Cooking Schools in Asolo, Venetian Countryside and Sicily

Asolo and the Venetian Countryside ...To master the art of Venetian cooking, journey to Venice's countryside and the "Pearl of the Veneto", the hilltop town of Asolo. In the ambiance of an exquisite Venetian villa, learn to prepare traditional dishes with the prestige and traditions of the Venetian nobility. During the Venetian Republic, wealth and power were built on trade monopolies that were then rare ingredients; sugar, salt, pepper, spices and coffee. The city that supplied these commodities to the rest of Europe, made wide use of them at home, establishing a cuisine rich with the contributions of the lands brought under the control of Venice. Age-old traditions, respect for the seasons and authenticity are the main ingredients used in preparing regional Venetian dishes.

In a hands-on program, learn to prepare typical dishes such as risotto with its incredible variations, risi e bisi (an historic dish created to celebrate the feast of San Marco, Venice's patron saint), bigoli co'arna (the Veneto's typical pasta), or pasta e fagoli, a hearty bean and pasta soup. There is no secret to preparing polenta, the famed golden grain that graces most main courses including baccala' alla Vicentina, perhaps the Veneto's most famous fish dish. When in season, asparagi alla Bassanese using near by Bassano del Grappa's incredibly fine white asparagus, radicchio di Treviso, the artistic and gastronomically exquisite red vegetable, and chiodini mushrooms from Montello, find themselves on the cooking school menu.

Sicilian Cuisine, the Story of an Island ...Like Sicily's architecture, its cuisine is strong evidence of the many cultures that have filtered through this island throughout history. From the Greeks and the Romans to the Arabs and the Normans, the Anjous and the Aragons and the Spanish and English, all have left their mark on Sicily's shores.

Journey to Palermo, the Sicilian capital. Learn to cook pasta in a infinite number of ways including pasta con sarde, a typical Palermo specialty, cannelloni and luscious bean and lentil soups dressed with fine pastas.

Visit the fish market and learn to choose and prepare the fresh catch of the day with a Sicilian twist using tomatoes, capers, olives and fennel. Vegetables such as eggplant are important in Sicilian cuisine. Learn to prepare dishes such as caponata and spaghetti alla Norma using this delicate ingredient. Sicily is a haven for those with a sweet tooth. Sicilian cakes and ice creams are renowned throughout Italy for their delicate blend of flavors and aromas. Cassata and cannoli alla ricotta, traditional sweets for the Feast of Santa Lucia are great to finish any meal accompanied by one of Sicily's find moscato dessert wines or marsala.