4 Day Tapas Cooking Holiday in Iznájar, Córdoba, Andalusia

Facilities

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.

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

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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

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.

• 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

• 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)

Recommended Airports

• 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.