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Cooking and Culture Break

Highlights

  • Learn to cook with delicious, local Italian produce
  • Tour unspoilt medieval villages with a local
  • Sample some of the best wines in the region
from £1288 pp
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What you'll do

Overview

This fantastic 5 night Tuscan cookery and culture holiday is based in a beautiful villa near Arezzo and is all about delicious locally produced food, great local wines and cultural tours to unspoilt medieval hamlets, pretty Tuscan towns & much more; fully indulge your passion for all things food and wine!

*Please note, this course requires a minimum of 2 people.

The charming region of Tuscany, renowned for its delicious food and fine wines, will be the setting of this 5 night/6 day Tuscan cooking and culture holiday, tucked away on a wonderful Italian farm, nestled by the surrounding hills and valleys just 2km from the historic city of Arezzo.

Covering a wide variety of skills, you will be perfecting Tuscan specialities including fresh pastas, accompanying seasonal sauces, traditional cookies with local almonds and chestnut honey, panna cotta and more. Wine tasting and prosecco tastings complete the culinary week which is sure to delight your senses.

Combine all this delicious food and wine with excursions to visit local historic towns such as Arezzo and Cortona, visiting wineries for tastings and of course, local food markets and you’ll be fully immersed in all things Italian.

This Italian cookery and culture holiday is a true culinary extravaganza guaranteed to fuel your appetite and passion for amazing local specialties, flowing Italian wine and prosecco, and great company, all while you to step back in time and explore the medieval towns, cathedrals, and buildings.

During this memorable cooking and culture holiday, your host and Chef Fabrizio will be on hand to ensure every element of your holiday delights you to ensure you return feeling relaxed and full with mouth watering Italian cooking, and a great collection of new recipes and techniques to replicate for friends and family. You’ll acquire great knowledge of the surrounding area and it’s history, as you are guided by locals who have a deep knowledge of this Roman and Etruscan city on an Italian cooking holiday with a difference.

Arrival

– Meet at Arezzo train station where you’ll be transferred free of charge to the villa for your stay.
– Arrive at the farmhouse for an aperitif with your host, Chef Fabrizio and enjoy your first lesson tasting prosecco with a welcome snack buffet
– Enjoy a welcome dinner prepared by Chef Fabrizio

 

 

 

Accommodation

Il Poggetto Moonlight Home stay is 2 km from the centre of the historic city of Arezzo, surrounded by a prestigious winery and the woods of the Lignano National Park.  Its hillside location provides wonderful views and the tranquil setting is perfect for relaxing.

There are 3 double or twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms, each has a large balcony or patio.

The villa is equipped with a restaurant and a large professional kitchen, where cooking lessons will be held. There is a garden with a small spa pool.

Features
– Beautiful hillside setting only 2 km from the centre of Arezzo
– Just 5 km from Arezzo train station
– 3 double rooms with ensuite and air conditioning
– Professional kitchen and workspace to hands-on learn
– Wonderful gardens to relax in with tables and chairs for dining
– Relaxing area with sun loungers and sofa + whirlpool spa
– BBQ ,communal garden and private panoramic terrace
– English and Italian speaking hosts with a wealth of knowledge about the area
– Delicious local food and wine
– Secure private parking
– WiFi

Cooking lesson & wine tour

– After a delicious breakfast at the house, you’ll head into the kitchen for your first cookery lesson
– Enjoy the results of your cookery lesson for lunch together with the group
– In the afternoon, there is a wine tour in a prestigious winery which is famous for its Chianti and Chardonnay
– In the evening, enjoy dinner together prepared by your Chef

City tour of Arezzo & free time

– After breakfast today, it’s off for a cultural tour around the most picturesque places in Arezzo
– Enjoy lunch out in a typical local restaurant (wine is an extra cost)
– The afternoon is free to spend as you wish; relax by the pool with a glass of wine, go for a stroll in the surrounding countryside or simply relax in the garden with a book
– In the evening, return to the house for a delicious pizza or calzone dinner prepared by your Chef

Cooking Lessons

– Today after breakfast, relax and enjoy a free morning around by the pool or exploring the hiking or biking trails.
– Lunch is served at the house and in the afternoon, don your apron for another cookery lesson followed by dinner where you’ll eat the fruits of your labour together with delicious local wine.

City tour of Cortona

After breakfast, we will head towards the Tiber valley, birthplace of Michelangelo, to visit 2 medieval villages, Anghiari and Citerna.

There, admire the beautiful historical monuments and frescoes (Leonardo da Vinci – Andrea Della Robbia – Donatello), and enjoy lunch at the local trattoria (1 drink included)

In the afternoon you’ll have your final cooking lesson and lunch together.

Departure

– Today is your last morning and after breakfast, check-out and you’ll be transferred back to Arezzo station for your journey home

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation in an ensuite double/twin room in the villa for 5 nights/6 days
  • You can check in any time after 4pm on day 1 and check-out by 11am on day 6
  • Breakfast each day at the house
  • 3 cooking classes (preparation of 3/4 course meal with drinks) on days 2, 4 and 5
  • All lunches and dinners throughout your stay (please note that some meals are taken in local restaurants where soft drinks are included but wine is extra)
  • Tuscan wines during meals taken at the house
  • Prosecco tasting on your arrival evening
  • 2 half-day cultural excursions including transportation
  • A private wine tasting tour with dinner in a local restaurant
  • A return transfer to and from Arezzo train station
Your local host

Fabrizio

Chef Fabrizio was born in the Tuscan wine region of Arezzo in the 70’s and grew up surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Under the influence of his mother and grandmother, Fabrizio fell in love with cooking and the food from his region.

His family are local producers of Chianti and extra virgin olive oil and you’ll have the chance to taste these during your stay!

After obtaining a degree, he went to a hotel school in Tuscany before moving to Bournemouth in the UK to work as a chef. After that, the travel bug bit and he moved to various countries around the world to cook and experience new cultures, learn about different food and techniques in places as far afield as India, Thailand and Morocco.

Despit... Read All

Chef Fabrizio was born in the Tuscan wine region of Arezzo in the 70’s and grew up surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Under the influence of his mother and grandmother, Fabrizio fell in love with cooking and the food from his region.

His family are local producers of Chianti and extra virgin olive oil and you’ll have the chance to taste these during your stay!

After obtaining a degree, he went to a hotel school in Tuscany before moving to Bournemouth in the UK to work as a chef. After that, the travel bug bit and he moved to various countries around the world to cook and experience new cultures, learn about different food and techniques in places as far afield as India, Thailand and Morocco.

Despite his travels and experience, he credits his mother and grandmother as the ‘gurus of traditional cooking’. This is where he learnt his Tuscan cooking skills and passion for quality, organic, seasonal food.

Fabrizio image
Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

At Not in the Guidebooks we’re committed to empowering the local communities in Costa Rica. We work closely with the local people and their businesses to make sure that they receive a fair percentage of the money you spend on your holiday there. By partnering with local guides and suppliers, we’re able to create meaningful, authentic experiences that directly benefit the people who call this incredible country home.

Learn More

Location

Getting there

Nearest airports:
Florence (80km, 1 hour)
Perugia (110km, 90 minutes)
Pisa (150km, 2 hours)
Rome (250 km, 2 hours 30 minutes)

By train:
The nearest train station is Arezzo which is 5km away from the villa.

A return transfer service to and from Arezzo train station is included in the price, and pick ups are anytime after 12pm. Please be sure to provide your arrival and departure details at least 7 days before you arrive.

Please view more info about airport transfers in the FAQs at the bottom of the page

What our travellers are saying...

A really enjoyable break! A real 'lasagne' of culture and cooking. Comfortable accomodation and so wonderful to have Arezzo nearby to explore. Fabrizio's lessons were, to use his own word, 'TOP'! Patient instruction and lots of skills and recipes to take home. The trip to Cortona and the wine tasting were an added bonus.

A Sexsmith

FAQs

Who is it suitable for?

- Cookery and culture holidays are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced cooks
- Minimum age 18 (under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult)
- Your hosts are Italian, however so all cooking classes are taught in English

I'm travelling solo - can I join?

- These cookery holidays make great singles holidays and singles are welcome to join an existing group
- Solo travellers can book a twin/double room for sole use for NO supplement
- To book a private single or shared room, email hello@nitgb.com

When can I start?

- Holidays can start on any day from March to December depending on availability
- The cookery school is closed in January and February
- Cooking holidays are for 5 nights/6 days
- If you wish to stay for extra nights, please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you
- If dates appear ‘on request’, please email us hello@notintheguidebooks.com and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible

About chef Fabrizio and your hosts

- Fabrizio was born in the Tuscan wine region of Arezzo in the 70’s and grew up surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and under the influence of his mother and grandmother, grew to love food and cooking
- After obtaining a degree, he went to a hotel school in Tuscany before deciding to move to Bournemouth in the UK to work as a Chef
- After that, the travel bug bit and he moved to various countries around the world to cook and experience new cultures, learn about different food and techniques in places as far afield as India, Thailand and Morocco
- Despite his travel and experience, he credits his mother and grandmother as the ‘gurus of traditional cooking’ where he learnt his Tuscan cooking skills and passion for quality, organic, seasonal food
- His family are local producers of Chianti and extra virgin olive oil and you’ll have the chance to taste these during your stay!

Can I get picked up or dropped off at the airport?

The pick up at Rome Fiumicino airport is planned at 2:30 pm (11:30 am from 2024) on day 1. If you want you can be picked up at a Hotel in Rome, but we need to charge € 60 extra. Private pickup and drop off for group tours.

Of course, we are always happy to support you to organize a private pick up/drop off only for you to let you join our small group tours listed in our calendar. Please keep in mind that a private transfer (before or after the planned one) from Vasto to Rome airport or city center costs around € 330.

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