TASTE the BEST OF ITALY with the LOCAL EXPERTS

11 to “7 Day Cooking and Wine Tour”

1. 

   Nancy says:

   January 5, 2011 at 3:44 am

   7 day culinary and wine tour in Puglia
   I attened a 7 day cooking & wine tour at Stile Mediterraneo the last week of October 2010. I can’t think of a better vacation or a better way to get to know the culture of an area. Cinzia and Marika were wonderful hostesses, the cooking classes were amazing. Learning the Pulia style of cooking was a treat, all the food was delicious and Cinzia and Marika made learning to cook simple and fun. Both Cinzia and Marike make you feel like old friends, they are smart, warm and very fun. Besides the cooking classes, Cinzia helped us plan excursions to learn more about the area and her ability to share the history and culture of the area without sounding like a history lecturer was quite astounding. Our personal tours of a winery and an olive orchard were experiences not to be missed. I can’t recommend Stile Mediterraneo more. Our last night eating the wonderful food we prepared, in their beautiful kitchen, listening to Pavarotti still feels like a dream. I can’t wait to go back and learn more!
2. 

   Hasli St Simon Georgia says:

   September 18, 2010 at 9:51 pm

   “Great food and fabulous wines”
   In June I had the pleasure of going to Puglia – a beautiful, unspoiled region of Italy, Puglia! What a great discovery! Fabulous wines to consume and olive groves as far as the eye can see, yet “wired” with all the modern conveniences.

   When my friends invited me to join them for a cooking class in the Puglia region I was hesitant to accept, because I was not familiar with that part of Italy and my bias was toward Tuscany and it’s cuisine.

   When I arrived in Squinzano, I did not know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised. It is the home of Stile Mediterraneo, the cooking school I attended. A real treasure! I met Cinzia and Marika Rascazzo the sisters running the cooking classes and exposing the participants to authentic cuisine. The sisters are a joy, each of them adding a personal touch to the teaching and our experience. Each is charming in their own way, highly educated and speaks English as if it were their native tongue.

   Marika, a practicing cardiologist, gives the experience an added touch with health information while Cinzia, who returned to Puglia after a Harvard MBA, pours out her knowledge of wines, olive oils and more. We felt privileged to spend time with them. They have a passion for food, especially food from their home region. The pride they have in their culture radiated through out our stay.

   I enjoyed learning new recipes exploring new techniques and drinking good wines. Cinzia and Marika were very well prepared thorough patient and importantly the recipes were easy to follow. Learning and doing was fun but the best was eating the “art work” we created. The meals are balanced, delicious and varied. We made things like “sweet and sour peppers”, Agnolotti pasta, a half moon shaped stuffed ravioli. Years ago I had sworn I would not make any fresh pasta ever again, but this was so easy and so much fun it was worth the extra effort. The “lamb with fresh peas and pancheta” was also a real hit. I have since served it to my guests here at home. Fun to practice what you learn and receive the side benefits of so many compliments.

   The class was small, just three students making it a comfortable, personal, fun and pleasant experience. They told family stories and on the last day shared a very special family recipe for “Torta di Mandorle” an old recipe their great grand mother created and only shared with the grand daughters. We felt quite special and the entire meal was extraordinary.

   The visit to Puglia was a fabulous experience and I hope to return next year, in October, when Cinzia will guide a special cooking and wine tour to a castle in Puglia, visits local producers and markets and expose participants to the richness of the Puglia region.
   Read the full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
3. 

   AusTexMary says:

   January 26, 2010 at 9:57 pm

   “Charming, informative, and joyful.”
   If you are interested in Italian cooking classes or would like expert assistance with winery or olive oil tours, Stile Mediterraneo provides a wonderful opportunity away from the buzz of the typical tourist regions. Cinzia and Merika balance first-rate instruction with a laid-back style to create an ideal learning experience. I particularly appreciated their emphasis favoring the highest quality ingredients prepared in a healthful manner which enhance flavors and emphasize nutrition. Oh, it’s an added bonus that they make you feel welcome in their kitchen and also speak fluent English. As a solo traveler, I could not have been made to feel more welcome.
   Read the full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
4. 

   RosesCity09 says:

   December 1, 2009 at 10:00 pm

   “The special, local connection you hope to have in Italy…”
   Wonderful learning opportunity, diverse activities, gracious hosts/teachers and terrific food, wine, company! Great recipes to bring home and share with friends/family (see pictures).
   Read the full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
5. 

   Terry0512 says:

   November 23, 2009 at 10:06 pm

   “Time of my life.”
   My husband and I love cooking and as I had always wanted to go to Italy we decided to combine our love for cooking with a trip to Italy. I have to admit he did all of the research and because all of the reviews highly recommended Stile Mediterraneo we spent a week with Cinzia and Marika Rascazzo. I had the time of my life. There enthusiasm, passion, warmth and generosity in sharing their love for Puglia, their culture, cooking, and knowledge was amazing. I could not have asked for a better time. We watched mozzarella freshly made, we toured olive groves and tasted olive oil, the vineyards and wine tasting were breathtaking; I couldn’t say which was my favorite. I also felt we made friends for life; Cinzia and Marika made us feel like we were home. Although the last night was sad; we learned a new card game – Scopa! I have to tell them I have been practicing and am quite good now so look out. We can’t wait to come back, but better yet we hope they come to Chicago and teach a class at our house.
   Read the full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
6. 

   LondonLes says:

   November 8, 2009 at 10:00 pm

   “Authentic, Fun, Food-filled Holiday in Puglia”
   The best part of this trip was Cinzia and Marika – the sisters who run the course. They attend to every need, and answer every question you could have about food in Southern Italy, and take you behind the scenes for authentic food experience.

   We watched mozzarella being made and sampled it right there, went to an olive grove and taste-tested olive oil, went to a fantastic market and sampled the produce – everywhere we went Cinzia made sure we had a fabulous experience.

   Making our dinner every night was so much fun, and so satisfying.

   The only thing I didn’t like was the weather – we had freakishly cold weather – but that couldn’t be helped!

   Bring an extra suitcase and pack light – you’ll want all your baggage allowance to take home the amazing wines, olive oils and other foods you’ll sample.
   Read the full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
7. 

   KMLG Providence RI says:

   November 1, 2009 at 10:01 pm

   “Passionate experts, true regional Italian cooking.”
   I am a huge foodie and cooking school in Italy has always been a life long dream. This experience was everything I was looking for. Cinzia and Marika could not be more passionate experts; it really is the best of Sothern Italy. They welcome you into there home and share their treasured family recipes. We got an insider look at cheese making and olive oil production that you could never have experienced without their connections and passion. I will never taste olive oil the same way again. The concept of local was redefined to me as we learned about what “local” means to them. I can’t wait to go back to learn more from two of the most knowledgeable foodie sisters ever.
   Read full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
8. 

   Rosieozie says:

   October 28, 2009 at 10:31 pm

   “Culinary Adventure Not to be Missed!”
   My quest for a culinary adventure in Puglia led me to Stile Mediterraneo and I couldn’t have been more pleased. The owners of the school, Cinzia and Marika Rascazzo are accomplished women who are on a mission to share the story of Pugliese life with those who seek an experience beyond that of the typical tourist. What better way to do that than in the kitchen.
   The concept of La Povera Cucina is hardly applicable to dishes prepared under the direction of Cinzia and Marika. Of course the food is local, utterly fresh and of the best quality, but the technique of taking such simple ingredients and turning out beautiful, healthful and delicious dishes comes from the heritage of people who love their homeland – yes Italy, but more than that, Puglia! These knowledgeable women infuse culinary instruction with the science of nutrition and food processing – especially of olive oil and wine. Marika is a cardiologist and Cinzia is a wine sommelier and olive oil taster. They are also artisans who care deeply about the joy of preparing and sharing beautiful food. The heritage of Pugliese life is everywhere in evidence, in their respect for tradition and in the belief that generations of women prepared food in a certain way and in a certain order to provide their families with meals that were at once nutritious and satisfying.
   My husband did not take the classes but he joined us for meals and wine tours, and for the camaraderie that developed among our group. The warmth with which he was received and made a part of the whole experience was a delight for us both, for I worried that my zeal for taking the classes would be self indulgent and exclusionary. It wasn’t at all.
   Cinzia and Marika are the most marvelous women. They are warm and genuine, articulate and funny. I feel that I’ve made new friends for life, and what better outcome from a vacation could there be. And besides, I now make fabulous orechiette!
   Read full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
9. 

   LeonardoJ says:

   October 14, 2009 at 10:53 pm

   “The most fun time we’ve had in Italy!”
   My wife and I had the most incredible time learning to cook (and eat!!) authentic local foods. They arranged private winery tours that were insightful and entertaining! Their B&B is exquisite but, most importantly, Cinzia & Marika are absolutely delightful! They are professionals but they are fun and patient and have seen the world .. and worked hard to help us understand their own world in this part of Italia! They are beautiful people inside and out and have become our friends. We cannot wait for our next visit!
   Read full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
10. 

    ABC_NZealand says:

    July 4, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    “Cooking, learning, exploring, new friends!”
    I recently spent a week in Puglia and was pleasantly surprised that it rated as one of my best holidays. I have travelled extensively, usually off the beaten track. We stayed in amazing accommodation, a 13th century tower with our own turret. We had 5 days with Cinzia and Marika doing all sorts of fun things ranging from superb trips to Gallipoli and Leece; fabulous artisan visits and of course time in the kitchen. This was a happy place, we learned huge amounts about local produce, wines and olive oils. Cinzia is a wealth of knowledge and eager to share all she knows. The sisters were so much fun and put up with 5 New Zealanders trying to sing Italian opera while rolling pasta!! The whole experience was a pleasure, I loved sitting down to eat our creations and sharing stories and much hilarity and laughter with Cinzia and Marika. Our group will definitely be going back for more and have even starting making pasta in NZ. The whole package that CInzia sorts out (accommodation/cooking/local attractions/artisan visits) can not be faulted. I urge anyone thinking of going to Pulgia to get in touch with Stile Mediterraneo.
    Read full reviews on TRIPADVISOR
11. 

    Judith075 says:

    April 15, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    “A Week in Puglia”
    If you’re looking for a vacation ” far from the madding crowd”, ( but not too far ! ) try Stile Mediterraneo. They organize a perfect experience that includes a balance of cooking classes, sightseeing, and eating in restaurants best known to the locals. I was met at the Brindisi Airport by Cinzia, who along with her sister, Marika, would be my hostesses for the week. After a short drive, we arrived in Squinzano. Their charming bed and breakfast would be our cooking school , hotel, and home base from which we would make our visits to historical sites, markets, and olive oil factories, to name a few of the fascinating destinations,

    I was made to feel welcome immediately by their graciousness. The cooking classes were expertly organized and taught. Recipes were given with clear instructions, so the delicious Puglian dishes could continue to be enjoyed in one’s own kitchen when the vacation was over. I have taken many trips that included culinary emphases, and I found the techniques taught here to be of the highest level of usefulness and practcality.

    Being a lover of the sea ( and seafood ! ), I found the excursion to Gallipoli to be one of the highlights of my stay.The beauty and the history of the region are reasons enough for going there. But seeing the local fishermen bring in their catch, and then having it prepared in a local restaurant was a seafood lover’s dream. It would be difficult to choose my favorite meal in Puglia, but the freshness and expert preparation of the seafood in Gallipoli would have to be at the top. Appetizers included octopus, fried mussels,octopus balls, swordfish and tuna, There was a lovely white house wine. My main course was shellfish with zucchini and parpadelle.All were delicious. (I must add that despite my addiction to seafood, all of the pasta and vegetarian dishes that I sampled in Puglia were equally wonderful. ) A day at the beach with perfect weather was also on the agenda.

    The last evening in Puglia was spent in the Baroque city of Lecce, an architectural jewel. Day or night, it is truly beautiful.That evening, we enjoyed a delicious pizza with a great local wine. What a great way to end a perfect vacation !
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