local artisans. We met lots of friendly and great people from all over Europe and now visit via e-mail. [The program packet] included every thing we needed to know. We even received all the recipes of the dishes we made. My husband dealt with the staff as this was a surprise birthday present for me. He was very pleased with all. I'll highly recommend it to any one. Thanks for a wonderful vacation. Every one did a wonderful job. My head is still in Italy in fact i didn't want to leave. Hope to return. Ann W., OR

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Priano, Amalfi, Italy. Everyone at the Tramonto d' Oro hotel was professional, friendly and welcoming. They went out of their way to ensure we were properly treated. The cooking class was exceptional. We only had time for the three-night class but still got a lot out of the experience. We can now feel confident in making Sicilian type pizzas, pastas, cakes and cookies. The two different chefs we worked with in their immaculate and well equipped kitchen (complete with a window that looked out on the ocean) were excellent their lack of English and our total lack of Italian was more than made up for by Irina, one of their front desk staff who worked with us to translate to ensure we knew what the chefs wanted us to do. ... The cooking class area was large and well equipped. Mamma, the owner of the hotel, personally dropped in on each class. The hotel also arranged great morning excursions to Ravello and Amalfi one day and boat trips to the Blue Grotto and Positano on the second day. Both trips were very educational and interesting. Our guide to Ravello and Amalfi was particularly well qualified and entertaining. The one thing that your ad did not do was adequately describe the beauty and comfort of the hotel and rooms. Each room had adequate space for luggage, comfortable beds, clean bathrooms and a beautiful balcony with an unmatchable, spectacular view of the sea. We would recommend the trip to anyone. Best regards, Paul T., NC

I did enjoy the cooking classes very much. I would have liked to have been able to do the measuring of ingredients along with making the various dishes. Our hotel and staff were exceptional and treated us very well. I would recommend this trip to others. I thought Ivana, the woman who translated for us and coordinated everything, was wonderful. Beverly E., PA

The experience exceeded all of our expectations. The hotel was beautiful, the staff were amazing, and the cooking classes unbelievably fun. We were astonished by the tours of the area and the care the hotel took to make sure we had a wonderful experience. We can't wait to return. Michele S., VA

The program was great.... Ivana at the hotel was a perfect host, she solved all of our minor problems and petitions, the chefs were very good and patient with us, the owner of the hotel (Signora Teresa) and her daughter Carmela were as good as it gets, the hotel staff at the kitchen was very helpful and the company: Robin and Nan couldn't have been better. The program combines the cooking experience with the tourist attractions. I appreciate Karen's efforts in getting me into a program in such short notice, Robyn was great with the admin stuff and Tramonto D'Oro was superb. A little bit more cooking would have been good. Praiano is one of the most beautiful places if ever been to in my life. Visiting, cooking, touring the place and getting to know the people of the locality was one of the highlights of my six week trip. Laura B., Mexico

Myself, my daughter and daughter-in-law attended this course. The Hotel staff were very obliging and the hotel magnificent and we all thoroughly enjoyed the cooking classes. We couldn't fault anything and would say this was one of the highlights of our four week trip around Europe. Diane F., Melbourne, Australia