“Gain confidence in preparing tapas food!”
4 Day Tapas Cooking Holiday in Iznájar, Córdoba, Andalusia
Finca Las Encinas, Calle Partido de Los Juncares, 31, 14979, Iznájar, Córdoba, Spain
Cooking Holiday Spain
Learn to cook typical tapas dishes to impress your friends back home on this wonderful hands-on cookery break in the heart of Andalucia, Spain. Stay in a 150-year old finca as you learn to cook delicious Spanish cuisine using the freshest regional products available. The recipes were featured (16 pages out of 300) in a new cookbook by a well-known UK based food and travel writer Fiona Dunlop. She chose about 20 pro chefs, amateur, and home cooks for this book.
Meet the instructors
Clive
Read more
Read more
Highlights
- Courses led by a professional chef
- 2 cooking lessons with materials provided
- Cook 4 different tapas and a dessert in each session
- Daily breakfast and 2 dinners of what you create
- Welcome dinner and wine with dinner
- Small groups for cooking courses
- 3 nights accommodation
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
2 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: Japanese, Spanish
Group size: 2-4 participants
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
16:00
Check-out Time:
12:00
Facilities
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
- Dining area
- Lounge
- Multilingual staff
- Free parking
- Laundry
- Library
- Tour assistance
- Wireless internet
Set in grounds with olive and fruit trees plus a vegetable and herb garden, this charming and tastefully restored 150-year-old Finca Las Encinas is the setting for your three-night Spanish tapas cooking holiday.
Your 150-year-old Finca has just four rooms: three standard twin / double rooms and one suite (available extra) and is situated in Iznájar, a small hilltop Moorish village overlooking a romantic lake lies in Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbéticas in the southern part of the province of Córdoba.
Tastefully restored to retain the rustic charm, your standard room has twin beds or a double bed, private bathroom, and a delightful view. The Finca features a swimming pool, reading room, DVD library and more. There is Wi-Fi in the communal area and in some guest rooms; however, a fast or reliable connection cannot be guaranteed due to the rural location. Your hosts have two dogs and a cat but they are never allowed in the Finca.
Accommodation features
- Recommended by Alastair Sawday
- Centrally located within easy reach of Granada, Córdoba, Málaga, Seville, and Jaén
- Only 45 minutes from Granada and one hour from Málaga
- Set in a tastefully restored 150-year-old Andalusian Finca
- Swimming pool (4 meters x 8 meters) with great views
- Just four individually designed guest rooms all with stunning views of the olive trees
- All rooms have a private bathroom
- DVD library and reading room
- Electric fans
- Under floor heating
- Wood burning stove in the lounge
- Use locally grown, seasonal ingredients
- Located in Andalusia, ideal for exploring the cultural and historical wealth of the area
- Set in the region internationally acclaimed for its extra virgin olive oils (special olive oil course available in the town of Priego de Córdoba)
- Add-on extra nights at the Finca to extend your stay if you wish
- Wonderful outdoor kitchen with wood burning outdoor oven for al fresco cooking from May to October (depending on weather conditions)
- Vegetables, herbs, and fruit are grown in the Finca's garden with wild asparagus and rocket growing all around for the freshest food
Program
Tapas originated in Andalusia, this sunny southern corner of Spain, so what better way to to get all of the flavors of the region in one course? Andalucia has five coastal provinces, along with fresh olive oil and other regional delights, making these now popular foods that accompany your drinks stunningly delicious.
We are a non-smoking establishment throughout. It is not permitted to smoke inside or all exterior/patio area where guests use or near the house and pool, including the guest terraces.
Cooking lessons
You’ll have two hands-on cooking lessons and will prepare four tapas dishes plus dessert in each session using the freshest ingredients straight from the garden or local markets, providing you with a bunch of recipes to take home with you when you are ready to entertain.
Chef Clive has been a professional chef specializing in the Mediterranean cuisine for over 20 years and has cooked personally for celebrities including Jill Dando, Sarah and Mike Green, and Des Lynham. He will teach you to pick the best products and will demonstrate step by step how to prepare all ingredients, as well as how to perfect assembly.
Enjoy a tapas course in the heart of Andalusia, gaining confidence and satisfaction with every dish you create, inspire your imagination and immerse yourself in Andalusian life, getting off the tourist trail in this beautiful area of Spain.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from those who've never cooked to those who love trying new things
- Please note that tapas are a combination of many tastes and flavors, so this will not be suitable for participants with strict food restrictions
- Food allergies will absolutely be considered, please let your host know while booking
- Your hosts are British/Japanese so all cooking classes are taught in English (or Japanese if required)
Tapas cooking course itinerary
Please note that the itinerary may be subject to change according to the group's needs and wishes
Day 1 - Arrival and welcome dinner
- You may check-in to the Finca anytime after 4:00 p.m.
- Enjoy welcome drinks on arrival and take the rest of the afternoon to relax and explore the area
- In the evening enjoy a welcome dinner with wine at the Finca
Day 2 and 3 - Cooking lessons
- Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and the day to relax
- You may want to spend your time by the pool or why not take a stroll around the charming whitewashed lakeside village of Iznájar, perched on the rocky outcrop, where you will enjoy a spectacular view of the Lake of Andalucían
- Later in the day starting around 5:30 p.m., you’ll take your cooking lessons where you’ll learn to make a variety of tapas (four each per lesson plus a dessert)
- Once you’ve cooked, you’ll sit down to enjoy a dinner of the delicious dishes you have learned to cook that day accompanied by a glass or two of wine perfectly matched to your tapas
Day 4 - Departure
- After breakfast, guests are asked to check out of their rooms ready for departure taking home with them new cooking skills and an insight into Andalusian life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over
What will you learn?
- This is a completely hands-on course, you’ll be preparing the dishes from scratch and working with Chef Clive to get the most out of your cookery lessons
- From the complete beginners to keen amateurs who just adore Spanish flavors, all will get the hands-on experience with a professional chef to learn the basic, solid skills that will lead to many a successful preparation of tapas, and serve to be a hit when you’re hosting!
- You’ll gain an insight into the history of Andalusian cuisine and the importance quality ingredients
- Learn how to select the freshest ingredients
- You’ll learn how to handle seafood, meats, and combine a variety of flavors using different cooking methods
- Learn food presentation skills to restaurant standards
Some sample tapas dishes and desserts
- Gambas al Ajillo - Garlic prawns
- Croquetas con pollo, piñones y cilantro - Chicken croquettes with pine nuts and coriander
- Piquillos rellenos de bacalao - Stuffed pepper with salt cod
- Berenjena con cilantro y miel - Aubergine with coriander and honey
- Flan - Spanish creme caramel
- Leche frita - Fried custard
Forget the crackers and cheese - expand your Spanish menu into something memorable and bring home new Andalusian recipes that will stay with you longer after the cookery holiday is over.
Car hire
You must hire a car for your time in Andalusia. Public transport is not available and taxis are rare and expensive. The drive from the airports is an easy one, the roads are very good, the traffic is minimal, and you'll see some of the best scenery Andalusia has to offer along the way. The drive is a real treat!
You will also need a car to reach the nearest village (10 - 15 minutes drive away) as lunch is not provided on any of the holidays so you’ll need to head out for lunch and local taxis are almost impossible to arrange given the rural setting.
Instructors
Clive Ridout
Clive was born and bred in Cardiff, Wales, in the UK. He has been a professional chef for almost 20 years since he started as a trainee chef at a French restaurant whose master chef is an elite graduate of Cordon Bleu School in France. After having trained there for six years while studying at a local catering college, he went on to work at a few prestige restaurants in Cardiff and London to expand his vision and develop new styles of cooking. Clive has worked as a successful head chef (specializing in French-Mediterranean cuisine, with a touch of Eastern taste in several parts of UK).
Location
Tastefully restored to a high specification while retaining the original rustic charm, this 150-year-old rural Spanish cooking retreat is intimate, homely, and idyllic.
Surrounded by breathtaking views, unspoiled landscape of rolling hills carpeted with ancient olive trees, valleys covered with almond blossoms, fields of wild coriander and wild asparagus - this Finca is the perfect setting in which to experience the rich colors, sensual aromas, and complex flavors of extraordinary Andalusian cuisine and fine wines.
Tucked away in the picturesque whitewashed village of Los Juncares, near Iznájar on the edge of a national park, the Parque Natural de La Sierra Subbetica, and centrally located in the Andalusian triangle between Córdoba, Málaga, and Granada; this Finca is ideal for exploring this stunning area that boasts over 320 days of sunshine per year.
The 'Protected Denominations of Origin' region is highly acclaimed for its exquisite extra virgin olive oil with numerous brands of oils have been awarded the most prestigious prizes in the world, making it the perfect place to taste, experience, and learn to cook with some of the best internationally praised olive oil in the world.
Rich in natural beauty, culture, heritage, and history and within an hour of some of Spain's most beautiful historical cities, taking a cooking course in Andalusia promises not only a culinary experience but also a cultural one.
Distances
- Antequera train station, 68 kilometers
- Granada airport, 85 kilometers
- Málaga train station, 88 kilometers
- Málaga airport, 93 kilometers
- Granada train station, 97 kilometers
- Córdoba train station, 112 kilometers
- Seville airport, 194 kilometers
- Seville train station, 207 kilometers
Features
Activities
- Swimming
- Swimming pool (outdoor)
General
- Dining area
- Hammock
- Lounge
- Patio
Services
- Free parking
- Hair dryer
- Library
- Toiletries
- Tour assistance
- Wireless internet
Food
During this Spanish cooking holiday, you will delight with daily delicious breakfast and three dinners.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served between 08:00 and 10:00, and it consists of a choice of freshly squeezed fruit juice, a variety of home-baked bread, locally cured ham, local cheeses, seasonal fruits, home-made jam and marmalade, and coffee or tea.
Dinner
- The dinner you’ve learned to cook each night with one bottle of wine per couple and water
- A welcome dinner with one bottle of wine per couple on your arrival day
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Soda
- Alcoholic beverages
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
Olive mill visit and olive oil tasting, winery visit and wine tasting
Finca Las Encinas can organize self-guided excursions for you. During an olive oil tasting, you can learn and be educated under the guidance of an award-winning professional taster who works for the Protected Denomination of Origin, while the wine tasting helps you discover the lesser known denominations of wine of Spain. Look, smell, and taste five different types of wine at one of the oldest wineries in Spain.
Outdoor activities
Outdoor activities that are available in this area are bird watching, canoeing and kayaking, cycling, golf, hiking and walking, horse riding, hot air ballooning, paragliding, sailing, swimming, and much more. There are a few outdoor pursuit specialists in the area and should you need any assistance in booking, please do not hesitate to contact Finca Las Encinas before your visit.
What's included
- 2 cooking lessons where you’ll learn to cook four different tapas and a dessert in each session
- 3 nights accommodation at the Finca
- All cooking materials, apron, and ingredients
- Breakfast each morning
- The dinner you’ve learned to cook each night with one bottle of wine per couple and water
- Welcome dinner with one bottle of wine per couple on your arrival day
What's not included
- Airfare
- Car hire (compulsory)
- Laundry
- Local car hire
- Lunches
- Other services not mentioned
- Outdoor activities or excursions
- Tips
- Tourist visas
- Travel insurance
- Suite upgrade (60 EUR)
- Extra night accommodation (80 EUR)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
GRX
Federico García Lorca Airport (Granada Jaén Airport)
45 km
Transfer not provided
AGP
Málaga Airport
71 km
Transfer not provided
Driving directions from Málaga Airport (AGP)
- Leave the airport, keep right to continue towards N-340 Málaga.
- At the roundabout, take the second exit and stay on N-340 Malaga.
- Merge onto Avenida de Velázquez MA-21.
- Take the MA-20 slip road to Benalmádena / Algeciras / Cádiz.
- Keep left at the fork, follow signs for Antequera / Sevilla / Granada and merge onto MA-20.
- Use the left two lanes to take the exit towards MA-20/Almería, A-45 / Córdoba / Granada / Sevilla.
- Merge onto A-7.
- Use the right two lanes to take exit 241 for A-45 towards Córdoba / Granada / Sevilla.
- Continue onto A-45 Córdoba.
- Use the right two lanes to take exit 114 for A-92M towards Granada.
- Continue onto A-92M Granada.
- Take exit one towards Camacho / Salinas / A-333 / Villanueva de Tapia.
- Turn left at the junction following the sign for A-333 Iznájar and continue until you see Lake Iznájar.
- After crossing the first bridge over the Lake Iznájar, ignore the sign for Iznájar and continue straight ahead.
- There should be Restaurante Casa Juani on your left, cross the second bridge passing a building merchant on your left. Find a green 47 kilometers sign, and a green petrol station on left immediately after that. Take a right turn towards A-333 El Higueral / Priego de Córdoba / Los Juncares.
- Drive until you find a green road sign, A-333 42 kilometers on your right, and drive further for 400 meters. You will find a white sign “Los Juncares”. You should see a green bus stop or shelter on your right. Take the left turn immediately and driver up.
- Go straight up a gradual hill for approximately 800 meters and take the second left turn (there should be an enormous oak tree in the corner with a small red square sign attached).
- Continue for a further 190 meters and the Finca is located on your right, just after passing a large carport on the right-hand side of the road. On your left, you should see green and yellow communal waste bins.
- Directly opposite the bins, there is a small Christian shrine under the big oak tree (but you may not notice it until you have passed the entrance).
- Drive up to the car park where you should see a garage with blue doors on left.
Driving directions from Federico García Lorca Airport (GRX) in Granada
- Leave the airport and follow the sign for A-92 Málaga, Sevilla, and Antequera.
- Following A-92, slight right for Málaga / Sevilla.
- Take the exit for A-333 Camacho, Salinas, and Villanueva de Tapia.
- Turn right at the fork. Turn left at the junction following the sign for A-333 Iznájar and continue until you see Lake Iznájar.
- After crossing the first bridge over the Lake Iznájar, ignore the sign for Iznájar and continue straight ahead.
- There should be Restaurante Casa Juani on your left, cross the second bridge passing a building merchant on your left. Find a green 47 kilometers sign, and a green petrol station on left immediately after that. Take a right turn towards A-333 El Higueral / Priego de Córdoba / Los Juncares.
- Drive until you find a green road sign, A-333 42 kilometers on your right, and drive further for 400 meters. You will find a white sign “Los Juncares”. You should see a green bus stop or shelter on your right. Take the left turn immediately and driver up.
- Go straight up a gradual hill for approximately 800 meters and take the second left turn (there should be an enormous oak tree in the corner with a small red square sign attached).
- Continue for a further 190 meters and the Finca is located on your right, just after passing a large carport on the right-hand side of the road. On your left, you should see green and yellow communal waste bins.
- Directly opposite the bins, there is a small Christian shrine under the big oak tree (but you may not notice it until you have passed the entrance).
- Drive up to the car park where you should see a garage with blue doors on left.
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Federico García Lorca Airport (GRX) or Málaga Airport (AGP). From either of the two airports, you must rent a car to get to the location.
GPS
- 37.297537 latitude
- -4.277241 longitude
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 10% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 7 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookCulinaryVacations.com. All major credit cards supported.
65387
Similar Culinary Vacations you might like
Why choose BookCulinaryVacations.com
Largest Selection
Friendly Customer Service
Offers for every budget
Best Price