Italian Cooking Vacations: Assisi, Umbria Cooking Class & Holiday

Assisi Cooking at Madonna Del Piatto
Assisi, Umbria

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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 Madonna Del Piatto Itinerary

Day 1

  • 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.

Day 2

  • Following breakfast, 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 typical Umbrian products. You will taste three 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. 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.

Day 3

  • 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.

Day 4

  • Breakfast and departure.

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