About the location: Abruzzo is an unspoiled, authentic part of Italy situated due east of Rome on the Adriactic coast.
It boasts miles of seaside and pristine beaches, medieval villages perched on hilltops and nestled in
valleys, and natural
wonders in its famous parks. Indeed, a full third of the region is protected parklands full of
lush forests, majestic mountains, and charming towns. Your home in this oasis is the town of Carunchio, an ancient
borgo perched on the top of a hill in southern Abruzzo.
Situated at the top of Carunchio is the recently restored Palazzo Tour d'Eau.
Onwer Massimo Criscio left a job in corporate America to return to his homeland and provide an authentic
and unforgettable culinary experience for his clients. As a result, Massimo has created a lovely small hotel in
the middle of Abruzzo complete with a gourmet restaurant and a charming,
separate teaching kitchen for the cooking classes.
The hotel has just 6 rooms (four of which have private ensuite baths and
two of which, a double and a twin, share a bathroom) and boasts amazing panoramic
views of the surrounding countryside. The size of the hotel ensures a superior level of personal attention and
enables Massimo and his staff to dedicate the week entirely to the guests participating in the culinary program.
One of Massimo's passions is wine, and during your stay in Abruzzo you will enjoy that most famous of central Italian
wines, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.
About the cooking lessons: Abruzzo combines some of the finest of tradional Italian products—cured prosciutto
and salami,
sheep's milk cheese, homemade pastas—with fresh seasonal produce to create a regional cuisine that is
both simple and full of natural flavors. Its natural landscape (mountains to coast) means access to both wonderful
meats and fresh seafood.
Your lessons will explore healthy Mediterranean cuisine,
homemade pastas and sauces,
mouth-watering desserts, and the wonderful preserved fruits and vegetables that are such a staple of
Italian life. No more
going to the store to buy pickled peppers, canned tomatoes or eggplant sott'olio! Soon you
will be able to create these scrumptious delicacies on your own.
Your lessons will be led by the wonderful chef of the Palazzo Tour d'Eau, Dino Paganelli,
and by American Cheryle Molano.
After 25 years of restaurant experience and studying cooking in both Europe and America, she
has settled with her husband in his native homeland, Abruzzo. She comines her restaurant experience with
the traditions of Italian cooking to create a simple approach that will enable you to
recreate your experiences and meals
when you return home.
Sapori d'Abruzzo
Carunchio, Abruzzo
Itinerary
Day One
- Arrival transfer from the Rome or Pescara airport
across the beautiful Central Apennine mountains directly to Palazzo Tour D'Eau in
Carunchio, where you will be staying.
- In the evening you will attend a multi-course
welcome dinner to help you get acquainted and settled in.
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Day Two
- During your first cooking lesson you will explore the basic ingredients of traditional Abruzzo cuisine
and make some of the best seasonal sauces for pasta dishes.
The theme for this lunch will be Healthy Homemade Meals in 30 minutes.
You'll see how delicious, easy and healthy Mediterranean cuisine can be.
- Lunch on your tasty creations in traditional Italian style; slowly and in good company!
- After your leisurely lunch, take time to rest for the afternoon activities.
- Visit a salame production plant and learn how this incredible product is made.
- Dinner at the Palace and overnight.
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Day Three
- For your second cooking lesson, you will learn how much fun pasta making from home can be!
You'll be amazed at the variety of shapes, colors and types pasta has-ranging from pasta
all alla chitarra, gnocchi, lasagna, stuffed pasta and so on.
You will be taught the tricks of the trade so your pasta turns out perfect every time.
- Today's lunch will be based on your cooking efforts.
- In the afternoon, you will visit Agnone, in the region of Molise, where you will see the real family
production of mozzarella, ricotta cheeses and cacio cavallo.
- Your next stop will be at an ancient bell foundry which provides bells to the Vatican city.
Here you will learn about the phases of bell manufacturing.
- Dinner at the Palace and overnight.
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Day Four
- Your day starts off with a trip to the Adriatic Coast in Vasto for sunbathing,
shopping and a little sightseeing of the coast's
unique trabocco fishing houses.
- Enjoy a seafood lunch or dinner at the finest restaurant in Vasto.
- You can also plan on having time for shoe shopping at a huge outlet store.
- Return to the Palace and overnight.
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Day Five
- Breakfast.
- Your third cooking class will concentrate on the art of preservation and liqueurs, the Italian way.
You will make fruit preserves and a variety of pickled vegetables
and also learn a preserving method using oil. You will taste and discover how these ingredients are
a big part of the Abruzzese cuisine.
- During the latter part of you cooking class, you will learn how to make Limoncello
and taste a variety of liqueurs created from local ingredients.
- Spend the afternoon at leisure- walk around the town and enjoy the
peaceful and serene environment.
- Dinner at a local agriturismo and overnight.
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Day Six
- Following breakfast, learn how to make mouth watering desserts and
pair them with the liquors made the previous day.
- After lunch, visit a winery where you will enjoy an insider's view of the
production facility and of course, sample some wine.
- Finish the afternoon with a visit to an organic cosmetic lab where they make
products such as: moisturizers, body lotions and shampoos with
sheep milk and olives.
- Dinner at the Palace and overnight.
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Day Seven
- Following an early breakfast, finish any last minute shopping in the town and return
transfer to the Rome or Pescara airport.
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$2450 per person based on double occupancy
Single Supplement: please inquire
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2008 Tour Dates
Available on request for 2 -8 people.
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Included in the program:
- 6 nights accommodations in double room with en suite bathroom
(please note one double and one twin share
a bathroom)
- Four hands-on cooking classes followed by lunch with wine
- Daily breakfast
- All dinners
- Excursions and food artisan visits as per itinerary
- Roundtrip transfers from Pescara or Rome airport at pre-arranged time
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Cooking Vacations 
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