Holiday itinerary
Tucked away in the peaceful and pretty village of Ambelas in Paros, this friendly family run hotel just a few minutes from the beach is the setting for your Greek cooking holiday experience.
Under the guidance of your fun and friendly Greek host Chef Stella, you will immerse yourself in Greek life to discover the gastronomic delights of this beautiful area of Paros. And don’t forget the Greek wines as you’ll visit the award-winning Winery-Museum Moraitis in the neighbouring village.
The aim of the course is to give you the skills to cook fabulous Greek dishes from the region to impress even the most experienced foodies back home. All cooking courses are hands-on and you’ll learn to cook in a traditional Greek kitchen. Stella will also take you to visit a local winery and to gather fresh herbs in the mountains of Paros.
Combine wine tasting, herb picking and sunbathing with fun hands-on Greek cooking lessons on this 5 night / 6 day Greek cookery holiday with a difference.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced foodies
- Your hosts are Greek but speak perfect English
- Minimum age: 7 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)
Travelling Solo?
- These Greek cookery holidays make great singles holidays and in fact, many people travel solo
- Singles can join existing groups and rooms can be booked for a single supplement, to check availability for singles please contact us at with your preferred date of travel
Non-Cooking Guests
- Non cooking guests are welcome to share a room with a cooking guest and prices for the non-cooking guest will be discounted accordingly, please email or contact us via live chat (click on the ‘start chat’ link at the bottom of this page) or call us for details
Greek Cookery Holiday Start Days
- This Greek cooking and wine course runs on set dates from May-June and September-October (courses do not run in July or August as Stella is busy with the hotel and restaurant bookings in the peak season months and it gets too hot in the kitchen in summer)
- All courses include 5 nights / 6 days accommodation
- If you wish to extend your stay for extra nights, please contact to request a price
Greek Cooking And Wine Course Itinerary
Please note that the itinerary is for guidance only and may change subject to weather conditions and availability of fresh ingredients on the date of travel.
Day 1 – Arrival Day
- Check-in to your accommodation anytime after 2pm
- Enjoy welcome aperitifs and Greek mezze with your host Stella and other guests
- In the evening you’ll sit down for a chat with Stella about what dishes you’ll be cooking that week and for her to find out a little more about any specific aims and goals for the cooking course
- You are welcome to have dinner at the hotel or head out to one of the local tavernas (dinner is not included in the price)
Day 2 – Free Time and Cooking Class (Vine leaves)
- Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast and enjoy some free time to explore the beautiful village on your first morning
- Around 4.30pm, meet Stella for afternoon tea or coffee before starting your first Greek cooking lesson
- Today you’ll learn to cook with vine leaves: picking leaves from the grape vines and blanching them, making the stuffing, and rolling dolmadakia, preparing eggplants imam, stuffed tomatoes and vegetables in the oven
- After the cooking lesson, sit down and enjoy the traditional Greek fiesta where you’ll eat what you’ve learned to prepare accompanied by local wines, homemade bread and of course, Greek music
Day 3 – Cooking Class (Meats) and herb picking in the mountains
- Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast before heading to the mountains to pick wild herbs which is a Greek tradition and herbs are a huge part of Greek cooking
- Depending of the season, you will pick fresh sage, oregano, capers or if you are lucky, a very special green herb from Paros called kalfa
- Head back to the hotel for some free time before your 2nd evening cooking class
- Around 4.30pm you’ll learn to dry and preserve the herbs as well as cook with them preparing roast pork with a rosemary sauce and meatballs with mint (vegetarian options available if requested in advance of booking)
- Enjoy another evening fiesta eating the delicious food you’ve learned to cook that day
Day 4 – Cooking Class (Fish) and Wine Tasting
- Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast before heading to the visit the award-winning Winery-Museum Moraitis in Naoussa village, where the family will explain their personal history, the history of the winery and the cultural aspects of the area
- You can, of course, also purchase their award-winning wine and wine tasting is available
- Head back to the hotel for some free time before your 3rd evening cooking class
- Around 4.30pm you’ll learn to cook fresh fish, preparing ‘kakavia’ a special fish soup, charcoal-grilled fish, octopus with pasta and fresh salads (vegetarian options available if requested in advance of booking)
- Before sitting down to eat, you’ll have your final lesson of the day learning how to light the wood oven and prepare the chick peas for an all night cooking
Day 5 –Cooking Class (Mezze) and Free Time
- Enjoy a leisurely Greek breakfast before heading to the kitchen for your 4th cookery lesson
- Today you’ll be cooking lamb with potatoes in the wood oven, tzatziki, eggplant salad, zucchini, tomato balls and using the chick peas from the evening before
- The afternoon is free to either enjoy a walk, sunbathe or explore the local area
- In the evening Chef Stella will throw a farewell party for guests
Day 5 – Departure Day
- After breakfast guests are asked to check-out of their rooms by 11am ready for departure taking home with them new cooking skills and an insight into Greek life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over
What Will I Learn?
- Courses concentrate on the typical cuisine of Greece: its mezze, meat and fresh fish with plenty of fresh herbs
- At the start of your stay, Stella will discuss menus with you to ensure you cover any particular skills you want to learn during your course
- You'll learn to forage for fresh herbs and to recognise the different plans during your mountain herb picking excursion
- You'll learn about the wine making process and will taste local wines at the award-winning winery
Sample Greek Menus
Dishes vary according to the season and what food is available but may include:
- Lamb and potato cooked in a wood oven
- Tzatziki
- Eggplant salad
- Zucchini and tomato balls
- Meat balls with mint
- Stuffed vine leaves
- Dolmadakia
- Roast pork
- Local wines are carefully chosen to accompany each dish
- Dietary requests can be catered for including vegetarians if advised at the time of booking
About Your Chef
- Your host is the easy going, fun and friendly Stella who has run the studios with her family for 20 years
- Stella has been cooking in the hotel restaurant for 20 years and over the past few years has been persuaded to start her own cookery courses teaching her secrets to visitors to Paros
- Stella’s philosophy is that food is central to life and believes that meals should be full of flavour, made with fresh seasonal ingredients and not too difficult to prepare
Accommodation
- You’ll stay in a family run hotel set in the pretty fishing village of Ambelas just a few minutes from the beautiful unspoilt beaches of Paros
- Your accommodation is located just 3kms from cosmopolitan Naoussa on Paros island
- The hotel can accommodate up to 45 guests and you’ll stay in a double or twin rooms all with ensuite bathrooms
- Single travellers have to book a compulsory single supplement as it is not possible to share a room on this holiday
- Furnished in typical Greek style, your room will have a double or twin beds, private bathroom and a delightful view
- Many rooms have a balcony or terrace
- Many rooms have been recently redecorated and have a colour theme such as blue, pink and green and are light, airy and tastefully furnished
- The hotel has a lovely swimming pool, sunbeds, basketball pitch, beach umbrellas, Wifi, gardens and a kids pool for guests to use
Meals
- Breakfast is included each day
- Meals are included as per the itinerary after your cooking lessons
- Wine is included with dinner
Go learn to cook in the Cyclades Island of Paros, pursue your passion for food, good wine and discover all the Greek Islands have to offer on a Greek cookery holiday with a difference.