We'll be in Sicily for two weeks in October. During the second week, based near Palermo, we would enjoy a day or two of cooking classes. In the current issue of Gourmet, a class at the Regaleali winery by Anna Tasca Lanza received a good report. The website looks good and it would give us the opportunity to see some of the Sicilian vineyards which is something else we would enjoy.
I found a couple of posts about the winery but I'm wondering if someone has attended classes there or if others have suggestions of cooking classes (with wine?) in Sicily from recent experience.
Regaleali winery is very nice and extremely remote. We toured it last June. From near Cefalu it was about a 2 hr drive. Do they provide living facilities on premesis?
They have accommodation. I have booked clients there. They've got a B&B type of set up. The cooking school is good from what I've heard. They're professional. They're not "fly by night." They're very established. Good winery. They have a new'ish accommodation place on the island of Salina too.
Where will you be in Sicily? Anna is a lovely lady, I have not taken her classes, but met her at culinary conferences I go to in America. ( she was not in New Orleans this year though)
I also have a friend in Palermo that does a class in his restaurant.
I did an overnight and 1 day cooking class at Regaleali in 2003. While it's not exactly "recent", it was a very good experience. She's very professional and the setting is lovely. It was quite expensive then. I can only imagine with the fall of the dollar, it's even more now.
If you're interested, click on the link in my signature. I wrote all about it on my website; click on "Sicily 05/03". We also did a cooking class on that trip at Gangivecchio. While the location is beautiful, I wouldn't necessarily recommend the cooking classes.
Our villa is in Isola delle Femmine so it will be quite a drive to Regaliali (1 1/2 hours each way or so) but its location in the wine country is appealing. I'm awaiting a response from the school to see what they can offer us for a day class.
Thanks for your info, Diva; we'll be very close to Palermo so that may be a good alternative option. It would do my father in law good to spend lots of time in Palermo to see if we can change his opinion of the place!!
Anyone know of guided tour options of foodie places in Palermo?...if we could find a tour/class in the city that would also be a great experience. Thanks!!
a.g., I found this reference to their place on the Island of Salina:
You can also sample all Tasca d'Almerita's wines at their elegant resort, Capofaro, on the island of Salina, in the midst of Malvasia vineyards overlooking the sea:
My friend Vincenzo does market tours with his cooking classes and can set up other things too!
He lived in Baton Rouge, and just moved back to Sicily with his mom. He had two restaurants in America so is a fun guy, I am taking my students to him on my Sicily trip in October.
Ah, yes, Capofaro is elegant indeed. The kind of place that my grandparents would never have envisioned while they were working and living in Salina. Thanks for the reference
Posts: 189 | Location: western maine mountains | Registered: 26 February 2005
If you are looking for someplace a little off the tourist radar Marettimo an island off the west coast is great many daytrip there for us 3 nights was fabulous! Marettimo
Have a look at: www.gangivecchio.org This is a restaurant owned by Giovanna Tornabene, author of La Cucina Siciliana di Gangivecchio cookbook. She also has a small Inn, cottages and a cooking school and will customize a program for eight or more guests.
See if she will organize something for the four of you. giovannatornabene@interfree.it
Gangi is about two hours from Palermo. Perhaps you could stop on your way from Taormina? If so, let me know as it is a challenge finding her place and I'll send you directions.
