3 Day Cooking Vacation near Portofino in Liguria, Province of Genova

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

15:30

Check-out Time:

11:00

During this holiday, you will be staying in Villa Paggi guesthouse which will offer you, depending the availability, either comfortable ensuite bedrooms on B&B basis or a self-catering independent apartment. All accommodations in Villa Paggi guesthouse enjoy a private patio or terrace and a view over the sea. Private car parking is also available inside the property.

In alternative to Villa Paggi accommodation, Anna also proposes other nearby independent apartments with a fully equipped kitchen and enjoying a private garden and a beautiful view over the gulf and Portofino promontory.

Program

This culinary vacation is a great opportunity to experience the real Italian lifestyle in an enchanting area at the east coast of Genoa, dominated by Portofino promontory. Anna from Mandilli de Saea is pleased to welcome you to this part of Liguria, offering two different types of accommodation (B&B or independent, self-catering apartment) and leading you to experience this region through her cooking lesson and a morning guided tour in the area, including street food and wine tasting. This package will also include a dinner out with Anna's company at one of the typical local restaurants.

During your cooking lesson you will be introduced to the secrets of the Ligurian simple but savory cuisine, while you prepare its typical dishes yourself. Each workshop will last from 3 to 4 hours in the afternoon, using local products, while Anna, the cook, will provide a relaxed, learning experience, also creating the same atmosphere as found in typical Italian homes. You will have real fun preparing Ligurian dishes such as Pansotti with hazelnut sauce, lasagne with pesto, stuffed vegetables, pizza with anchovies, cheese focaccia, and much more. The cooking session foresees the active involvement of the participants and will end by enjoying a real dinner together, wine included. The meal will be based on the dishes prepared during the class and enjoyed on Anna's cute terraced garden overlooking the gulf.

Included excursions

This culinary vacation includes a local trip in the morning either to Chiavari or Lavagna towns to buy local products for the cooking class. You will be introduced to the local fish markets or to the outdoor Chiavari's typical fruit and vegetables market

Instructors

Anna Minghetti

Born and educated in Milan, Anna Minghetti gained there a considerable and diversified career as office assistant in sales and export departments until 1991. After a 3-year study and work stay in Dublin (Rep. of Ireland), she returned to Milan and continued her career as personal assistant at international companies until 2002. After moving to Liguria in Chiavari area, in 2003 she proudly opened her B & B, thanks to her command of English and French and her familiarity in public relations. She had to close down her B&B in 2012 but since then she has been dealing with the promotion of the tour.

Location

This vacation takes place at the small village of Paggi, located on the hill overlooking the valley leading to the coast up to Chiavari and Lavagna towns, east of Genoa. Villa Paggi guesthouse welcomes you in an enchanting green spot, definitely off the beaten tracks but very convenient to the beaches and the coastline of the Tigullio Gulf (only 9 kilometers). The cooking class will be held in Anna's private kitchen instead, in the village of Cogorno, not far from Villa Paggi guesthouse. From Anna's house and garden you will enjoy a spectacular view over the gulf, with Portofino Promontory at a distance.

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Features

Activities

Cooking classes
Shopping

General

Barbeque facilities
Dining area
Environmentally friendly
Garden
Kitchen

Services

Free parking
Toiletries

Food

Dinner or lunch after the cooking session will be based on your cooking class. Anna's cuisine ingredients involve fresh local products, such as fresh vegetables and herbs. Street food or restaurant meals offered in this package will respect the genuineness of the local products and ingredients.

The following meals are included:

Lunch
Dinner
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea
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)

During this holiday, you will have one full day free to sightsee, visiting one or more characteristic villages along the Gulf of Tigullio (Portofino area). Zoagli, Rapallo, Santa Margherita and Sestri Levante are some good choices for your free time, where you can enjoy a good shopping or a good ice cream break, typical restaurants, or relaxation at the beach, or an easy hillwalk immersed in the greenery.

A great variety of outdoor sports facilities is available also along the beaches and in the inland areas, like trekking, horseback riding, sailing, free climbing etc.

Spa treatments

A small spa is available to the guests in Villa Paggi guesthouse prividing a

free small gym area with spinbike, crosstrainer and multi-function bench, a wellness area equipped with hammam for two and a four-seat jacuzzi bath. Villa Paggi also offers on request a paying wellness program that includes a Turkish bath with essential oils, a treatment in a hot tub and a final rest with herbal teas on the relaxation loungers. Relaxing or regenerating massages or shiatsu with qualified therapists are available on request at an additional cost.

What's included

4 hours of cooking lesson with final dinner with wine
Ingredients, kitchen tools, apron
Copy of Ligurian recipe book edited by Mandilli de Saea
Guidance of an expert cook specializing in local Italian cuisine
A local tour either in Chiavari or Lavagna medieval city center
Visit to the outdoor fish or fruit and vegetables markets to shop ingredients for the cooking class with street food and wine tasting
2 nights accommodation
1 dinner out in a typical restaurant
Daily breakfast

What's not included

Airport transfer

How to get there

Recommended Airports

MXP

Milan–Malpensa Airport

150 km

Transfer not provided

GOA

Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport

42 km

Transfer not provided

PSA

Pisa International Airport (Galileo Galilei Airport)

111 km

Transfer not provided

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport (GOA) or Pisa International Airport (PSA). From there, take a train up to Lavagna train station along the track Genova-Livorno. Transfer from this station is available upon request.

Car is recommended to reach Bamby House and move around more easily.

Arrival by train

You can book your train to arrive at Lavagna from Genoa for around 10 EUR, or from Pisa to Lavagna for around 20 EUR. Transfer from this station is available upon request.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.

Menu