June 9 – June 16 2012
July 8 – July 15 2012
With Chef Gerri Sarnataro, CUCINA DELLA TERRA in collaboration with ICE
Summer Trip: 8 days/ 7 nights
Day 1 Arrival
Arrive in Rome airport, transfer by train to Castiglione del Lago where you will be picked up and taken to our inn. Time to settle in and relax before our dinner at Le Scalette, a family run osteria specializing in Umbrian cooking.
Day 2 Wine Tasting & Cultural Tour of Montepulciano and Cooking Class
This is a wine town high in the hills of Tuscany overlooking the Val d’Orcia, a valley of olive groves and vineyards. After a walk through the town, we will visit a special winery with the owner Anna for a tasting of the Vin Nobile di Montepulciano, Rosso di Montepulciano & Passito paired with a light merenda. Tonight we begin our first cooking class in Italian cuisine
Day 3 Cultural Tour of Pienza , Sheep, Cheese-making and Cooking Class
Pienze, a town designated by Unesco as a World Heritage Site for the architectural design of it’s 12th century Piazza, is home to the finest Tuscan Pecorino cheeses. You will visit a sheep farm and Caseficio (cheese production facility) to learn about the phases in the making and aging of pecorinos, including the second cooking, producing a very pure and delicate ricotta. Our master cheese maker comes from Sardegna with a family tradition of artisan pecorino production. Tastings are paired with local fruits & wines. Return this afternoon to our Cucina for a night of cooking with pecorino and ricotta cheese
Day 4 Market Day and Cooking Class, Castiglione del Lago
Wednesday is an open air market day in Castiglione del Lago where we will experience the warmth of small town life while we shop for all of our ingredients for our dinner tonight. We’ll visit the local macelleria and sample some of the famous salumi, porchette and torta al testo for which this region is famous. After a visit to the Palazzo del Corgna overlooking Lake Trasimeno, we will board our chartered bus for a lunch on the patio . In the evening we will reconvene in the kitchen of Cucina della Terra for a full night of cooking an assortment of our purchases.
Day 5 A Fishing Expedition and Visit to the Cooperative on Lago Trasimeno
Lake Trasimeno , the 4th largest lake in Italy, produces a wide variety of delicious, however lesser known , fresh water fish which are often used in the cuisine of Umbria. We will discover the methods, regulations for the breeding and fishing of fresh water anguilla, carpa regina, tinca, perca reale, among others. An experience like no other! This evening our cooking class will focus on fish , using our purchases from our outing.
Day 6 Siena and Dinner
The Piazza del Campo with 8 streets radiating from the city center, considered a work of art and also designated as a World Heritage Site, demands a full afternoon and evening to appreciate its historical and artistic significance. During our walk we will stop at Café Nanni for a tasting of the celebrated selections of Pan Forte and assorted regional biscotti. Tonight we dine at our favorite elegant restaurant in a 13th century cave.
Day 7 Cortona and Our Bruschette Festa
One of the most famous small hilltop towns in Tuscan described in Under the Tuscan Sun, Cortona is bustling with small shops selling unique artisan shops, from leather, textiles, clothing, jewelry , art and of course food. After a morning of wandering the streets we will return to our Inn for a relaxing lunch overlooking the pool.
This evening, we will light up the wood in our outdoor grill and begin preparations for a taste of authentic bruschette with the new oil followed by a menu designed around the wood fired grill, including the famous bistecca & Umbrian sausages
Day 8 Early morning departure by train, taxi to your airport or next destination
What’s Included?
Ground transport to and from Chiusi or Castiglione del Lago
Lodging 7 nights in a country inn based on double occupancy
6 Colazione (breakfast Italian style) includes espresso, cappuccino, biscotti, pane, pasticerrie, yoghurt, fruit, and juice.
6 Pranzo (lunches) either, picnic, brown bag, trattoria, ristorante or Panini
2 Cena (dinner) outside the Cucina
6 cooking classes followed by dinner paired with local wines
All transport to and from daily tours in chartered bus
Travel insurance for medical coverage
What’s not included?
Airfare & ground transport to and from your airport to Cucina della Terra
Personal expenses including phone, Internet
Tips
Cost per person:
Airfare
$2900
all-inclusive Trip as stated above
Method of Payment:
Deposit of $500 to secure your place
Balance due 60 days prior to departure
Check for balance made out to:
Cucina della Terra, LLC,
Geraldine Sarnataro 7K
333 East 30th St.
New York NY 10016
