Gourmet Culinary Vacations - for food and wine lovers

Italy
Le Marche

La Culinaria

Le Marche is Italy 's secret region.  Some of the cleanest coastline of the Adriatic sea offers up an enormous range of crustacea, moluscs and fish.  Further in land, the coastal plain, supporting olive groves and verdicchio vineyards, climbs up into the rugged Sibiline mountains where a wider selection of hardier grapes are grown, where shepherds are glimpsed in the distance, tending their sheep, creating the creamy-sharp peccorino cheese characteristic of this region.  Contadini construct wooden fences to keep out the wild boar, another local speciality, as are other types of game such as venison, hare and wildfowl.  Prosciutto, salame and ciauscolo mature in cellars next to last year's wine.

Le Marche is so unspoilt by tourists and other visitors that it has remained almost in a time warp.  Every inhabitant has a piece of land where he grows his own vegetables, keeps chickens for their eggs, and, if there is room, grows grapes for wine and olives for oil.  

La Culinaria is run by English born Angeline Davies, now resident in Italy.  The building is a grand 17^th century ‘casa padronale’ lovingly restored by the Davies family.  The grounds include a kitchen garden, vineyard, formal garden, fruit trees and hillside meadow for sun bathing and walks.  It is situated in a sleepy farming hamlet with stunning views of the mountains, forests, fields and hills.

Angeline has been passionate about Italian food and culture since her first visit to Italy when she toured out of the way villages in little known areas of this rich and diverse country, meeting with mamme, nonne, grandmothers; in short, the people who really know how to cook, who have worked the land for years, use their own produce when it is abundant and in season, and have the most exacting of food critics: their husbands!

After graduating in Classics, Angeline turned to her real love in life: cooking.  She has worked for a variety of prestigious restaurants and catering companies in London, and the diplomatic community in Rome as chef, manager and organiser.  Her philosophy on food is simple: Excellent ingredients, prepared with real enthusiasm make excellent food.

Experience the vast range of cuisine and viticulture available in Le Marche, which changes as the seasons change.  Taste the flavours of Italy fresh from the garden and the cheese-maker.  Cook with local products under expert guidance in a small group of appreciative gourmets.

La Culinaria has so much to offer.  For spouses or partners not too keen on learning to cook the delicious meals they will eat, there is a wealth of activities available, and indeed, cooking is not compulsory for anyone, though relaxation is!  Your time can be divided between swimming in the lake, walking in the hills, horseriding, or absolutely nothing at all.  Bring a book and soak up the mountain quiet.  The beauty of Le Marche has created a haven for artists who come from as far a field as New Zealand, America and Britain to stay and be inspired by the tranquil, stunning views.  Painting can be arranged as an extra or alternative activity, as can horseriding, mountain walking and quad biking.

Summer Sample Schedule

Cooking Workshops

Spring

13th - 20th May 2006

20th May - 27th May 2006

Summer

1st - 8th July 2006

8th - 15th July 2006

Fall

9th - 16th September 2006

16th - 23rd September 2006

Cost of course - $2700.00 per  person double occupancy for all-inclusive holiday.

Deposit to secure place $400 per person.

Balance to be paid 60 days before start of the course. 

Please Note: There is some flexibility with regards to dates. Please inquire.
 

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