Cooking holiday in Italy

Reviewed 04 Nov 2006 by Kirsty Dennett

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

This is an amazingly tranquil and relaxing place. After a couple of days it felt as if I had been there for months. The setting is magical, with the beautiful farmhouse set in the middle of the family’s land and olive groves. The cookery lessons were great - informal tuition with Anna, a local lady and amazing cook. You cannot beat making ravioli for lunch using local ingredients with a glass of wine in your hand! And then being able to eat it outside with amazing views over the surrounding countryside. I would definitely recommend the holiday to other people and would like to return there myself when they have finished the swimming pool!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

This is definitely a holiday for people who like their food and drink - we ate three course lunches and four course dinners every day, along with plentiful supplies of wine and liqueurs. I took the advice of a previous reviewer and printed off all the recipes from the website to take with me, which was really useful to be able to add notes to after the cookery lessons. The cookery lessons are very relaxed and informal and no notes/recipes are provided during the week. The surrounding countryside is very beautiful but also hilly, so I would recommend taking some shoes that are suitable for walking. We walked from the nearby town Tolfa to the farmhouse one afternoon and the paths were cobbled with uneven terrain so more substantial footwear was required. It is an ideal holiday for the single traveller, as there are no single supplements and the nature of the holiday with group cookery lessons/trips and all guests seated together for meals, meant you got to meet and chat to lots of different people.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes, definitely. All the food and wine is home grown or sourced locally. The staff are all local people. The only part of my holiday that did not benefit local people was my flight over there.

Reviewed 10 Dec 2005 by Stacey Flor

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The food and the company! The food was outstanding, every dish memorable. Claudio and Assuntina were fabulous hosts, and Anna, our cooking teacher, highly instructive and entertaining. And the location isn't bad either!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Be prepared to eat....a lot. The excursions are very interesting, do a bit of pre-reading on the Etruscans before you go. Do NOT miss the tasting of the fresh mozzerela in Viterbo.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Definitely. All employees are locals from Tolfa, the food is mostly organic and we visited local shops and sites.

Reviewed 25 May 2005 by Renuka Soley

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The entire week was fabulous. The cooking was super as was the atmosphere, the place and the excursions. The owners were just wonderful people who did so much to make the holiday special.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

If you enjoy eating or cooking and peace and tranquility this would be ideal. Don't miss the trip to Viterbo.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

Yes- it did.

4. Any other comments?

Wonderful stories to tell my friends and memories of a place I will go back to. I would not hesitate to recommend this to anyone.