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LOCATION
Cooking classes take place in a cosy country retreat
surrounded by vineyards, woods and meadows in the Friuli
hills, at the base of the Julian Alps, only about one-hour
drive from Venice, Austria and Slovenia.
The area, known as Colli Orientali del Friuli, is
famous for the production of great classic wines, as well
as for its scenic countryside dotted with castles, idyllic
villages, beautiful hills and breathtaking valleys. The
atmosphere is lovely and peaceful,
just the perfect location to enjoy a leisurely vacation
mixed with an unforgettable cooking experience.
The charming farmhouse is immersed in the wine land and
follows organic and bio-friendly practices
for the production of different varieties of organic wine
(Chardonnay, Tocai Friulano, Pinot Bianco, Merlot, Cabernet
Franc and Sauvignon, Refosco and the rare and precious Picolit)
and farm produce, which are used to prepare genuine dishes
at the cooking school.
Cooking lessons take place in the farmhouse well-equipped
kitchen, which occupies the ground floor of a typical Friulian
rustic home. Idanna, Susanna and Luca are the delightful
owners of the estate as well as the cooking school teachers.
Following the true Italian way of eating, all meals are
prepared using fresh ingredients and products
from the estate: veal, beef and lamb (reared free at
pasture), chicken, duck and turkey (reared outdoors), eggs,
garden-grown seasonal vegetables and fruit, field mushrooms,
water meadow and other herbs. A neighboring farm supplies
salami and different types of vegetables, while hand-made
cheese is purchased from the local dairy.
Lessons last approximately 3 hours and are followed
by lunch or dinner. Meals feature foods prepared during
class and consist of three courses accompanied by local
wines and served at a formally set table situated in the
main dining room or, if it is nice and warm, under the shade
of the vine-covered pergola.
All classes, limited to 8 participants, are completely
hands-on and recipes are simple so that people
can easily learn how to prepare Italian food and, once back
home, they'll be able to prepare what they have learned
in class inviting family and friends to taste the best of
the Italian and Friulian cuisine.
Non-cooking partners are very welcome too! During
classes, non-cooking companions can choose to explore the
delightful surroundings strolling through the vineyards
and visiting the farmhouse cellars where wine is made and
stored, go jogging and ride mountain-bikes in the hilly
countryside, take a safe swim in the river located just
in front of the house or just relax under the shade of the
beautiful vine-covered pergola reading a book and tasting
a glass of good vintage.
Guests stay in the farmhouse charming rooms with
private bathroom, all decorated with Friulian country antiques
and offering incredible views of the surrounding countryside.
Families or group of friends can stay in the comfortable
apartments created in the old granary on the first floor
of the house, each in original Friulian style.
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