No holiday plans yet? This culinary retreat to Sicily is just as delicious as it sounds
For her cookbook Italopop, chef, writer and award-winning cookbook author Vanja van der Leeden travelled to Sicily several times; no surprise, as the island has so much to offer from a culinary and cultural perspective. In Italopop, Vanja cooks with chef Emilia Strazzanti, among others. This Sicilian grew up in London, where she worked at Michelin-starred establishments and the famous pasta shop ‘Burro e Salvia’. The two chefs are organising a culinary trip in which they will immerse you in Sicilian life for five days.
Your passport to the real Sicily
Emilia is a diehard kitchen boss with an Italian heart, British humour and a Japanese work ethic. She now lives in Scicli, a beautiful Baroque town in the southeast of the island. Emilia and Vanja speak Italian and English and are your passport to the real Sicily. Through masterclasses, you will learn to make pasta with ancient grains, learn all about arancini and discover how to create surprising flavour combinations with the island’s produce.
No tourist traps
From your arrival at Catania Airport, everything will be taken care of. From transport to the accommodation to excursions, culinary masterclasses, wine tastings and dinners. You will meet chefs and producers you would not otherwise encounter, avoid the tourist traps and experience Sicily among Sicilians. What makes this trip unique is the small group, which makes you feel as though you are on holiday with friends. You will stay in a traditional Sicilian Masseria, a rural farmhouse converted into an agriturismo, with plenty of greenery, a vegetable garden and a swimming pool. The Masseria is owned by the family of its proprietors and is located near the Baroque and winding town of Scicli, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Details and price of this trip
Dates: Sunday 25 May – Friday 30 May. Arrival at Catania Airport on Sunday 25 May (around 10:00), departure from Catania Airport on Friday morning 30 May.
– 5 days and 5 nights in a traditional Masseria in the countryside around Ragusa, a 10-minute drive from Scicli.
– All transfers included in the price (to and from Catania Airport and all excursions included in the itinerary)
– Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
– All excursions included
– Cooking workshops and intimate chef training included
– 1 private bedroom with a double bed and bathroom per person included (shared apartments for friends and couples are also available).
– Access to the swimming pool and all other public areas of the Masseria included
– Price: 2500 euros per person
There is limited space available for this retreat! Book this delicious trip on Emilia’s website.
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