A taste of Umbria

Festive Italian Cooking, 8-day cooking workshop

Autumn 2024
October 12th – October 19th Full
November 2nd – November 9th Full
November 9th – November 16th Full
November 16th – November 23rd Full
November 23rd – November 30th Spots available

Spring 2025
March 15th – March 22nd
March 22nd – March 29th
March 29th – April 5th
April 5th – April 12th
April 12th – April 19th

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

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

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Starting price from €1.565 per person based on the number of people and room choice

A unique total experience – cooking like an Italian chef
Are you a fan of Italian cuisine and would you like to explore the secrets of Italian cooking? Then our cooking workshop week is perfect for you! Traditional Umbrian dishes are combined with authentic Italian classics. Under the guidance of our fantastic chefs, you will not only learn the basics but also the intricacies of Italian cuisine.

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 dessert.

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 Morning program
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch
16:00 – Start of cooking workshop

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
• Full board
• Cooking workshops
• Various excursions
• Tastings

Not included

• Transportation
• Beverages

Number of participants
During this cooking workshop week, we have space for 12 participants. So don’t wait any longer and reserve your spot for this unique experience now. For questions, contact events@borgocastellopanicaglia.com.

*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 arrangement. In case of cancellation, you will be informed at the latest one month before the start. However, we do our best to estimate this as early as possible and will, if available, offer the most suitable alternative.

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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. Together, you will cook a 4 or 5-course menu centered around truffles.

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 – Olive
This 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. 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 and herbs
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 – Meat
Today, we will visit a butcher. At the local butcher shop, you will get a behind-the-scenes look and learn about different types of meat, their origins, and quality. During this visit, you will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights into the butcher’s trade. We will also get hands-on and learn how to make sausages. Then we will return to the Borgo for a festive BBQ evening.

Friday – Cheese
On this final workshop day, we will visit a local cheesemaker. This passionate entrepreneur supplies many restaurants in the area, including Michelin-starred restaurants. 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. 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.

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Interested in this trip at a different time? Let us know, and we will keep you informed about the autumn dates of 2024.