(Options: Day Cooking Classes, Hiking, Biking, Golf, Italian Lessons and More)
Friuli-Venezia, Italy - 3 nights
Available year round

Learn to cook in the beautiful region of Friuli-Venezia, Italy. This lesser known region of Italy is the perfect place to get away for cooking lessons in a beautiful villa located near the Friuli-Veneto border. 

*For this tour, participants must have their own vehicle. Please contact us for assistance with low cost car rentals

Located only 40 minutes from Venice on the Friuli-Veneto border, the villa was an old monastery dating back to the 11th century and turned into a superb country estate at the beginning of 1800. Today, after an accurate restoration aimed at maintaining, as far as possible, everything unaltered, it has become an elegant 4**** hotel with a gourmet restaurant and a relaxing piano bar. The villa is surrounded by 10 acres of park with landscaped lawns and gardens. Facilities include a large swimming pool surrounded by century-old trees, a tennis court, a jogging track, a small fitness centre. The elegant public rooms abound with antiques and fresh flowers. Rooms and suites, all different from each other, are furnished with typical local antiques and soft colours inspiring a suggestive and particular atmosphere. All rooms have air conditioning, satellite TV, stereo, mini-bar and safe. Some have balconies and all have big windows offering wonderful views on the park. The restaurant at the villa is outstanding and clients can dine indoors or out during the mildest seasons. The chef has an impressive resume while the sommelier is one of the best (he is certainly one of the nicest) in Italy.

Cooking classes take place in the villa's well-equipped kitchen and are taught by the experienced restaurant chef. Participants will learn how to prepare refined menus for special occasions and local recipes for simpler meals. All lessons are hands-on and last approximately 2 hours.

ITINERARY

day one

Arrival at the charming villa on your own. Hotel check-in.

Free time to relax and explore the surroundings before enjoying a full course welcome dinner in the villa's gourmet restaurant. Overnight

day two

Breakfast followed by a morning excursion to San Daniele del Friuli, famous all over the world for its exquisite prosciutto, whose genuine and special taste derives from the particular "microclimate" of this charming hill town overlooking the Friulian countryside. Visit to a prosciutto factory followed by a sampling of this delicate food and tasting of other typical local products.

In the afternoon you will have your first cooking lesson. The class begins with a theoretical and practical lesson on the execution of a refined menu for special occasions. You will start with the preparation of the hors-d'oeuvres followed by a "primo piatto" (a first course). Sample dishes may include ombrina marinated in coriander and orange or turbot pudding with vegetable broth as starters; zucchini mousse with scallops braised in thyme and open ravioli with parsley and seafood ragout as first course. Dinner follows the lesson and complimentary wines are introduced.

Overnight.

Day Three

Breakfast followed by a morning visit to a prestigious winery located on the border between Veneto and Friuli. Take a walk through the vineyards in the company of the owner, visit the ageing cellars, learn how the wine matures and refines in the precious oak barrels before sampling five excellent wines and crus with a short tasting course, discovering the techniques, perfumes and flavours formerly unknown.

In the afternoon, you will have your second cooking lesson. The class lesson continues with the planning and preparation of a "secondo piatto" (second or main course) and dessert. Sample dishes may include wild duck breast cooked in lard and cassata with blueberries. Dinner follows the lesson and complimentary wines are introduced.

Overnight.

Day four

Breakfast.

Hotel check-out and Arrivederci. 
 

GROUP SIZE

A minimum of 2 participants is required to run this tour and the tour is limited to a maximum of 8 participants.

HOW TO ARRIVE

Closest Airport: Venice Airport
Closest Train Station: Udine Train Station

*These details are provided as additional information. Please check below to see if transfers are included in this tour.