Cooking In Calabria’s Tropea™

Join Mamma AnnaMaria, Signor Giuseppe and their sons Chef Tony and Fabrizio in Capo Vaticano – just minutes from Tropea for a splendid week of Calabrese cooking.  Welcome to their beautiful resort for extraordinary cooking and wine tasting tours in Calabria.

You’ll learn about Calabrese cooking and wine while discovering farm-to-table ingredients from sunny Calabria. The family welcomes you with their food, music and traditions, while Chef Tony leads you in hands-on cooking classes, and Fabrizio takes care of every excursion and request from check in to departure.  From your Chef’s welcome dinner, including music and dancing, to the food and wine tours, our gourmet holidays in Calabria are simply delicious!

Calabria

“…nothing breaks the stillness save the rhythmic breathing of the waves, and a solitary cricket that has yet to finish his daily task of instrumental music, far away, in some warm crevice of the hills.” Norman Douglas, Old Calabria

Luckily for us, many of the wonderful qualities of Calabria that delighted writer Norman Douglas back in 1915 are still there to be enjoyed by visitors today.  The list is long:  enviable climate, beautiful beaches, evergreen countryside, hillside villages, Norman churches, and Greek ruins reminding us of Calabria’s eclectic past. Add to that, the fact that Calabria is far from the tourist track making it utterly irresistible to travellers who wish to discover an untouched and uncrowded region.

You will visit Tropea the land of the red onion, and historic villages along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Discover the cipolle di Tropea, the sweet red onions that have made the village so famous. As you browse through local produce markets, be sure to purchase the delicious chilli peppers jarred in olive oil and stuffed with capers. Chilli peppers add a unique flavor to nduja, Calabria’s famous pork pâté with minced chilli peppers.

During your stay, you will travel with your English speaking guide to Tropea for a fun-filled cultural visit that takes you to beaches and landmarks.  Discover the beauty and taste new foods, while exploring a city that is steeped in tradition.  There is a tranquility here as you tour some of the most beautiful beaches the region has to offer. Nicknamed Costa Degli Dei – Coast of the Gods – this peaceful town features white granite cliffs giving way to sparkling blue waters for a dramatic display of natural beauty.  Often, capers grow wild in coastal areas such as these, and are much used in local Calabrian cuisine.

You’ll explore the ancient fishing village of Scilla, where seventeenth -century buildings still stand on cliffs casting their gaze across the sea toward Sicily. In Calabria, local culinary fare focuses on freshly caught swordfish, tuna, and a regional fish called spatola, silver scabbard fish – all of which are still caught using techniques that are hundreds of years old. Stay for the day, enjoy lunch.  We will take you to the most famous restaurant in Scilla, where you can chose from a local menu featuring delicious daily specials.  (Lunch not included).

Calabria Cooking Classes

Tie on your apron and let’s get cooking with Chef Tony where he turns seasonal and local ingredients into delicious lunches and dinners. You will prepare Calabrese pastas and sauces, main courses, and desserts with a toast of local wine included. You’ll be slicing, dicing while learning cooking secrets and Calabrese recipes. His cooking style incorporates the region’s most prized ingredients, which are showcased in every recipe he makes. While you are cooking, you will also learn about traditional foods and family recipes in your gourmet holiday in Calabria.  If you like to cook, you can always add on additional cooking classes.

Calabrian Cuisine

Calabria’s cuisine reflects its history, the meeting of past and present represented by the region’s typical products: red onions from Tropea, chili peppers, red potatoes and porcini mushrooms from the Sila plateaux and clementines from Corigliano.  A region ever-rich in produce, there is also bergamot from the Reggio Calabria area, and citrons from the Riviera dei Cedri.  Liquorice from Rossano grows abundantly, as do olives from the Piana di Gioia.

Calabria is known for its hot salami, the most famous the rustic nduja, a creamy pâté that is really hot and extremely delicious, pecorino cheese and the famous its BBQ . Fish is also popular with sword fish, coming from Reggio Calabria, and  felucca, and lustro, local fish are prepared with fresh herbs and spices from the region.

Calabria Accommodations

The family welcomes you to their property in Capo Vaticano with modern comfortable rooms and maid service each and every day.  Daily breakfast is included and served every morning.  Enjoy warm croissants, fresh milk, coffee, tea, homemade pastries, fresh fruit, shortbread biscuits, cereals, muesli, yogurt, juices, artisan breads with butter, homemade jams, organic honey, chocolate mouse, and Calabrian salami and cheese.  Every room is super clean, bright and airy with comfortable beds and linens.  Air conditioning and ensuite bathrooms including hair driers which make your stay as comfy as possible.  The property has a gorgeous swimming pool.  It is also very close to the surrounding villages and historic town of Tropea, along with beaches, caffés and shopping just minutes away.  And if you happen to be there on August 13, you will also experience the celebration of the famous Tropea onion.  See and enjoy the prized red onions that are showcased in every marketplace and restaurant.  There is even a prize for the best one!

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Itinerary 6 days, 5 nights

Day 1:  Welcome Aperitivo & Chef’s Welcome Dinner

• Arrival and transfer to your property.
• Check in relax.
• Welcome aperitivo and overview of the cooking program.
• A special Calabrian welcome dinner featuring a full course Chef’s tasting menu with folkloric music and dancing is included.

Day 2:  Guided Tour to  Tropea & Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast you will discover Tropea with our English-speaking guide.
• Return to the property after the tour.
• In the afternoon, tie on your apron for your cooking class.  You will learn how to make a homemade Calabrian pasta, a main course and dessert.  Everyone dines together on the foods prepared in the cooking class and wine is included.

Day 3:  Tour to Scilla

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, meet your driver for a tour to Scilla, the ancient sea town.  Take time out for a delicious lunch.  (Lunch not included).
• Return to property.  Relax by the swimming pool or stroll the property.
• A full course dinner is included featuring Calabrian fare with a toast of wine included.

Day 4:  Guided Tour to Capo Vaticano

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, meet your driver for a tour to Capo Vaticano.
• Following the tour, return to the property.
• Take the afternoon to explore the area on our own, relax by the swimming pool, enjoy local shopping or soak up the sun.
• Dinner is on your own.

Day 5:  Cooking Class 2 and Farewell Dinner

• Breakfast is served.
• In the afternoon, tie on your apron for cooking class.  You will learn how to make a homemade Calabrian pasta, a main course and dessert.
• Farewell dinner featuring a Chef’s tasting menu with local wine included.

Day 6: Arrivederci Calabria

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out and transfer to airport or train station.  Arrivederci e a presto!