Holiday itinerary
Set in grounds with olive and fruit trees, vegetable and herb garden, this charming and tastefully restored 150 year old Finca is the setting for your Spanish cooking holiday.
Chef Clive has been a professional Chef specialising in the Mediterranean cuisine for over 20 years. His passion for food and wine led him to embark on his own cooking retreat with his wife, also a talented cook.
Chef’s laid-back style, sense of humour and relaxed atmosphere will help you increase in cooking confidence; you’ll learn to cook dishes to inspire your imagination as you immerse yourself in Andalucian life, getting off the tourist trail to discover the traditional food from this beautiful area of Spain.
This 3 night / 4 day Spanish cooking course includes 3 cooking lessons (weather permitting, cooking may take place in the fabulous outdoor kitchen) where you can learn to cook traditional 3 course Spanish menus that you can easily recreate back at home.
Learn to cook classic Andalucian and Mediterranean food as well as some of Chef Clive’s signature dishes using delicious fresh ingredients organically grown in the grounds of the Finca or sourced from local producers.
Combining fun hands-on Spanish cooking lessons with a relaxing environment and friendly hosts, this 3 night cooking holiday promises not just a culinary experience but also a cultural one.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels of cooking experience
- Please note that if you are travelling solo, you must book a twin/double room with en-suite bathroom for sole occupancy by adding a compulsory single supplement onto your booking during the booking process
- Your hosts are British/Japanese so all cooking classes are taught in English (or Japanese if required)
Cooking Course Start Days
- You may arrive any day you choose as cooking lessons can take place 7 days a week
- You will stay in the Finca for 3 nights / 4 days
Spanish Cooking Course Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival and your first cooking lesson
- You may check-in to the Finca anytime after 3pm (NB: cooking starts after 5.30pm)
- Enjoy welcome drinks on arrival before starting your first cooking lesson
- During your cooking lesson you will prepare a delicious 3 course Spanish menu
- You will sit down to enjoy the food you have made with local wine with your hosts and other guests in the evening
Days 2 and 3 – Free days to relax and second and third cooking lesson
- Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and then explore the beautiful Andalucían region
- You may want to spend your time by the pool or why not take a stroll around the charming whitewashed lakeside village of Iznájar, perched on the rocky outcrop, where you will enjoy a spectacular view of the Lake of Andalucia
- Later in the day, you’ll have your second and third cooking lessons where you'll cook delicious 3 course Spanish menus to impress and inspire your friends and family with back home
- Once you’ve cooked, you’ll sit down to enjoy a dinner of the delicious tapas dishes you have learned to cook that day accompanied by a glass or two of wine
- Note: Most cooking takes place in the wonderful outdoor kitchen from May-Sep weather permitting
- Note: Subject to availability, you may be able to learn to make tapas and/or paella
Day 4 - Departure
- After breakfast guests are asked to check-out of their rooms ready for departure taking home with them new cooking skills and an insight into Andalucían life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over
What Will I Learn To Cook?
- The history of Andalucían cuisine
- How to select fresh, seasonal ingredients and prepare them for cooking
- How to cook full 3 course Andalucían menus
Teaching Method
- Cooking session is done in a relaxing and informative manner and is fun-filled
- Small group tuition to allow individual attention
- Cooking session is hands-on and focuses on the actual cooking and preparing dishes, rather than the preparation work (i.e. peeling and chopping vegetable etc)
- Participants are well-informed in case special any attention is required with the preparation work
- Introduction to the use of Spanish ingredients, cooking method and traditional cooking appliances
- Lots of useful cooking tips, background of ingredients and recipes
Sample Spanish Menu
- Gazpacho con cilantro (Gazpacho with wild coriander)
- Remojón con vinagre de sésamo (Salt cod and orange salad with sesame dressing)
- Codornices con higos (Quails with spiced figs)
- Shellfish soup with sherry
- Paella
- Prawns in chocolate sauce
- Clams in Sherry
- Jamon Iberico
- Oxtail in rich saffron jus
- Moorish skewered pork
- Peppers stuffed with salt cod
- Croquettes
- Little gem lettuce with garlic chips and anchovies
- Frittered milk
- Coffee and brandy flan
- Lubina al sal con salsa de pimientos rojos y aceite de oliva (Salt roast seabass with charred sweet red pepper and olive oil salsa)
- Tarta de limón con miel de lavanda (Lemon tart with lavender scented honey)
- Merengue escalfado con natilla de almendras (Poached meringue with almond custard cream)
Accommodation at the Spanish Finca
- Your 150 year old Finca has just 4 rooms: 3 standard twin/double rooms and 1 suite (to book the suite, please add this extra on during the booking process) and is situated in Iznájar, a small hilltop Moorish village overlooking a romantic lake lies in Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas in the southern part of the province of Córdoba
- Tastefully restored to retain the rustic charm, your standard room has twin beds or a double bed, private bathroom and a delightful view
- All prices are based on two persons sharing the twin/double standard rooms with private bathrooms; singles will have to book these rooms for sole occupancy and a compulsory supplement must be added during the booking process as sharing as a solo traveller is not possible on this holiday
- The Finca features a swimming pool, reading room, DVD library and more
- Wi-fi is available although the reception is not very good due to the rural location
- Your hosts have two dogs and a cat, but they are never allowed in the finca
Other Information
- To make the most out of your cooking holiday we recommend that you hire a car for your time in Andalucia, please advise us if you are not planning on doing so as other arrangements have to be made
- However, if you choose not to and require transport from the airport to the Finca, the school may be able to provide you with a transfer for an extra fee (approximately €100 each way); please email your requirements to
Go learn to cook authentic Andalucía dishes at this idyllic retreat in the heart of Andalucía, Spain, immerse yourself in the culture and share your passion for food with others on this unique learning holiday with a difference.