October 14 – October 22 2012
With Chef Gerri Sarnataro, CUCINA DELLA TERRA in collaboration with ICE
October Trip: 9 days/ 8 nights
Sunday October 14 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 La Scaletta, a family run osteria specializing in Umbrian cooking.
Monday October 15 Wine Tasting & Cultural Tour of Montefalco, Bevagna and Cooking Class
This is a wine town high in the hills of Umbria overlooking a valley of olive groves and vineyards. We will visit the Scacciadiavoli winery for a special tasting with the owner, Liu Pambuffetti for a tasting of the Sagrantino di Montefalco, Rosso di Montefalco and the Montefalco Sagrantino Passito. Later, we will tour the medieval town of Bevagna for visits to many of the textile, leather, and candle making artisanal shops.
Tonight we begin our first cooking class in Italian cuisine
Tuesday October 16 Cultural Tour of Perugia and Cooking Class
Perugia, a city dating back to BCE, is home to the world famous Umbrian jazz festival in summer, the popular Baci confection produced by Perugina Chocolate, and 2 major universities. During the Renaissance, it was home to Perugino and Raphael. The architecture of Perugia reflects its rich history dating back to the Etruscan period. Remains, such as the Etruscan arch, the Rocca Paolina, a fortress during the 1500’s, the Palazzo dei Priori, the Fontana Maggiore, designed in the 1200’s to celebrate the freedom of the commune of Perugia, make Perugia an outstanding experience in travel back in time. After a walk through the city center, we will lunch on pizza and enjoy an espresso at Caffe Sandri. We’ll return home for a night of cooking an assortment of small game such as quail, rabbit, pigeon or guinea hen,).
Wednesday October 17 Market Day, Cheese-making, and Cooking Class, Castiglione del Lago
Wednesday is 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 visit to a family of cheese makers where we will meet the sheep and watch how their milk is transformed into wheels of pecorino and ricotta. After we return home, we will reconvene in the kitchen of Cucina della Terra for a full night of cooking an assortment of pasta.
Thursday October 18 Cultural tour of Orvieto and Cooking Class
The town of Orvieto sits atop volcanic rock called tufa. Beginning at the base of the town, a necropolis bears the remains of Etruscan tombs. A 175 ft deep well, designed in the 16th century, it remains a feat of engineering. At the top of the town lies a glistening Gothic cathedral, built in the 1300’s and housing some magnificent frescos, mosaics and stained glass. This is a town for shopping! We’ll stop for a light lunch. This evening, we will return to the Cucina for a class on roasting young lamb.
Friday October 19 Olive Harvest and Gelato
Today you’ll experience first hand the Racolta, the harvesting of olives from trees surrounding Cucina della Terra. For refreshment, we’ll visit our favorite gelato shop for a demonstration and taste of authentic, gelato. Tonight we will tour the town of Spello and dine at a Michelin starred Restaurant, La Bastiglie to experience another side to Italian Cuisine.
Saturday October 20 Bruschette Festa
Visit an olive mill and witness the process of turning olives into precious liquid gold. Go home with a bottle of our very own pure Umbrian Olive Oil! This evening, we will light up the wood in our outdoor grill and begin preparations for a taste of authentic brushette with the new oil followed by a menu designed around the wood fired grill, including the famous bistecca & Umbrian sausages
Sunday October 21 The Black Truffle
A trip to Umbria would be incomplete without a walk through the forest looking for this tuber. This morning we will board our chartered bus for a ride into the Umbrian hills where we will meet our truffle hunter Matteo and his dog for a unique presentation, hunt and long farmhouse lunch.
Our trip concludes with a free night to pack and rest for our early morning rise the following morning.
Monday October 22 Early morning departure by train to Rome
What’s Included?
Ground transport to and from CHIUSI OR Castiglione del Lago
Lodging 8 nights in a country inn , based on double occupancy
8 Colazione (breakfast Italian style) includes espresso, cappuccino, biscotti, pane, pasticerrie, yoghurt, fruit, and juice.
8 Pranzo (lunches) either, picnic, brown bag, trattoria, ristorante or Panini
2 Cena (dinner) outside the Cucina
7 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
