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Cooking in a Venetian Villa
Italy: Cooking in a
Venetian Villa
(Options: Day Cooking Classes, Hiking, Biking, Golf, Italian Lessons and more)
Friuli-Venezia, Italy - 3 nights
* For this
tour, participants must have their own vehicle. Please contact us
for assistance with low cost car rentals
 LOCATION
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 SCHOOL
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.
 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.
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.
Afternoon: Cooking lesson # 1. 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.
Morning: Visit 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.
Afternoon: Cooking lesson # 2. 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.
| BOOKING INFORMATION: SELF DRIVE* (4 days / 3 nights) |
2008 FEES PER PERSON
|
DEPOSIT |
Double Room/US$1695
(High Season: April to October and Christmas season )
Double Room/US$1550
(Low Season: November to March, excluding Christmas season)
|
After availability is confirmed, a deposit of 25% per person and the completed and
submitted registration form will secure your reservation. Final payment is due in full 60 days before your arrival date. |
| 2008 DATES |
INCLUDED |
|
Year round by request. |
*Three (3) nights' accommodation with en-suite bathroom
*Daily buffet breakfast
*Two (2) hands-on cooking classes
*One (1) visit to a San Daniele prosciutto factory & tasting
*One (1) visit to a winery and tasting of 5 different types of wine
*Three (3) dinners with paired wines
*Taxes and service
Airfare and personal expenses are not included.
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For further inquiries or to register, click here.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Multiple-day tours (i.e. tours involving overnight stays):
- 10% of the full amount from the date of confirmation up to 60
days before departure
- 50% of the full amount from 59 to 45 days before departure
- 75% of the full amount from 44 to 30 days before departure
- 100% of the full amount from 29 days to date of departure
Day tours (i.e. daily cooking classes)
- 10% of the full amount from the date of confirmation up to 15
days before departure
- 50% of the full amount from 14 to 9 days before departure
- 75% of the full amount form 8 to 4 days before departure
- 100% of the full amount from 3 days to date of departure
CLIENT REMARKS
Furnished upon request.
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