Calabria Cooking Between Tropea & Capo Vaticano™

Tie on your apron and get cooking in Calabria, the land of red hot chili peppers, red onions and a warm southern climate.  Experience the beautiful colors of the sea, rocky coast and sandy beaches in a unique destination both summer and winter.

Take a culinary journey to Calabria – Southern Italy’s less-traveled destination. Your 6-day, 5-night cooking tour is set in Capo Rizzuto in a luxury property just a few steps from the beach.  You’ll be immersed in the local culture – visiting gorgeous landmarks such as the Castello Aragonese or the Temple of Juno Lacinia – all while learning to prepare authentic fare under the guidance of our Chef.

Calabria 

“…nothing breaks the stillness save the rhythmic breathing of the waves, and a solitary cricket that has yet to finish his daily task of instrumental music, far away, in some warm crevice of the hills.” Norman Douglas, Old Calabria

Luckily for us, many of the wonderful qualities of Calabria that delighted Norman Douglas back in 1915 are still there to be enjoyed by visitors today.  Calabria boasts a mild climate all year round,  long beautiful beaches, rolling green countryside, quaint villages and with Norman churches and Greek ruins peppering the landscape reminding us of its ancient past. Add to that, the diverse landscape of Calabria which is far from the worn tourist track and this area of Italy becomes utterly irresistible.  While traveling through Calabria, a must-see is Laquaraza and Crotona, the beautiful scenic towns in the land of chilli peppers.  Calabria also promises Spiaggia Rosso, red beaches, cedri, precious over-sized bergamotto citrus, Castanea sativa, sweet chestnuts, durum pasta from Vibo Valentia and Tropea prepared with n’duja, spicy pork salumi, Dottato Fico DOP figs and extra virgin olive oil.

Calabrian Cuisine

Calabria’s cuisine reflects its mixed history, the meeting of past and present represented by the region’s typical products: red onions from Tropea, chili peppers, red potatoes and porcini mushrooms from the Sila plateau, clementines from Corigliano, bergamot from the Reggio Calabria area, citrons from the Riviera dei Cedri, liquorice from Rossano, and olives from the Piana di Gioia.

Produce of all kinds, vegetables, fruit, meat and fish, endless salami, and the most famous nduja, a creamy pork salami that is red-chili-pepper-hot and extremely delicious.  Artisan cheese is plentiful, with pecorino, abbespata, a smoked ricotta, and Caciocavallo Silano DOP, a cow’s milk cheese aged for a good length of time.

Fish is also popular: swordfish in the Reggio Calabria area is an age-old tradition and it is still not uncommon to see men out on the typical boat used for fishing swordfish, felucca or lustro, characterized by a sighting platform and an extended deck.

The most typical and local fish in Calabria has several different names, all of which mean the same thing: neonata, nudilla, rosamarina, nannata, bianchetti: newly born fish (sardines) preserved in oil and spiced up with scarlet flakes of chilli pepper. These tiny fish aren’t always available because the fishing season is limited to a specific short time in winter, so they are often conserved, and are so delicious they are known as the caviar of Calabria.

Visit the Amarelli Licorice Museum and discover the history that finds its origins in Calabria.  The Amarelli Museum opened in the XI century and continued during the centuries among crusades, literati and agriculture farmers too.  The museum showcases the traditional liquirizia, which comes from Rossano Calabro and has been used since 1700.

Cooking Classes

Tie on your apron with Chef Mario and get ready to cook Calabrian favorites.  From antipasto to primos, main course and desserts, you’ll be cooking like a local.  Start with eggplant bites made with herbs and a bread stuffing – a Calabrian favorite.  Pastas include durum wheat fresh and hand-made tagliolini prepared with Caporizzuto prawn crudité and, in season, truffles from Pollino.  Also on the menu are raviolini, stuffed with smoked mozzarella in a cherry tomato sauce.  Calabria lasagna always temps with its secret ingredient of chickpeas.  Swordfish in lemon sauce is everyone’s favorite along with a delectable fish and shallot soup.  Desserts include figs and chocolate specialties or the torta al limone, lemon cake!  Following the cooking class, everyone enjoys the foods that were made following together at the table.  Three regional wines are included.

Calabria Accommodations

Check into our 4 star beach front property, complete with all modern amenities, including a spa.  Set directly on the beach with chairs, umbrellas and soft sand, this property has all of the comforts for a relaxing vacation.  A stunning panorama surrounded by Mediterranean flowers, greenery, myrtle and mastic trees welcomes you.  Rooms are large, bright and refined with Mediterranean decor, along with wood, terracotta, and wrought iron trim.  Each suite has an ensuite private bathrooms.  Satellite TV, hairdryers and air conditioning are included.  Breakfast is served daily and maid service is included.  Our professional staff is always at your service to help with any questions that you may have during your stay.

Property Photos & Pricing

Itinerary 6 days, 5 nights

Day 1:  Welcome Aperitivo & Chef’s Welcome Dinner

• Arrival and transfer to your property.
• Check in relax.
• Welcome aperitivo and overview of the cooking program.
• Welcome dinner including our Chef’s Tasting dinner featuring a full course menu of local fare with wine included.

Day 2:  Guided Tour to Capo Colonna Archeological Park & Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, meet your English-speaking guide for a  tour of Capo Colonna Archeological Park with driver included.
• Following the tour, return to the property.
• In the afternoon, get ready for Cooking Class 1.  Tie on your apron for Cooking Class 1 preparing a Calabrian menu including antipasto, fresh handmade pasta, a main course and dessert with wine pairing included.
• Everyone enjoys the food prepared in the cooking class to follow with wine included.

Day 3:  Tour to Le Castella e Crotone

• Breakfast is served
• Following breakfast, meet your driver for an excursion to Le Castella and Crotone.  Take time out for lunch, on your own – lunch not included.
• Return to property.
• Evening is free with dinner on your own.  Suggestions provided.

Day 4:  Wellness Spa & Relax

• Breakfast is served
• Following breakfast, take time out to relax in the Wellness Spa. Let your professional staff pamper you with a relaxing massage.  Massage included.
• Later in the afternoon, relax in the swimming pool or on the beach.
• Evening is free with dinner on your own.  Suggestions provided.

Day 5:  Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served
• Following breakfast, tie on your apron for Cooking Class 2.
• Tie on your apron for Cooking Class 1 preparing a Calabrian menu including antipasto, fresh handmade pasta, a main course and dessert with wine pairing included.
• Evening is free with dinner on your own.  Suggestions provided.

Day 6: Arrivederci Calabria

• Breakfast is served
• Following breakfast, check out and transfer to airport.  Arrivederci e a presto!