A taste of Umbria

8-day cooking workshop

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Starting price from €1.530 per person based on a triple room

A unique total experience – cooking like an Italian chef
Are you a home chef eager to uncover the secrets of Italian cuisine? Then our cooking workshop week is perfect for you! Our lessons are ideal for hobby cooks with some experience: not only will you learn the basics, but also the finer details of Italian cooking. Traditional Umbrian dishes are given a modern twist, and under the guidance of our fantastic chefs, you’ll take your culinary skills to the next level.

Program
The program of your 8-day cooking vacation (from Saturday to Saturday) is outlined in general terms as follows: You will stay at the beautiful Italian Borgo Castello Panicaglia in Umbria, near Assisi. The arrival day is dedicated to getting acquainted with each other, followed by a welcome dinner in the evening. Then six days of cooking classes, excursions, and in-depth information will follow. Each day will focus on a specific theme, from wine to truffles, from meat to desserts.

Workshops + excursions + tastings + meals = enjoyment!
The cooking workshops will be interspersed with visits to local wineries, meat farms, cheese farms, and olive oil farms in the vicinity. In addition, there will be tastings at authentic family-owned businesses, shopping at local markets, and enjoying meals in very special locations. Every afternoon, we will cook dinner together in four groups, under the guidance of our Italian chefs. The cooking classes will be conducted in English, so there is no need to learn Italian beforehand.

Structure of the weekly program
09:00 – 10:00 breakfast buffet
09:30 – 11:30 excursion
13:00 – 14:00 lunch
16:00 – 18:00 cooking workshop
19:00 – 21:00 dinner

Transportation
You can choose to fly to Perugia, Ancona, Rome Fiumicino, Florence, or Pisa. From the airport, you can rent a car to travel to the Borgo. During the week, you will need a car for the excursions. Alternatively, you can also travel to the Borgo by car from your home. This has the advantage of easily being able to bring your favorite local products back home. We offer the opportunity to get in touch with other participants in advance, so you can travel together if you prefer.

Included

• Seven nights
• Seven breakfasts
• Five lunches
• Seven dinners
• Cooking workshops
• Various excursions
• Tastings

Not included

• Transportation
• Beverages

Number of participants
During this cooking workshop week, we have space for 12 participants.* Don’t wait too long—reserve your spot now for this unique experience.

Allergies and dietary requirements
We are happy to accommodate allergies and dietary preferences where possible, but we cannot fulfill all specific requests. Do you have an allergy or a special dietary requirement? Please contact us in advance at events@borgocastellopanicaglia.com so we can discuss the possibilities.

*The minimum number of participants for A Taste of Umbria is 6 people. If this number is not reached, Borgo Castello Panicaglia reserves the right to cancel the package. In case of cancellation, you will be informed at least one month in advance. However, we will do our best to assess this as early as possible and, if available, offer a suitable alternative.

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Availability

Spring 2025
March 15th – March 22nd Full
March 22nd – March 29th Last spots available
March 29th – April 5th Last spots available
April 5th – April 12th Full
April 12th – April 19th Last spot available

Autumn 2025
October 25th – November 1st Full
November 1st – November 8th Full
November 8th – November 15th Full
November 15th – November 22nd Spots available
November 22nd – November 29th Spots available

Spring 2026
March 14th – March 21st Spots available
March 21st – March 28th Spots available
March 28th – April 4th Spots available
April 4th – April 11th Spots available
April 11th – April 18th Last spot available

Ask us about the updated availability.
Interested in this trip at another time? Let us know.

 

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Detailed program

Saturday
You can check in at the Borgo from 15:00 onwards and there will be time to settle in your room. At 17:00, we invite you to an aperitivo della casa, where you will meet the other participants while enjoying Italian delicacies. Afterward, you will meet the chef and receive a tour of the Borgo, the vegetable and herb garden, and, of course, the kitchen. Then it’s time to enjoy the chef’s culinary skills for dinner before you get to work yourself.

Sunday – Truffle
Start the day with a hearty breakfast buffet. Then we will go truffle hunting with the truffle dogs to find the most delicious truffles. The found truffles will be taken to the kitchen, where our chef will prepare a delicious truffle lunch. After lunch, there will be time to recharge before diving into the kitchen for the first cooking workshop. In the evening, you will enjoy a 4 course menu.

Monday – Wine
After breakfast, we will visit a winery where you will get a behind-the-scenes look at an authentic and biodynamic winery. Learn about the biodiversity of the vineyard and taste the delicious wines and local products during the tasting. After this interesting day, we will return to the Borgo to further expand your knowledge and skills during the cooking workshop.

Tuesday – Cheese
On this day, we will visit a local cheesemaker. This passionate entrepreneur supplies many restaurants in the area. We will take a tour of the goat farm where you will experience all the steps of the cheesemaking process. Then it’s time to get your hands dirty and master the art of cheesemaking. Afterward, you will sit down for a delightful cheese tasting and other delicacies. Then we will return to the Borgo, where we will take a short break before diving into the choice for dinner.

Wednesday – Bread/Pizza dough
Today, you will learn the art of making bread and pizza dough. After breakfast, we will start the preparations for dinner, which includes making pizza dough. Discover the ideal proofing time and proportions of the dough. Additionally, learn how to make deliciously fluffy bread dough. After this workshop, we will go out with our naturalist Zohra to search for fresh herbs, edible flowers, or even mushrooms in the area. This evening will be a pizza night, where the tastiest combinations will be conjured up from the stone oven.

Thursday – Grains
Today, a visit to an organic grain farmer is on the agenda. At this local farm, we will get a behind-the-scenes look at the grain farming process and learn about different types of grains, their origins, and quality. During this visit, you’ll have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into this craft. We’ll also discover the products that are produced here. After tasting these products and a delicious lunch, we’ll return to the Borgo for a cooking workshop.

Friday – Olive
This last day focuses on olive oil. After a delightful breakfast, you will visit a local olive oil farm, where you will have the opportunity to learn more about the production process and the art of making extra virgin olive oil. After the tour, we will enjoy a delicious picnic among the olive groves and taste the first press of the olive oil. Tonight, we will enter the kitchen one last time for the final cooking workshop and conclude with a shared dinner.

Saturday
On Saturday, we will have one last breakfast together, and then you will head home to surprise your loved ones with your newfound culinary skills.