Overview

This cooking holiday combines a great stay in an amazing location, in one of the most beautiful areas of Italy, learning various Italian dishes using some of the best local ingredients and having great fun exploring the area.

Nicknamed the heel of Italy, Puglia’s cuisine has been influenced over the centuries by its neighbours – and invaders. The Greeks, the Frenchs, the Germans, the Arabs – all of them have influenced today’s Apulian cuisine.

This genuine land, kissed by the Mediterranean sun for over 300 days a year, is scattered with fortified castles and whitewashed Trulli, Puglia’s distinctive conical shaped swellings, and carpeted with a silvery sea of olive groves. It also has an incredibly rich natural offer: the area produces most of the country’s extra virgin olive oil, full-bodied wines and is famous for its intensely flavoured olives, table grapes, almonds and figs.  Other local specialities include orecchiette, an ear-shaped pasta, seafood pasta, fava beans (which are dried and made into a paste) and burrata, a creamy cheese similar to mozzarella.

There are a number of sights to savour along with the turquoise sea and long sandy beaches, covering most of the 800 km of coastline: the Normans’ mysterious gift, Castel del Monte; the city of Lecce’s glorious Baroque churches; the cathedral in Otranto’s amazing mosaic floor; the Masseria, local country houses surrounded by olive groves and a glorious nature.

The Location

This program includes 6 nights at Masseria Le Fabriche and 3 intensive cooking classes in Italian and typical Pugliese cuisine, held by the local Chef. You will visit the food market and will experience cooking like a local! The week includes three fabulous meals a day and plenty of time to enjoy the breathtaking view from the roof or simply relax walking between grapes and olive trees.

The estate covers about 20 hectares of grapevines, centuries-old olive trees and Mediterranean Maquis. Set on a panoramic hilltop, the 17th century Masseria overlooks this rural amphitheater designed by nature and by men over the centuries, offering stunning views of the Ionian sea which is only 4 km away.

The Fabriche project starts at the end of the nineties, with the aim of using local grapes to produce quality wine within an environmentally responsible framework. Organic farming and close collaboration with the best agronomists, winemakers and Universities are part of this practice; the rich variety of fresh ingredients offered by a generous soil is the basis for the preparation of recipes made with seasonal vegetables, keys of an healthy, balanced and natural diet which brings out the flavors of Mediterranean shrub lands herbs.

The luxury of simplicity and an atmosphere so intimate that looks almost familiar… The wonderful panoramic terrace offers our guests an opportunity to dine outside whilst contemplating the beauty of the surrounding nature and a stunning sunset.

In 2007, following a careful restoration work,  the estate was turned into an elegant relais.

The junior suites, located between the grapevines and olive trees, have been designed to provide a sensory experience of peace and relaxation in a timeless place; all rooms are provided with private balcony, large walk-in shower with cervical massaging shower head, equipped with floor heating and air conditioning, satellite TV, safe, refrigerator, hair dryer and Wi-Fi connection.

 

Gallery

Program

Day 1:

Arrival in Bari or Brindisi airport, meet-up with the guide and transfer to the Masseria.

Time to relax and wander around, getting to know the property while enjoying an aperitivo right before your first dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

 

Day 2:

After breakfast departure toward Lecce, commonly nicknamed “The Florence of the South” because of its countless Baroque beauties, with its lovely centro storico (historic centre) and Roman ruins; treat yourself to local delicacies like puccia (flat bread filled with your choice of salami and everything else!) and pasticciotto (sweet cake filled with lemon custard).

After a nice walk into the small alleys of the town, we will head back to the Masseria for your first lesson, based on fresh and filled pasta and local glory focaccia.

Dinner based on your efforts.

Meals: Breakfast, Tasting Lunch, Dinner.

 

Day 3:

In the morning visit of an artisanal dairy farm for a live demonstration of mozzarella and burrata making with tasting of the produce, then we will move to the most renowned wine estate in the area where we will taste the local glory “Primitivo di Manduria” and visit the dedicated Museum.

Return to the Masseria to discover the secrets make perfect pizza and other local specialties like panzerotti, friselle and taralli.

Dinner based on your efforts.

Meals: Breakfast, Tasting Lunch, Dinner.

 

Day 4:

After a very pleasant drive through the Itria valley, we will reach Alberobello, the World Heritage Site of fairy-tale trulli. Guided visit of the site, with great shopping opportunities of local texiles. Lunch at leisure.

Following visit of an ancient oil mill where  you’ll be told everything about the so called green gold, the extra-virgin olive oil renowned worldwide.

The next stop is in Ostuni, regarded as an architectural jewel, commonly referred to as “the White Town” for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. Get lost in the hundred alleys, amongst workshops and Baroque churches…

To complete such a glorious day, what’s best then a dinner al fornello? You’ll be served with various cuts of local meats in a butchery (yes, a proper butchery!) hosting some quite simple seating. A real Pugliese experience!

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

 

Day 5:

After a very pleasant drive through the Itria valley, we will reach Alberobello, the World Heritage Site of fairy-tale trulli. Guided visit of the site, with great shopping opportunities of local texiles. Lunch at leisure.

Following visit of an ancient oil mill where  you’ll be told everything about the so called green gold, the extra-virgin olive oil renowned worldwide.

The next stop is in Ostuni, regarded as an architectural jewel, commonly referred to as “the White Town” for its white walls and its typically white-painted architecture. Get lost in the hundred alleys, amongst workshops and Baroque churches…

To complete such a glorious day, what’s best then a dinner al fornello? You’ll be served with various cuts of local meats in a butchery (yes, a proper butchery!) hosting some quite simple seating. A real Pugliese experience!

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.

 

Day 6:

In your last day visit of Grottaglie, the “city of ceramics”, as it’s called because of the large number of traditional and artistic artisanal pottery laboratories scattered in this medieval town.

Then transfer to visit an enchanting wine estate where we will taste another great red called Negroamaro other than some of the best Rosè in Italy, accompanying a light lunch.

In the evening we will make available to drive you to Lecce for a last dine out at your leisure and to enjoy the thrills of this lively city.

Meals: Breakfast, Light Lunch.

 

Day 7:

Time to get your certificate of attendance… see you for the next cooking adventure in Puglia!

Transfer to Bari or Brindisi airport.

Meals: Breakfast.