About the location: Sicily is an island rich in culinary tradition
that produces some of the finest quality food the Mediterranean has to offer.
We invite you on this cookery to see, taste and try all this richness through
hands-on experience in the kitchen and visits to the producers and towns
from which the recipes originate.
For the past two years your hosts have been hard at work restoring a wonderful house
right in the historical centre of Modica where they have designed a great kitchen
environment for the cookery courses. The cookery school offers three double en-suite,
air-conditioned rooms with telephone access, wireless internet and flat-panel TVs,
and there is additional access to more double and single rooms in the adjacent
building (Casalbergo Garibaldi), whose rooms are also all ensuite as well.
The main living area is divided into a large kitchen (where the courses will
take place) and a large living room, with both offering access to the terazza.
You can sit back and enjoy the views with a nice glass of wine from your
hosts' wide collection. The building is located right in the center of
Modica. Shops, bars and restaurants as well as the main sites of
Modica are within easy walking distance, and from the terrazza
of the house you can enjoy the duomo of San Giorgio with the
scalinata (stairs) that lead from the heart of Modica up to the duomo.
Your host Katia was born in Modica, and grew up just 20
minutes away in Ispica, and her partner and husband Ronald was born and grew up in Limassol, Cyprus
(another beautiful Mediterranean island). They got married in Sicily on a gorgeous sunny April
day in 2003 and decided that the southeast region of Sicily is a place they love and
and want to stay, after having lived for several years in
the UK, working as university researchers in ethnic relations and artificial intelligence,
respectively.
About the cooking courses: Classes will be in the new kitchen of
your accommodations, which also boasts an herb garden on the terrace.
The vegetables, fish and meat that you will work with are all from local producers.
Your chefs for your classes share a deep passion for Sicilian cuisine and
they will introduce you to the wonders of Sicilian cooking, which is based on a solid
understanding of main ingredients and fundamental techniques,
alongside an uncompromising attention to detail.
You are sure to come away with a better understanding of Sicilian cooking
and a great range of recipes and skills to try out back home!
Amore Siciliano
Modica, Sicily
Itinerary
(A typical itinerary follows, but may change depending on the season.)
Day One
- Arrival at Catania airport and transfer to the accommodation.
- A welcome dinner in the
evening provides the first taste of
Sicilian food and wine and a small introduction about the plans for the rest of the course.
- Overnight.
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Day Two
- Breakfast and then straight into the kitchen with
the chef for your first
cookery course. The class begins around 9 a.m. and typically lasts for 3-4 hours with lunch
afterwards.
- In the afternoon, visit Mulino Cavallo, where the current owners have
maintained the traditional water mill and the old dwellings used up until the
beginning of the 19th century by their family.
You can see how they still use the mill to produce excellent whole meal durum wheat flour.
- Then, we go for a walk at the Cava Ispica to visit the archeological site of the
Parco Forza and visit an organic winery near the coast to taste their wines.
-
Tonight's dinner will be at your host's favorite restaurant-pizzeria for a "giro pizza", literally a "round" of pizzas mdash;
going through different kinds of pizza, including the restaurant's trademark seafood pizza.
- Return to your accommodations and overnight.
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Day Three
- Breakfast followed by your second cooking lesson.
- After a rest (and an appraisal of your achievements), take off for an
exploration of the coast starting from the Vendicari Nature Reserve visiting
the newly restored Tonnara and then move to Noto, which beyond the magnificent
architecture, hides many culinary specialties such as wonderful honey,
sweet wines and almond-based sweets.
- Return to Modica in time for dinner on your own.
- Overnight.
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Day Four
- Today is dedicated to visit the COS biodynamic winery to
understand their wine-making process and choice of producing organic wines in terracotta jars.
- After lunch we go to Ragusa Ibla to visit the old Baroque town.
- Tonight you will enjoy some of Modica's rustic delicacies such as scacci
and arancini as well as a variety of cheese accompanied with some delicious wines.
- Overnight.
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Day Five
-
After breakfast, depart to the beautiful historical city centre of Siracusa, Ortygia.
- Here you will be free to wonder around the fish market and explore the city center
where you can see the Temple of Apollo, the Duomo with its magnificent Baroque façade
and Doric temple columns (which was originally a Doric temple),
the legendary Arethusa Fountain and the Norman Maniace Castle.
- You may also want to do some shopping in Ortygia!
- After lunch at a local restaurant, return to Modica for an afternoon culinary
lesson at the school followed by dinner.
- Overnight.
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Day Six
- This is the last day in the kitchen for your fourth cookery course.
- Today you pay tribute to one of the most important products of South-East Sicily, chocolate!
Modica is famous for its chocolate and chocolate-based sweets, whose routes can
be traced back to Mexican traditions brought to Sicily via the Spaniards.
- You visit the world-famous chocolate lab of Bonajuto, for a private tour
and a chance to taste their latest creations.
- Following, there is time for you to explore Modica further
and for any last-minute shopping in the historical city center.
-
Tonight, sit round the table for your farewell dinner!
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Day Seven
-
Transfer back to Catania airport. Arrivederci!
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US$2750 based on double occupancy
US$300 single supplement
US$2450 non-cooking commpanion (sharing double room)
This program requires a deposit of $700 per person.
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2008 Tour Dates
May 3-9 (sold out)
May 18-24 (sold out)
June 1-7 (sold out)
September 7-13
September 20-26
September 28-October 4
Or any week on request for a minimum of 5 people.
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Included in this cookery holiday:
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Six nights accommodation with private bath
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Four hands-on cookery courses
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All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, all with drinks included, and any tasting sessions
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Transportation during program
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Arrival and departure transfers from/to Catania airport at prearranged time
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Entrance fees anywhere it is
required
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Fees and material for the cookery course
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Cooking Vacations 
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