4 Day Cooking and Cultural Vacation near Portofino, Liguria, Italy
Authentic Culinary Vacation Italy
Mandilli de Saea invites you to the Italian holiday with cooking classes and much more in Liguria, Italy! Enjoy this part of the Ligurian Riviera while learning the secrets of its local cuisine.
Meet the instructors
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Highlights
- 1 3-hour cooking session
- 1 local guided tour to be arranged on the spot
- Delicious wine aperitif with local wine from the Tigullio area
- 3 nights accommodation
- Delicious meal with local wine
- 1 copy in English of the Ligurian recipes book edited by Mandilli de Saea
- Kitchen tools and aprons provided
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
3 days with instruction in English
Accommodation
Facilities
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Garden
- Multilingual staff
- Picnic area
- Smoke-free property
- Terrace
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Parking lot
- Tour assistance
- Wireless internet
The accommodation provided for this holiday is a cozy bed and breakfast on the hill in the village of Cogorno called Cà da Tollo. Very close to Anna's private house and kitchen, where the cooking class will be held. As an alternative, Villa Paggi Country house, located in the vicinity of Cogorno, will provide the same standard accommodation as well. The cooking session will be held in Anna's kitchen instead, in her private apartment in the village of Cogorno, also overlooking the gulf.
Program
Enjoy a superb combination of relaxation in an enchanting nature, the temptation of simple but savory food, like handmade pasta with pesto or cheese focaccia, and the thrill of being able to cook it yourself. Chance it, you will never regret it. Anna from Mandilli de Saea is pleased to welcome you to this part of Liguria. A great opportunity to experience the real Italian lifestyle along with a narrow coastline between Portofino and Cinque Terre.
Anna from Mandilli de Saea is pleased to welcome you to this part of Liguria, offering a characteristic old-style apartment as accommodation and leading you to experience this region through her cooking lesson, one dinner out in a local restaurant, and a guided, tailor-made excursion along the Portofino area and its gulf, with local street food and local wine tasting.
Cooking lesson
Under Anna's guidance, you will be introduced to the secrets of this simple but savory cuisine, while you prepare its typical dishes yourself. Each workshop will last between three and four hours, either in the morning or the afternoon, depending on the menu and requests. In any case, Mandili de Saea will provide a relaxed, learning experience while creating the same atmosphere as found in typical Italian homes, also using local products. Have real fun preparing Ligurian dishes such as Pansotti with hazelnut sauce, lasagne with pesto, stuffed vegetables, fish casseroles, cheese focaccia, and much more.
The cooking session involves the active participation of the participants and will conclude with a tasting session or a shared dinner, accompanied by wine. The meal will be based on the dishes prepared by Anna, the cook, and enjoyed in her cute terraced garden overlooking the gulf.
Included excursions
One full-day guided excursion is included in the price, with a focaccia and wine tasting break. The guided tour will be around the Portofino area, visiting Portofino, enjoying the aperitif on the beautiful terrace of Hotel Splendido, Santa Margherita village and its elegant seafront promenade, Zoagli village, a cute seaside village with its traditional silk factories showing their old handlooms.
Anna will be your guide, telling stories about the local history and traditions and sharing her Italian lifestyle with you. Another possibility is a morning excursion in Chiavari's medieval city center, guided by Anna, walking under the original ancient arcades, and visiting the outdoor fruit and vegetable market before the cooking class.
Instructors
Anna Minghetti
Born and educated in Milan, Anna gained there a considerable and diversified career as office assistant in sales and export departments until 1991. After a 3-year study and work stay in Dublin (Rep. of Ireland), she returned to Milan and continued her career as personal assistant at international companies until 2002. After moving to Liguria in Chiavari area, in 2003, she proudly opened her B&B, thanks to her command of English and French and her familiarity with public relations. She had to close down her B&B in 2012 but since then, she has been dealing with the promotion of the tour.
Location
This retreat is situated in the village of Cogorno, three kilometers on the hill outside the coastal town of Lavagna, east of Genoa. It overlooks the Portofino promontory and its gulf. A private car is recommended to move around the area more easily.
Distances
- The beaches, 3 kilometers
- Shops and restaurants, 4 kilometers
Features
Activities
- Cooking classes
- Golf course
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Shopping
- Swimming
- Wine tasting
General
- Dining area
- Environmentally friendly
- Garden
- Kitchen
Services
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
- Ironing / ironing board
- Wireless internet
Food
Dinner or lunch after the cooking session will be based on your cooking class. Anna's cuisine ingredients involve fresh local products, such as fresh vegetables and herbs. Street food or restaurant meals offered in this package will respect the genuineness of the local products and ingredients.
The following meals are included:
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Things to do (optional)
During this holiday you will have enough free time to sightsee, visiting one or more characteristic villages along the Gulf of Tigullio (Portofino area). Zoagli, Rapallo, Santa Margherita, and Sestri Levante are some good choices where to spend your free time. There you can enjoy a good shopping or a good ice cream break, typical restaurants, relaxation at the beach, or an easy hill walk immersed in the greenery. A great variety of outdoor sports facilities is available along the beaches and in the inland areas, like trekking, horseback riding, sailing, free climbing, etc.
Spa treatments
On request and extra payments, a small spa is available in Villa Paggi guesthouse, providing a free small gym area with spin bikes, cross trainer, and a multi-function bench, a wellness area equipped with a hammam for two, and a four-seat jacuzzi bath.
What's included
- 3 or 4 hours of cooking session
- 1 local guided tour in the area
- Wine aperitif with local wine from the Tigullio area
- 1 copy in English of the Ligurian recipes book edited by Mandilli de Saea
- Kitchen tools and apron
- Wine
- Dinner or lunch at the end of the cooking class
- 3 nights accommodation
What's not included
- Airport transfers
- Transportation or car rental
- Museum fees
- Personal expenses
- Flights
- Other meals
How to get there
Recommended Airports
Transfer not provided
Milan–Malpensa Airport
153 km away from your destination
Transfer not provided
Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport
43 km away from your destination
Transfer not provided
Linate Airport
124 km away from your destination
Transfer not provided
Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei Airport)
108 km away from your destination
Driving directions from Genoa
- From motorway A12 Genoa / La Spezia.
- Exit Lavagna.
- Continue to Cogorno.
Arrival by train
You can take a train to Lavagna train station (Genoa-La Spezzia route).
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 3 days before arrival.
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