Welcome to our marketplace where we share our love for cooking, Lauren’s cookbook –
“It’s A Dream Place – Stories & Recipes of Food, Love and the Amalfi Coast,”
our own brand of extra virgin olive oil and organic artisan pasta made in Italy.
“It’s a Dream Place – Stories of Food, Love and the Amalfi Coast”
By Lauren A. Birmingham
Take a look of the book’s preview contents
Elizabeth Berg, award-winning New York Times bestselling author says, “This is a dream cookbook. Who in the world wouldn’t want to try ‘Catch of the Day for a Beautiful Woman of the Sea?’ But in addition to being a cookbook, it’s a slice of life from the impossibly beautiful Amalfi Coast: how it looks, how it feels, how the interactions with the people there are so soulful and rewarding. It takes a particular kind of person to attract the kinds of magical stories Lauren Birmingham Piscitelli does. And it takes something more to get chefs to give up their recipes. Call this author not only a charming writer, but a sorceress whose company in these pages we are privileged to keep.”
Spanning 372 stunning pages filled with the culinary artistry of Michelin-Star Chef Andrea Migliaccio (Executive Culinary Chef at Capri Palace), Lauren’s mom, and Italian artisans and winemakers, this book is a treasure trove of stories, recipes, and colorful photographs of the Amalfi Coast and Capri. It’s not just Lauren’s exploration of Italian cuisine that enthralls but her heartfelt stories of family, friendship, and her profound love for Italy.
Lauren’s stories of family, friends, her love of Italy and Italian cooking make this so much more than just a cookbook. It is a celebration of life, love, food, eating and la dolce vita that’s guaranteed to make you want to book the next flight to the Amalfi Coast. A gifted storyteller, Lauren brings to life the people, sights, and flavors of Italy in this one-of-a-kind cookbook.
For an signed copy, email Lauren at Lauren@Cooking-Vacations.com
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
We produce our own extra virgin first cold-pressed olive oil with olives that grow in rich volcanic soil under the warm Mediterranean sun and caressed by the salted sea wind. There are 600 olive trees – each over 100 years old – in our orchard producing healthy olives that are cold-pressed on stones once making it first-cold-pressed and bottle immediately for freshness and flavor.
During the autumn harvest, the olives are picked by hand and immediately pressed on cold stones making it first-cold-pressed and with a very low acidic level because there is no oxidation. The olive oil is then bottled in green glass bottles which keeps the sun out preventing any oxidation.
Our olive oil is made with leccino, curatora, frantoio and coratina olives and has a hint of almond and artichoke due to the two nearby orchards adding natural cross-pollination. This olive oil is deep green in color with a fresh pungent flavor.
Extra virgin means that the oil was from the first pressing and cold-pressed means it was pressed without heat. We follow these strict guidelines in order for the oil to be extra virgin and first-cold-pressed. DOP is the Denominazione di Origine Protetta, meaning the olive oil has an Origin Protected Domain of Production.
The olive trees are over 100 years old and are tenderly cared for throughout the season following biodynamic and organic farming practices. The soil is kept clean and pure to keep the level of oleic acid very low and natural vitamins and minerals high. The oil is available in organic natural, and also in lemon, chili pepper and rosemary scented.
~ Extra Virgin Olive Oil ~
Extra virgin first cold-pressed olive oil has hints of artichoke and almond. Extra virgin olive oil adds flavor to antipasto, pasta, risotto, fish, meat and cheese, and is a healthy ingredient in Mediterranean cooking.
| $15 | 250 ml. |
| $25 | 500 ml. |
| $35 | 750 ml. |
~ Lemon Olive Oil ~
The lemon olive oil is scented with Sfusato limone, Amalfi Coast lemons, which are gently pressed into the oil for a fresh light citrus flavor. Lemon olive oil is a fresh accent to pizza, focaccia, pasta, fish, meat and cheese.
| $15 | 250 ml. |
| $25 | 500 ml. |
| $35 | 750 ml. |
~ Rosemary Olive Oil ~
Our rosemary olive oil is scented with wild Mediterranean rosemary. The rosemary olive oil adds flavor to pizza, focaccia, fish, chicken, meat and roasted potatoes.
| $15 | 250 ml. |
| $25 | 500 ml. |
| $35 | 750 ml. |
~ Red Chilli Pepper Olive Oil ~
The chili pepper olive oil, has a subtle hint of chilipeper Drizzle chili pepper olive oil on pizza, focaccia, pasta, meat and fish, and you’ll be cooking like a Neapolitan mamma!
| $15 | 250 ml. |
| $25 | 500 ml. |
| $35 | 750 ml. |
Artisan Market
Bringing you handmade gifts by old world artisans from Italy.
~ Positano Lemons ~
Order Here
Olive Oil & Lemon Oil, Lemon Biscotti & Limoncello Recipe
Includes 1 bottle of olive, 1 bottle of lemon olive oil (extra virgin first-cold pressed 250ml), 1 bakers’ bag of lemon biscotti and our recipe for limoncello. Gift wrapped on a ruby red cookie platter with festival ribbon. $65
~ Italian Mamma ~
Order Here
Ceramic Dish Sponge Holder, Oregano Spices & Neapolitan Pasta Recipe
Includes a handmade, hand-painted ceramic in the shape of an Italian Mamma, (this adorable doll sits on your kitchen counter by your sink and cleverly holds and hides your kitchen sponge on her back side), 1 Cooking Vacations oregano spice bag, Italian organic pasta, and a Neapolitan pasta recipe. Gift wrapped with festival ribbon. $85
~ Chef’s Trove ~
Order Here
Olive Oil, Aged Balsamic from Modena, Chef’s Favorite Modena Recipe & Cooking Vacations’ Apron
Includes 1 bottle of extra virgin olive oil, (extra virgin first-cold pressed 250ml), 1 bottle of authentic aged Balsamic from Modena (250 ml) and our our favorite recipe from Modena. Gift wrapped on a ruby red cookie platter with festival ribbon. $95
~ Umbria Artisans ~
Order Here
Olive Oil & Ceramic handmade spoon rest
Includes 1 bottle of olive and handmade, hand-painted spoon rest made in Umbria. This Deruta ceramic spoon rest adds a taste of sunny Italy to every kitchen. $65
~ Kisses From Italy ~
Order Here
Baci Chocolate, Wine Biscotti & Torta Caprese Recipe
Includes a box of Baci chocolates made with hazelnuts and pure chocolate (21 pieces), 1 baker’s bag of wine biscotti and torta Caprese, Capri cake recipe. Gift wrapped on a ruby red cookie platter with festive ribbon. $55
~ Chef’s Trove ~
Olive Oil, Aged Balsamic from Modena, Chef’s Favorite Modena Recipe & Cooking Vacations’ Apron
Includes 1 bottle of extra virgin olive oil, (extra virgin first-cold pressed 250ml), 1 bottle of authentic aged Balsamic from Modena (250 ml) and our our favorite recipe from Modena. Gift wrapped on a ruby red cookie platter with festival ribbon.
$95.00
Gift Certificates
Give the gift of cooking.
Gift certificates make the perfect gift for birthdays,
anniversaries, weddings, mothers’ and fathers’ Day,
graduations, Valentine’s Day, or just because!
Available in any amount for online cooking classes, cooking tours, one day classes, wine tastings, guided tours, and food lover’s walks – to name a few.