On the shores of Lake Garda is Le Gemme di Artemisia, a restaurant and cooking school. Class size is limited to six, so personal attention is the focus. The facility also has a restaurant, which features al fresco dining in season. There are no on-site lodgings, but there is a four-star hotel just a five minute walk from the restaurant. Prices must be requested directly from the school.
Le Gemme di Artemisia
via Corrubio 18, 37010
Albisano di Torri del Benaco
Verona
Italy
39-45-7225764
legemmediartemisia.it
The five-star Villa d'Este, on Lake Como, is one of Italy's most famous hotels. Napoleon, the Duchess of Windsor, and scores of movie stars have all stayed there. Cooking classes are organized through the International Kitchen and are led by famous chef Luciano Parolari. Regional cuisine is featured. Prices vary depending on the time of year and number of nights, so the agency should be contacted directly.
The International Kitchen
330 N. Wabash
Suite #2613
Chicago, IL 60611
312-467-0560
theinternationalkitchen.com
If golf works up an appetite, then pairing a golf vacation with a cooking school might be the perfect combination. Wide World of Golf puts together golf and cooking packages at Lake Como or Lake Maggiore. Prices vary greatly depending on the level of accommodations, but they will work with any budget from economical to luxurious. Wine tastings and winery visits are also included.
Wide World of Golf
100 Dolores St #175
Carmel, CA 93923
800-214-4653
wideworldofgolf.com
A luxurious culinary adventure on Lake Garda with Cellar Tours includes wine tastings, private cooking classes, olive oil tastings, gourmet dining, five star lodgings, and transportation in a chauffeured Mercedes. A cruise on the lake in a private motorboat is a trip highlight. Prices start at €500 per person per day (for a party of two, discounts for larger groups, based on 2010 prices).
Cellar Tastings S.L.
C/ Zurbano 45, 1st Floor
28010 Madrid
Spain
310-928-7559 (U.S. phone number)
cellartours.com
The Centro Studi Casnati Alberghiero is a culinary school officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Education. It offers a one-year foundations course in Culinary Arts at Lake Como. As of March 2010, tuition is approximately €10,000 for the year, and instruction is in Italian. Month-long cooking classes in Italian and English cost €1,400, including tuition and course materials only. Italian classes can also be taken through the institute.
Centro Casnati
Via Carloni, 8
22100 Como
Italy
+39-31-305540
centrocasnati.it
Alps and Beyond is based on the Swiss side of nearby Lake Lugano and specializes in hiking and walking tours at different levels of difficulty. The company can organize private, customized tours and will arrange classes at local cooking schools as add-ons to the walking tour packages. Many of the Italian lakes border Switzerland, and trips into that country are also available.
Alps & Beyond
Viale Stazione 16
6500 Bellinzona
Switzerland
+41 78 891-2041
alpsandbeyond.com
Il Caminetto is a family-run restaurant that isn't afraid to share its recipes with eager cooking students. Cooking lessons run in the mornings and are followed by lunch and conversation with fellow students and the English-speaking chef. The school offers transportation between the restaurant and the lake towns of Varenna or Vezio Castle where students are free to make their own hotel arrangements.
Ristorante Il Caminetto
viale Progresso 4
23828 Gittana di Perledo
Italy
+39 0341 815225
ilcaminettoonline.com
Agriturismos are working farms or wineries that also have overnight accommodations. Agriturismo Mulino Bianco offers a farm holiday on Lake Garda. It is primarily a winery, but its cooking courses emphasize fresh cooking with local lake fish, grains, and vegetables. Double rooms are €75 for a double room (cooking courses have an additional charge, rates effective in 2010). There are also affordable wine tasting and wine making packages.
Farm Holiday Mulino Bianco
via 24 Maggio, 2
25017 Sedena di Lonato (Brescia)
Lago di Garda
Italy
+39-30-9130790
agriturismomulinobianco.com
