Sicilian Olives™

Sicilian Chef, Natalia, welcomes you to her kitchen for hands-on cooking in the heart of Sicily between Marsala and Palermo.  Known for her award-winning olive oil, she will lead you through hands-on classes featuring old world Sicilian recipes.  You will learn how to prepare local season foods using her property’s Sicily’s Virgin first-pressed olive oil, a staple in the healthy Mediterranean diet. Cooking and eating in Sicily is always a family affair, so join in and share the fun in a family atmosphere with Chef Natalia.

Sicily is described as, Del sole e mare, of sun and sea, and Sicilian cuisine is based on this philosophy.  It blends the cooking styles of Roman, Arab and Greek spices with the Spanish and French influences that take sweet and sour to new meaning.  Sicily’s rich history was once home to a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate, and a Norman kingdom has been under Italian rule for only that last 300 years.  And so the cooking reflects the influence of Arab, Greek, Spanish and French.  Chef Natalia, teaches you hands-on Sicilian cooking while spicing it up with a little bit of Sicily’s historic past.

Join Chef Natalia at her family villa estate and olive grove, and walk under olive groves, vineyards and beautiful farm land while learning about Sicilian food, the Mediterranean diet and extra virgin olive oil.

Sicilian Cooking

Olive oil is synonymous with healthy Mediterranean food, from cooking meat and fish, to serving raw to season vegetables, salads and pasta. Natalie’s Sicilian cooking classes give you the opportunity to learn how extra virgin olive oil can become a part of your healthy diet. Each recipe can easily be made at home in the comfort of your own kitchen too.

While in the kitchen, learn about the wonders of extra virgin olive oil and how it plays a big role in daily Sicilian cuisine. All classes are held in English in the villa’s country kitchen providing an informal atmosphere for learning and tasting. Learn Sicilian family recipes with Natalie while expanding your food knowledge too.  Following your cooking class, enjoy the foods that were made in class on the Villa’s summer dinning patio.

Sicily

Sicily has a fiery passion about it, a vivacity and spirit that extends from the top of Mount Etna, to the waters that surround the island, to the hearts of its people. Sicily is the melting pot of the world, a great marriage of civilizations and cultures, since it was first inhabited. The island is Asia, Africa, and Europe melded into one spectacular place; it was once home to a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate, and a Norman kingdom. Each group left behind traces that weave into a rich tapestry of timeless beauty and eclectic history. Sicily is all at once complex and simple, a land like no other; a world and entity unto itself. Orange and lemon orchards color lush forests, vineyards and ancient olive groves line the rugged lands, and almond orchards and wheat fields embellish the rolling hills.

The Sicilian cuisine is often described as ‘del sole e mare,’ ‘of sun and sea,’ and it’s something of a magical symphony, combining elements of Arab and Greek spices with Spanish and French influences, making it the world’s tastiest seafood. The people of Sicily are genuine, passionate and friendly. They are always willing to help or stop to have a conversation, and it is not uncommon for visitors and tourists to receive invitations to a local’s house for dinner. All who encounter Sicily and all her charm, diversity, and beauty are always reluctant to leave.

Accommodations

The villa is located on a Sicilian estate in western Sicily, not far from Marsala, famous for its namesake wine, and Palermo, one of Sicily’s major cities. For those interested in Sicily’s archeological wealth, the Villa is also close to the archeological sites of Selinute, Mozia, Segesta and Agrigento. The Villa provides a quiet and convenient setting for day trips to visit your surroundings.

Stay with Natalia in this Sicilian summer paradise, and experience a fine example of Sicilian neo-classical architecture with frescoed ceilings in the enclosed courtyard. The stables of this ancient estate have been converted into guest rooms with all modern amenities. Each room has an en suite bathroom with shower and is fitted with hairdryer and air conditioning. Each room also opens onto its own patio courtyard facing the portico of the main building.

Itinerary~ 3 days, 2 nights

This program is available 12 months per year. You can check in and start your program on any day of the week.

Day 1: Arrival & Check-In

• Arrival and check in at the Villa.
• Relax and explore into your new surroundings. Enjoy a Welcome Aperitivo with your hosts and introduction to your program.
• Dinner is free and on your own.

Day 2: Olive Oil Tour & Cooking Class

• Breakfast is served.
• Head out with your host for a morning Olive Oil Tour to see the farm where the olives are grown and how they are harvested. Sample a selection of olive oils, all extra-virgin of course and taste the differences in the acidity and flavor of the different types of oil.
• Olive oil tasting and light snacks included.
• Then it’s off to the kitchen for your Cooking Class to learn the techniques hands-on of using extra virgin olive oil to make delicious and healthy Sicilian dishes. From appetizers to dessert. Sauté eggplant in olive oil to make the traditional pasta alla siciliana with eggplant and mozzarella, or use the olive oil as a marinade for tuna, sardines, or another fresh catch of the day. Sicily boasts wonderful desserts from the infamous cannolo siciliano, ricotta-cream filled shells with candied lemon and orange peal, or the cassata, a yellow cake with ricotta cream that is said to be the ancestor of today’s cheesecake. Menu varies based on seasonal, organic ingredients.
• Dinner follows on the foods prepared in class, along with local wine to celebrate your creations Bacchus-style.

Day 3: Departure & Arrivederci!

• Breakfast is served.
• Morning checkout and departure.
• Say ciao and a presto to Natalia, until the next time in Sicily!