Maria with her students
Escorted by Gabriele
Situated on a hillside east of Assisi, nestled among olive trees and rosemary bushes, Malvarina Country Inn opens its arms to welcome both aspiring and accomplished cooks. Maria Maurillo, the effervescent owner of the Inn, teaches Umbrian homecooking to small groups of food lovers in her own kitchen.
From simple sauces to exquisite truffles, Maria delights in showing participants how to use the traditional Umbrian ingredients to prepare regional dishes with remarkable flavors. Bon Appetit (May 1997) calls Malvarina a picture- perfect property. Cooks don their aprons and begin, usually with dessert, to prepare meals which will be served to the Inn’s guests each evening. This is not just practice, Maria will remind you. Cooking classes afford time for good conversation, plenty of wine and time to enjoy La Dolce Vita.
The Inn dates from the Middle Ages. The name Malvarina derives from a strip of land once part of a castle complex. The estate has been tastefully restored by the owners; each room is furnished with antiques from the area.
Maria and her family live on the property and take pride in maintaining it including its impeccably groomed grounds. Hospitality is a family affair. Maria’s son Claudio, his wife Patrizia, and their children enjoy making guests feel like part of the family.
In addition to the cooking classes which are held in the late afternoon, this tour includes field trips to the quiet and gentle hill towns of Umbria. Here beautiful works of art, harmonious architecture and views of a breathtaking and mystical landscape are just part of the experience.
Cooking with Maria – Typical Itinerary
Day 1 – Morning arrival in Italy, transfer to Malvarina, then time to relax before a welcome social gathering, with locally produced wines served. Dinner at 8:00 PM.
Day 2 – Visit two jewels on the medieval Umbrian crown: Spello, noted for its intact urban layout and remarkable frescoes by Pinturicchio master of the Renaissance and Bevagna, known for its elegant piazza and Roman mosaics. While in Bevagna there will be the opportunity to taste the celebrated Sagrantino wines from this area. Return to Malvarina for dinner.
Day 3 – After breakfast travel to Gubbio. This beautiful hill town is one of the oldest cities in Italy, even older than Rome. Palazzo dei Consoli is one of the most elegant and perfectly preserved Renaissance buildings in Europe. Gubbio is also famous for Bucchero, a pottery-making technique known since Etruscan time. Cooking class, then dinner.
Day 4 – Grocery shopping session, in the morning, with Maria. Experience and see how Italian housewives do their morning “spesa”. Next visit Foligno to admire it’s 13th-century Palazzo Trinci. An olive-oil tasting at Il Molino del Fattore will follow. At a local bakery and pastry shop there will be the opportunity to observe traditional bread baking over a wood burning stove. Return to Malvarina for a cooking class which will cover homemade pasta making, including Tagliatelle, Fettuccine and Lasagna. Cooking class, then dinner.
Day 5 – In the morning we travel to Torgiano to visit the famous Wine Museum and enjoy a wine tasting. From here travel to Perugia for a walking tour of the underground fortress and other highlights of the city. Perugia is a cosmopolitan city with good shopping opportunities. Participants will have ample time to shop and enjoy La Dolce Vita (the relaxed pleasures of the Italian lifestyle) prominent in Perugia. Return to Malvarina for dinner.
Day 6 – Morning excursion to Assisi for a guided tour of St. Francis Basilica and walking tour of the city. A scheduled stop at a local specialized butcher shop will include a salami tasting. Return to Malvarina where an experienced huntsman and dog trainer will be present to demonstrate the art of truffle hunting. Cooking class, then dinner.
Day 7 – Morning excursion to Bastia Umbra for shopping at the weekly outdoor market. For those interested in a substantial snack, this is a great place to purchase the Panino con Porchetta (roasted suckling pig in a freshly baked bun) — definitely a gastronomic treat! Continue on to Deruta, famous for its pottery. At a ceramic factory participants can observe “ceramisti” molding the clay. Return to Malvarina for the last cooking session. Dinner and graduation ceremony will end the day.
Day 8 – End of tour and departure for your next destination.
Gabriele’s Travels to Italy continually strives to improve tour itinerary and features. If improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary itinerary excursions and to substitute hotels and restaurants. Final documents and paperwork, sent out about three weeks prior to departure date, will include an updated itinerary.
Umbria famous cured pork meats
PACKAGE INCLUDES:
• 7 nights accommodations at Malvarina Country Inn
• Breakfast and dinner daily
• 4 cooking classes
• Wine tastings
• Field trips
• Olive oil tasting
• Observe traditional bread baking over a wood fire
• Sightseeing in major Umbrian hill towns
• Farewell dinner celebration
• Transportation throughout the tour as per itinerary
• Airport transfer on arrival and departure*
• Bilingual tour manager/guide
• All local taxes and charges
∗ Transfers to and from the airports provided by Gabriele’s Travels to Italy at a pre-announced time. Arrangements can be made for participants whose arrival and departure cannot be worked out into this schedule. An additional charge will result for individual transfers.
2010 Departures June 19
and September 25
PACKAGE PRICE: €2298, per person, based on double occupancy. Single room €2380.
This program is available as 4-day program. Package includes:
• 3 cooking sessions
• 3 nights accommodations
• Recipe book and apron
• Dinner
• Wine and olive oil tasting
• Classes last for about 2 1/2-3 hours, starting at 5:00PM Monday-Friday
PACKAGE PRICE: €680, per person, based on double occupancy. Single room €750.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CALL:
1-888/287-8733
or email:
info@travelingtoitaly.com
Tour booking code GT01
