Kristina

Has anyone taken a cooking class in Sicily? Stayed in any Agritourismo locations? If so, can you give me any recommendations and/or info on prices?

Thanks!

Elizabeth_S

Hi Kristina - Gangivecchio is an agriturismo located in the interior (near Enna, sort of) that offers week long cooking courses in the Spring. The chefs/owners (mother/daughter) are quite well known, particularly in English speaking areas as their cookbook won the James Beard award a few years ago.

We stayed there this past Fall - the restaurant is located in a 16th century abbey and there is a 10 room BnB in the old stables (10 years old so all new and very comfortable) The main restaurant is run by the mother/daughter and the other restaurant is for guests of the BnB. As I recall we paid 120 Euro/night for room and breakfast and dinner (not including wine) and lunch at the main restaurant was 26 Euro/each.

Here's their web site (although it's a little thin on information - I suggest you e-mail for more info - you'll have no problem corresponding in English):

http://www.gangivecchio.it/eng/eng.htm

Kristina

Thanks for the info.

I should have been more specific...I'm lokking for single day cooking classes.

Anyone else?

Thanks!

Kristina

to the top.

cmt

For cooking classes, try Eleonora Consoli near Catania. I don't know how you can contact her, but maybe you can track her down via a the internet. She's very good, very nice, speaks English well, and gives everything from half-day classes to long-term courses for people who stay in part of her pleasant guest house.

I have stayed in two agriturismo places. One was very inexpensive and very rustic with no frills (very little hot water, shared bath) and definitely not for everyone, but I've stayed there twice and really enjoy it. It's in the Nebrodi Mountains in the province of Palermo, and I stayed there because it's just on the outskirts of the town of San Salvatore di Fitalia that I wanted to visit. The other was in Collesano, in the Madonie Mountains in the province of Palermo. I stayed there as part of a tour with the Italian Connection three months ago, so I don't know what it cost. One of the nights that we were staying hear Erice on this same tour, we had dinner at a newly opened agriturismo located inland in the mountains about a half hour or 45 minutes from Erice. I think it was called Baglio Fontana and was in Busito Palizzolo. We took a look at the rooms in the beautifully restored old large estate house house. The food was excellent. I assume that this one would be more expensive than the place in Collesano, but someone who asked said that it wasn't really too expensive. I liked it so much that I picked up a bunch of their business cards and a brochure, but I misplaced them all. Do you want me to post about it IF I ever find them (very unlikely, though, because I've looked). I think it would be a lovely place to stay for a night IF you have a car, but it's not really too conveniently located.

cmt

I just found this contact info re Eleonora Consoli:

Eleonora Consoli
"Cucina del Sole"
Via Contemare 9
95029 Viagrande (Catania)
Sicily
Telephone and fax: 011-39-095-7890116

cmt

Here's a site I found about her (but I'm sure you don't have to go through this company to take her classes):

http://www.sicily-hotels.com/cucina_...e/eleonora.htm

cmt

and another site:

http://216.239.51.100/search?q=cache...hl=en&ie=UTF-8

cmt

P.S. When I spoke of the very rustic agriturismo place (La Vedetta dei Nebrodi) where I stayed twice in the Nebrodi Mts. on the outskirts of S. Salvatore di Fitalia, I MEANT to say it's in province of Messina. (My fingers typed province of Palermo all by themselves without my brain's permission.)

Kristina

cmt-
Thanks for the response. Yes, I also found info on Eleonora Consoli and we're considering taking a class from her. Looks very good!

Elizabeth-Also looking into Gangivecchio-thanks!