Visit Southern Italy on a Cooking Vacation Tour
I used to have mixed emotions about this kind of tour because I was never sure how much culinary expertise you can actually pick up in a few lessons. But I’ve come to realize that if you can at learn and appreciate how important fresh ingredients are to any Italian meal and just WHAT some of those ingredients are; then I suppose a cooking tour has its merits. Plus any opportunity that shines a spotlight on the simple beauty of South Italy is a good thing.
Speaking of the South – especially in the Puglia region where I’ve hung my hat for so many years – the concept of the “cooking tour” is just starting to catch on. It was bound to happen. Thanks in part to the growing popularity of “Agriturismo” (mini-vacations you take on a farm or out in the country) over the last 6 years, a chance to learn how to cook the area’s typical regional dishes is a logical extension of the tourism industry.
Two of the most popular Schools offer classes in and around my favorite city of Lecce. I’ve probably written about Lecce a dozen times and no amount of words can do this Baroque-flavored, medieval city enough justice. The “Awaiting Table” (www.awaitingtable.com) is run by Silvestro Silvestori and his wife Maria and they do an excellent job of focusing on food while at the same time spotlighting the local sights and sounds.
The school offers daily, weekend and full week classes. From your first minute shopping for produce at the market to your time spent in the kitchen – you’ll get a handle on creating some of Southern Italy’s most cherished recipes including the always appetizing pasta dish of orrecchiette.
Housed in a 18th century palace in the centre of a walled city, students will get as close to “full immersion” cooking as possible plus they get a chance to see the local.
Meanwhile, not too far away in nearby town of Otranto is the Italian Language School “Porta D’Oriente” (www.porta-doriente.com), advertised as an Italian language school for foreigners, the school actually offers a lot more than just language courses – offering classes in Italian literature, art, medicine, culture and of course cooking. Here you can discover Italian and Apulian gastronomy. The school provides room and board as well. The cooking course is held twice a week with classes typically lasting 3-4 hours. The course isn’t taught by a trained professional chef but rather someone who has spent a lot of time in the kitchen. Hey, what more do you need?
A typical class focuses on the preparation of Italian and Apulian “antipasti”, home-made pasta (orecchiette) according to the old Apulian tradition, preparation of various recipes with pasta, preparation of the fish and mussels, preparation of various types of “bruschette”, preparation of the most characteristic sweets and deserts.
During your off-time you’ll have plenty of opportunity to explore the local area of Otranto – renowned for its unspoiled beached and some of the bluest ocean you’ll ever laid eyes on.
Having mapped all this out for you, I’ll share a little secret with you: instead of taking a class you can always ask the conceirge at your hotel if you can just go down and watch the Chef as he prepares your next meal. Or tell the desk clerk you’ll pay the Chef a few bucks on the side if he’ll explain to you how to make his next meal. Knowing the hospatality of Italians I doubt you’ll be turned down, and besides…money does talk.
Well, far be it from me to think that you’ll travel all the way to Italy to take a cooking class, but if you have time in your itinerary why not give it a try.!Whether you’re in the North or the South learning to cook the way the Italians do is sure to make for an exciting and memorable experience.
