About the Stile Mediterraneo Cooking and Wine School in Puglia (Apulia), Southern Italy:
The "Stile Mediterraneo" Cooking School provides an authentic and tailor made experience of Puglia and Southern Italy: something unique you might not experience just using a tourist guide book.
Accommodation and cooking classes:
Accommodation and cooking classes are provided in a beautiful and elegant farmhouse hotel selected because of its comforts and first quality services as well as the authentic experience it provides.
The farmhouse hotel has a swimming pool and a big garden where our guests can take a cooking class or enjoy a dinner al fresco. Rooms have all comforts: each has a private bathroom (baths and showers) and air conditioning.
The farmhouse hotel is located in the Fasano countryside, near Cisternino, Locorotondo, Alberobello, Ostuni and the Valle d'Itra. All these villages are still off the tourist tracks, so that our guests can experience the authentic gastronomy and the relaxed Mediterranean lifestyle from Puglia.
Puglia's cuisine and cooking classes:
Puglian cuisine is the true home made and Mediterranean cuisine. Recipes are very healthy since ingredients are very fresh and made with ancient and artisan methods.
Cooking classes are provided by a local cook and are hands-on. We, at the Stile Mediterraneo School show how families eat and cook in Southern Italy which is different from the Italian cuisine you might learn in other Italian regions.
Cooking classes are always combined with culinary tours which include: visits of traditional fruit, vegetables and fish markets, visits of artisans hand making their products (mozzarella, cheese, bread, pasta, salami, ice creams, sweets, liquors, jams, chocolate) with ancient and traditional methods.
Date of the program:
The program runs from April 4 – April 10, 2008. It is a 1-week program. You may ask for a similar program customized at a different time of the year. Also given that in Puglia every province has different culinary traditions you may extend this tour up to 1 month.
Weather in Puglia:
Puglia has a typical Mediterranean climate. It is sunny 99% of the year. Winters are very mild: at midday temperature can be 15-20°C.
People and partners not attending the classes:
Guests not attending the cooking classes included in this tour will be free to play golf, use the bicycles for a ride along the coast, get a massage by the swimming pool.
Location:
The hotel is located in the Fasano countryside. The whole area is famous for the many mozzarella artisans, bakeries producing bread with ancient methods and the excellent meat and salami...not forgetting the olive oil and wine!
The farmhouse is less than 10 m drive from a beautiful sea.
As part of the package you will be exploring different regions of Puglia, such as the Trulli area (Trulli are Unesco World heritage), and Lecce (the Baroque capital of Puglia). You will be experiencing what makes Puglia such a special place: its wine, food, people, culture and incredible scenery.
Bike tours:
We provide comfortable city bikes for men and women. We will cycle for 10-15 miles per day on average, except one day when we will ride for 25 miles.
Your Hosts:
The school is run by the two sisters Cinzia and Marika Rascazzo who were born and brought up in Puglia. Their grandmother taught them all the little secrets about the Pugliese recipes. Their grandfather took them to the vineyard during the grape harvest teaching them how to make the wine.
After spending many years abroad studying and working in Boston, New York and London and being exposed to the most diverse and international cultures, Cinzia decided to move back to her home town and start the Stile Mediterraneo School.
Cinzia and Marika speak fluent English and French.
People attending the Stile Mediterraneo classes discover the authentic secrets of Southern Italy and Puglia!
Cooking classes are provided by a local chef: they last 3 hours and teach you the true home made cuisine from Puglia.
Restaurants are selected because of the authentic and traditional recipes they prepare.
At the Stile Mediterraneo School, guests do what the local Italians do: eat at the most authentic local restaurants, mingle with interesting local people, learn about the real local culture, visit the best artisans, learn about the authentic local cuisine and wines. Our school approach is relaxed and friendly but very professional at the same time: guests will experience only the BEST of Southern Italy.
Itinerary:
Day 1
We meet in Bari. Private transfer by private car to your accommodation!
Free afternoon: you may relax at the farmhouse by the pool or cycle around the countryside.
Dinner at the farmhouse.
Day 2 Fasano & Ostuni
Cycle to Fasano. Cooking class followed by lunch at a farmhouse in the countryside.
Visit of an ancient oil mill and oil olive tasting.
Afternoon in Ostuni.
Dinner at the farmhouse.
Day 3 Locorotondo & Alberobello
Cycle to Locorotondo and wine tasting at a famous winery.
Lunch at a traditional restaurant.
Cycle to Alberobello, famous for the Trulli houses.
Dinner at the farmhouse.
Day 4 Cisternino
Cycle to Cisternino and visit of the food market.
Lunch at a traditional restaurant.
Cooking class at a farmhouse followed by dinner.
Day 5 Ceglie Messapica
Cycle to Ceglie Messapica, which Slow Food dubbed a town of gastronomy. Visit of a local mozzarella artisan.
Lunch at a traditional restaurant.
Dinner at the farmhouse.
Day 6 Martina Franca
Cycle to Martina Franca and visit of a famous bakery.
Lunch at a traditional restaurant.
Cooking class followed by dinner at a farmhouse.
Day 7
End of the classes and activities. Private transfers to the airports and train stations.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price will be different for guests and partners not attending the cooking classes. Price includes: all meals (both at the hotel and at restaurants); - 3 hands on cooking classes (3-hour each) with a local professional chef followed by lunch; accommodation at the charming farmhouse hotel; bicycle rentals; transfers from and to the airport; all excursions. - Prices are based on double occupancy. - Prices are based on bank money transfer payments. Additional charge will be added for credit card payment.
Price does not include: travel insurance; optional activities; airfares.
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