Featured in Food & Wine Magazine, September 2007.
About the location: Alla
Madonna del Piatto is a small agriturismo, or farmhouse inn, spectacularly located in the hills surrounding Assisi,
and is the base of this cooking holiday in Umbria. This beautiful rural area is blanketed with hardwood
forests, Mediterranean vegetation and olive groves. This centuries old farmhouse faces the sunny South
and has a stunning view of Assisi's famous basilica. The current owners, Letizia Mattiacci and Ruurd de
Jong, both former entymologists, have recently completely restored the building with high regard for
traditional building materials and local craftsmanship, while making the necessary adjustment to meet modern standards of comfort.
 The beautifully furnished
guestrooms feature private bathrooms, stone walls, beamed ceilings, double glazed windows and heated terracotta floors.
Meals are served in the cozy dining room with an open fireplace, or outdoors on the panoramic terrace. The drive to the
property is rather long, the final leg on a gravel road, but is well worth it once you arrive.
About the cooking lesson: Your cooking class in Umbria will be at the hands of your host,
Letizia, a native of Umbria. Because her mother was originally from Sicily, Letizia
blends her favorite Umbrian recipes with a touch of Sicilian creativity! While traveling
extensively all over the world, she started her cooking for her own pleasure and also to
forge a link with her culture. She will now pass on her wonderful recipes, including filled
pastas, appetizers, sautéed meats, vegetables, risotto, rolls, and desserts. Since
Letizia and Ruurd have a large vegetable garden, many of the ingredients will be picked for
the recipes.
Assisi Cooking at Alla Madonna Del Piatto
Assisi, Umbria
Itinerary
 Day
One
- Arrival at the inn on your own. (We would be happy to assist you with a low-cost rental.)
- Dinner on your own and overnight.
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 Day
Two
- Breakfast. Afterwards, you will visit wonderful specialty food
shops in Santa Maria degli Angeli. You will go to a splendid family-run
shop where Letizia will first give an overview of the typical Umbrian products.
You will then taste 3 types of olive oil, a selection of cheeses
and cured meats from Norcia, locally made sweets and liqueurs like
Nocino (walnut), amaro al Tartufo (truffled herbal spirits) and
rosolio (rose liqueur). Depending on the season, there will be additional
treats such as truffled crostini and/or chocolate. The quality of the
foods is very high, all from local food artisans. In addition to the
products mentioned above, you will have the opportunity to shop for herbs, wines, balsamic
vinegar, and honey at very reasonable prices.
- Return to the inn for your hands-on cooking class. Following the class,
enjoy your meal with wine from the region.
- Dinner on your own.
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 Day
Three
- Breakfast followed by day at leisure.
- Some suggestions for the day, which you can discuss with Letizia.
Visit the charming towns of Umbria such as: Assisa, Gubbio, Todi, Orvieto,
Spello and Perugia.
- In Assisi, you will have an opportunity to have an espresso tasting, which is roasted nearby at a
splendid enoteca.
- Or, you can have a wine tasting in Montefalco.
- Dine out on your own in one of these beautiful towns- ask your hosts
for recommendations if you wish.
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 Day
Four
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2008
Price Per Person
US$500 per person based on double occupancy
Single supplement: please inquire
Additional cooking class: $225 per person
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2008
Tour Dates
Available any 3-nights for a minimum of 2, maximum of four people (but no cooking classes on Sundays).
Closed December 1 through March 7, except for groups of 6 or more.
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 Included
in the Program:
- 3 nights accommodation
- 1 cooking class
- Specialty food shops visit
- Breakfast daily and lunch day 2 (local wine included)
- All taxes and service
This program requires that you have your own automobile; we will be
happy to assist you with a low cost rental. |
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Cooking Vacations 
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