Holiday itinerary
Run by friendly Italian host Katia, this cooking weekend will teach you how to cook a delicious three-course Sicilian meal. Katia's dishes are inspired by the notebooks and recipes left to her by her Sicilian grandmother who prided herself on creating great dishes that her whole family could enjoy.
Classes are taught in small groups, creating plenty of opportunities for one-on-one tuition and a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Chefs can take a break mid-way through the morning to relax on the terrace with a refreshing drink and either enjoy the wonderful views from the farmhouse, or further tap Katia's extensive knowledge of Sicilian cuisine. Once the feast is prepared, you'll be able to toast your achievements with new-found friends and enjoy the fruits of your labour during a relaxed lunch.
You'll also get the chance to sample the offerings of local vineyards. Sicily is renowned for its famous Marsala dessert wine and its award-winning whites and reds and you'll be able to try some of its best and most popular bottles during an informal wine tasting. A further tasting session also allows you to try some of the huge variety of oils produced by the island’s extensive olive groves.
Offering a great chance to enjoy Sicily's beautiful surroundings and gastronomic culture, the cooking weekend includes a guided tour of the beautiful hillside town of Modica: a UNESCO World Heritage Centre due to its beautiful Baroque architecture. Your host Katia has known the town's bustling streets, markets and many churches and cathedrals all of her life and leads a tour that takes in secret viewing spots only known to locals, and quaint and hidden backstreets virtually unvisited by tourists.
Guests can take their time to enjoy Modica which boasts fine shops, museums and the former home of Nobel Prize-winning poet Salvatore Quasimodo. On one evening, you’ll be able to sample the local cuisine by dining out in one of its many restaurants. In Modica, you’ll find menus to suit all tastes and budgets, from two-Michelin-star restaurants to trattoria and pizzerias. You may want to get something to eat while lapping up the atmosphere on the Corso Umberto, a wonderful avenue flanked with palaces, churches and restaurants. If you are lucky enough to be there on a summer Saturday evening you may also get to join or watch the evening passeggiata, when locals young or old stroll or parade through the town.
Chocolate lovers are also in heaven on this cooking weekend with a private tour of Antica Dolceria Bonajuto, a world-famous chocolate shop in Modica that dates back to the 1880s. Run by Pierpaolo Ruta, a sixth-generation 'ciucculattaru', or 'chocolate man', it uses time-honoured recipes and methods to create perfectly-pure chocolate. You'll get to explore its chocolate lab, discover the origins of its cocoa-packed recipes and test out Ruta's latest mouth-watering creations
Suitability
- Cookery holidays are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced cooks
- Minimum age 18
- Your hosts are Italian but speak impeccable English and classes will be held in English
Travelling Solo?
- These cookery holidays make great singles holidays and singles are welcome to join an existing group
- Solo travellers can pre-book a private single room for a compulsory single room supplement
- Note: There are NO Shared rooms for solo travellers on this holiday
- To book a private single room, email or contact us via live chat (click on the ‘start chat’ link at the bottom of this page) or call us to check availability
Non-Participating Partner
-Non-participating partners are welcome to join existing cooking partners during the week, email for availability and price
Cooking Break Start Days
- The course runs throughout the year
- The short cooking break lasts for 2 nights/3 days
- If you wish to stay for extra nights please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you
- If dates appear ‘on request’ please email us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible
Excursions
- Modica is just a short walk from the farmhouse, meaning guests spend less time travelling and more time cooking, relaxing and absorbing the local culture and architecture
- The chocolate shop is also conveniently located in Modica
Cooking Holiday Itinerary
PLEASE NOTE: The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the season but is typically as follows:
Day 1 - Arrival, tastings and welcome dinner
- Check into your room (any time after 2pm) and take your time to explore the house and meet your fellow cooking guests
- Spoil your palette with a wine tasting session, offering the chance to sample Sicily’s best and most popular wines
- Taste some of the wide range of olive oils produced from the island’s olive groves
- Enjoy a delicious Sicilian evening meal prepared by your talented host, made from fresh local ingredients and accompanied by Sicilian wine
Day 2 –Sicilian cookery class, walking tour of Modica and tour of artisan chocolate factory
- Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading to the kitchen for your cookery lesson
- Learn to cook a three-course Italian dish in a relaxed and fun environment
- Enjoy your dishes during a group meal with your fellow chefs
- In the afternoon, you will explore the beautiful city of Modica with a walking tour guided by your knowledgeable local hosts
- Your guides will show you the points of local interest, some of the lesser-known pretty back streets and spots only locals know to enjoy spectacular views of the city
- Take a private tour of a world-famous chocolate shop, check out its artisan chocolate factory and sample some of its latest recipes and creations
- NOTE: dinner is not included on this evening
- This evening’s dinner plans are flexible and you are free to discover the many restaurants on offer in Modica (with prices and tastes to suit all budgets). All are within walking distance and your hosts can give you recommendations. Whatever you choose to eat for dinner on this evening, the culinary delights of Modica won’t disappoint
Day 3 - Transfer back to Catania airport and departure day
- After a leisurely breakfast, guests who are staying in in Sicily are asked to check out of their rooms by 10.30am. All other guests can leave at a time that suits their departure flight from Catania
- Make the most of your remaining time with a last-minute stroll into Modica or relax and soak up the sun around the farmhouse.
- You will be heading home taking with you an array of Sicilian recipes and memories and an insight into Sicilian culinary life that will stay with you long after the holiday is over
About Your Chef
- Your chef and host is Sicilian-born Katia, and together with the help of her husband Ronald, and colleague Angelo, you are in capable hands to experience the wonders of Sicily with expert local guides
- Katia is a Sicilian native who grew up just 20 minutes from Modica in nearby Ispica
- Katia is not a classically trained chef but after countless hours in the kitchen with her grandmother, mother and aunts she has developed a passion for cooking and the importance of food and particularly the enjoyment of sharing it were central to Katia’s family
- Katia’s grandmother (who used to live in the cookery school accommodation) was passionate about Sicilian recipes but also international cuisine and experimentation and passed this passion for cooking down the generations of the family
- Katia still uses many of her Grandmother’s old notebooks for inspiration and reference in her own cooking
- Her lessons are informal and relaxed and for Katia’s food philosophy is about quality, taste and conviviality and it's more about enjoying excellent Sicilian dishes and company and having fun
What Will I Learn?
- Using the wealth of quality ingredients the island has to offer, you will learn the art of creating a delicious Sicilian three-course meal
- Lessons are relaxed and informal and concentrate on quality ingredients, taste and enjoyment of food
- You will also get to develop your wine-tasting palette and learn more about the island's great wines
- An olive oil tasting session will add to your appreciation of the area’s produce and awaken your taste buds to a rich variety of different oils
- A visit to a local artisan chocolatier in Modica will allow you to discover the secrets of this ancient chocolate-making tradition which is perfect for chocoholics
- The pretty town of Modica offers a brilliant chance to see some of the finest Baroque architecture in the world, take in the some museums, practice your Italian and gain a brilliant insight into the Sicilian culture and way of life
Sample Menus
Dishes vary according to the season and what food is available but may include:
- Cavatieddi pasta with pork sauce
- Tiramisu alla siciliana
- Modica's chocolate chicken
- Baked timballi di anellini alla Norma pasta
- Lemon and pecorino cheese meat balls
- Cassata di ricotta cake
- Pasta with monkfish, mint and cherry tomatoes
- Scabbard fish Turbanti
- Bianco mangiare milk pudding
The Accommodation
- Your accommodation is set in the heart of the historical centre of Modica
- You’ll stay in an elegantly 17th century restored house just a short walk from local restaurants, and cafes of Modica
- The building dates back to the 17th century but has been sympathetically restored to its original 1930s feel with many traditional Sicilian features, and original Caltagirone ceramic tiles make impressive decoration
- There are a total of 3 well-appointed twin/double en suite guest rooms
- Rooms all have private en suite bathrooms and there is also another bathroom in the main living area of the house
- All rooms have air conditioning, heating and a flat screen LCD TV
- The house includes a sun-drenched terrace boasting a magnificent view of the San Giorgio cathedral, spacious kitchen, and separate dining area with original domed ceiling features
- Large sun-drenched outside terrace with wonderful views of the San Giorgio cathedral
- The spacious kitchen is light and airy room with a domed ceiling, has access to the outside terrace and plenty of space for up to 10 participants and is packed with all the latest kitchen gadgets and equipment
-The living area has a large dining table for group meals and also has a domed ceiling and access to the terrace
- Prices are based on 2 sharing a twin/double room and, if you are travelling solo, stay in a twin/double room for sole occupancy for a small compulsory single supplement (subject to availability)
- Accommodation is included for 3 days/ 2nights
- Check in to your room any time after 2pm on day 1. Guest staying on in Sicily must check out at 10.30am on the final day, however, those transferring back to Catalina airport can leave when it suits their flight time
- NOTE: Modica has many steps and slopes and as such, a reasonable level of fitness is required to fully appreciate the area as the steps are hard to avoid
Meals
- Breakfasts are included on both mornings of the short cooking break
- Dinner on the first evening is a wonderful light supper prepared by your host Katia and served with free-flowing wine
- Lunch on day two is the delicious dishes prepared by you and your group during your morning cookery lesson
- Day two’s dinner is taken at any of the restaurants in Modica (there are restaurants for all budgets and the price is NOT included in the cost of the weekend)
- If you have dietary requests, these must be communicated to us at the time of booking
Free Time In Sicily
- This Sicilian cooking weekend may well give you an appetite for exploring more of the culinary delights, local producers, beaches and Baroque towns that the island has to offer
- Your hosts will give you lots of information about travelling around south-east Sicily should you wish to stay on the island further, including its most beautiful towns, the best places to see, details of local activities, markets, food festivals and more
- It is recommended to have a car to fully explore the rest of the island of Sicily and you may find you wish to stay on for a few nights to get the most out of your trip!
Learn the age-old secrets of cooking the Sicilian way on this relaxed cookery weekend. Soak up the local culture, marvel at Modica's architecture and sample some of its finest produce on this relaxed cookery course for food lovers.