THE CULINARY ARTS

3-7 Day Program Modules - Minimum 8 participants

The Colli Orientali of Fruili Venezia - Giulia The Chianti Hillsides of Tuscany

The Colli Orientali of Fruili Venezia-Giulia ...Learn the secrets behind the regional cuisine of Fruili Venezia-Giulia in the ambiance of a 13th century castle set on a vineyard estate of 60 hectares and situated in the prestigious "Collio" wine region east of Venice. Concentration is on the wines and typical products of the area and their use in food preparation while learning the historic uses of these products and their applications in today's cuisine.

A hands-on program, allows you to surprise your guests with dishes such as frico, an impressive regional appetizer prepared with local Montasio cheese or tortellini al prosciutto di San Daniele prepared with sweeter version of Parma prosciutto.

Even if you are not a baker, you will undoubtedly impress anyone who comes for tea with a homemade gubana, Cividale's original sweet that hits its peak when topped with a few drops of local grappa.

The Chianti Hillsides of Tuscany ...Tuscany is renowned for its exquisite wines and simple cuisine exalted to its pinnacle through the use of typical Tuscan herbs like salvia and rosmarino, its prized porcini mushrooms, and above all, Tuscan gold, the precious olive oil that is drizzled onto every dish of culinary value .

A true Tuscan culinary experience takes you not only into the kitchen, but also to the local marketplace. With the help of an expert chef, learn to select cuts of meat and poultry, determine the freshness of fish and vegetables and put into practice the Italian philosophy of using only seasonal ingredients to insure the optimum quality of the end results.

In a hands-on program, become enlightened on Tuscan wines, traditional dishes and historic facts such as why Tuscan bread has no salt. Prepare dishes such as spedini Toscani using fresh rosemary and sage from the orto (vegetable garden), ribollita, a hearty vegetable soup laced with typical cannellini beans and Tuscany's famous bruschetta, the perfect combination of fruity Tuscan olive oil, red vine-ripened tomatoes and fragrant basil. Cantucci, the twice-cooked biscotti typical of Tuscany will become one of your favorites. Especially when dipped in Tuscany's fabulous dessert wine, vin santo.