APULIAN POTLUCK

Savour the authentic flavours of southern Italian cuisine in a hands-on cooking class. Guests will learn how to prepare a delicious Apulian style meal in a charmingly restored masseria.

The premises incorporate the remains of a watchtower, originally built in the 16th century together with numerous other coastal turrets. These were part of the defence line that used to run from the Gargano area in northern Puglia right down to the southernmost cape of Santa Maria di Leuca, protecting the region from the incursions of the fearsome Saracen pirates. The tower was later adapted for agricultural use and became part of a small farming and fishing village, complete with a chapel, stables and workers’ dwellings. Today this luxury country estate offers 36 rooms, a golf course, a swimming pool and a restaurant as well as a range of exciting activities for guests wishing to get to know the distinctive characteristics of this entrancing, sunny region.

Your chauffeur will meet you at your accommodation and drive you to the masseria, set among a green oasis of almond trees, carob trees and centuries-old olive groves. Here, inside an ancient cave which now serves as a culinary school, the secrets of traditional regional cookery will be revealed. Under the guidance of an expert chef, you will pick up useful tips, discover local recipes and learn how to make genuine, nutritious, mouth-watering dishes.

Ideal for both novice cooks and seasoned gourmands, this family friendly activity can be tailored to suit different ages, needs, tastes and levels of expertise. Young foodies will love picking vegetables from the farm’s garden then head for the kitchen and have fun kneading dough, topping pizza with mozzarella cheese, mushrooms and tomatoes and stuffing panzerotti with peas and meat. The adults will perfect their skills while creating a handmade pasta dish, a second course with fish or meat, and a dessert. Depending on the season and day of the week highlights might be traditional aubergine parmigiana, orecchiette pasta with turnips, rice with potatoes and mussels, cuttlefish stuffed with breadcrumbs and parsley, boiled lamb with chicory… and so much more! After the cooking lesson take a seat under a grapevine pergola, relax and feast on the enticing creations you just prepared.

Your chauffeur will pick you up in the afternoon and drive you back to your accommodation.