Holiday itinerary
In the grounds of a beautiful 80 acre estate this wonderful hotel, a converted 18th century Villa offers the ideal base to explore these two celebrated culinary regions of Tuscany and Umbria, a perfect setting for your Italian cooking and truffle hunting experience.
In the ancient oak and elm forests, positioned high in the mountains in northern Umbria, you will join a local truffle hunter and his trained dogs on their daily hunt. After the hunt is over you will be taken to meet a world famous truffle wholesaler and witness the selection process of the finest truffles in the world, destined for a wide range of specialities.
During your cooking lessons, under the guidance of the friendly and professional chefs, you will discover the gastronomic delights of this beautiful area of Umbria. You will enjoy the lunch you have created and have the opportunity to select the finest local wines to accompany the meal you have made.
Your cooking courses will take place in a beautiful kitchen especially dedicated to cooking lessons with full use of the professional equipment, a wonderful setting for you immerse yourself in Italy’s rich culinary and cultural history.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced foodies
- Your Chefs and guides are Italian but speak perfect English
- Please note that courses only run with a minimum of 2 people, if you are travelling solo, it may be possible to pay a small single supplement and join other groups, please email us on or call 0844 502 0445 with your preferred date and we’ll get back to you quickly with a price and availability
- Minimum age: 10 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)
Truffle Hunting and Cookery Holiday Start Days
- This truffle hunting and cookery holiday runs on set dates year round
- Arrivals are on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday for 3 nights / 4 days
- If this course appears ‘on request’ we can usually accommodate your requirements, to check availability, call us on 08445 020445 or email us on with your preferred dates and someone will get back to you very quickly
Truffle Hunting and Cookery Holiday Itinerary
- This is an example itinerary that is subject to change depending on arrival days, season and scheduling:
Day 1 – Arrival Day
- Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival at the hotel (check-in anytime after 2pm)
- On your first evening, head to the hotel restaurant for a gourmet welcome dinner accompanied by delicious local wine
Day 2 – Free Time and Cooking Class
- Enjoy a leisurely Italian breakfast before starting your cooking lesson around 10am
- Your cooking lesson will last around 3 hours and will focus on cooking a 4 course menu of typical local dishes
- After the cooking lesson, sit down and enjoy eating what you’ve learned to prepare accompanied by local wines
- The rest of the day and evening is free to explore the local area
Day 3 – Truffle Hunting
- After breakfast you will be taken to rural northern Umbria for an action-packed day
- Here you will take part in a daily truffle hunt with a local hunter and his trained dogs
- In the afternoon you will be taken to meet a famous truffle wholesaler to see the official selection process
Day 4 – Departure Day
- After breakfast guests are asked to check-out of their rooms by 11am ready for departure taking home with them new cooking and truffle hunting skills and an insight into Italian life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over
What Will I Learn?
- Courses concentrate on the cuisine of Umbria and nearby Tuscany: its antipasti, pastas, risottos, gnocchi, gelato, main courses and desserts
- At the start of your lesson, your Chef will discuss menus with you to ensure you cover what you’d like to during the course
- The idea of the course is that you’ll learn the techniques and skills to recreate the dishes back home to impress even your most foodie friends
- During the truffle hunting day you’ll learn about the hunting process, how they train the dogs and will discover how the very best truffles are selected
Sample Italian Menus
Dishes vary according to the season and what food is available but may include:
- Pecorino potage with black truffle and swiss chard croutons
- Artichoke tart with corn salad and mint oil
- Ricotta gnudi with cherry tomatoes and pesto sauce
- Cappellacci stuffed with swiss chard and ricotta topped with black truffle
- Umbrian ribolita with bruschettas
- Taglitelle with a tomato and fish sauce, sourced from Lake Trasimeno
- Wild Boar goulash with gratinated polenta and chicory
- Homemade gnocchi served with tomato and pork chop ragout
- Cheek of roast beef in sangiovese
- Umbrian Pork liver with Vino Santo and onions
- Lamb chops with aromatic herbs and shallot sauce
- Dark chocolate cake with pear and mandarin
- Semifreddo 'il bacio'
- Sorbet of Candied Citrus fruits
- Local wines are carefully chosen to accompany each dish
- Dietary requests can be catered for including vegetarians if advised at the time of booking
About Your Chef
- You’ll be taught to cook by one of the hotel’s own chefs who cooks in the evenings in the gourmet dining room so be prepared to learn techniques and skills from an enthusiastic and professional chef
- The Chef is a young guy who has been cooking for the hotel for over 10 years and shares a passion for good food and cooking using local ingredients and loves nothing better than to pass on his knowledge to visitors in a fun and relaxed environment
Accommodation
- You'll stay in a well appointed twin or double room in the hotel
- Check in anytime after 2pm on your arrival day and check out by 11am on your departure day
- The beautiful hotel offers every comfort of a modern and luxurious hotel
- There are a total of 25 guest rooms allocated across 5 buildings either in the main house, the villa, the Limonaia, Casa dei Gelsi or Olivaia
- Part of the property was once a 17th century farm comprised of two buildings, Casa dei Gelsi and Olivaia, both are only 185m from the Villa
- Guests staying in one of these two buildings take their breakfast in the house and have their own swimming pool
- The accommodation offers use of the Spa, tennis courts or the two swimming pools for all guests (swimming pools are open from May and are heated)
- For your culinary enjoyment there is a fine dining restaurant with an excellent wine cellar
- Singles can book a room for sole occupancy for a supplement
Meals
- Breakfast is included each day
- A gourmet dinner on your arrival at hotel’s fine dining restaurant
- You’ll also eat the lunch you’ve learned to cook during your day of cooking lessons
Other Italian Cookery Courses In Umbria
- If this Umbrian truffle hunting and cookery holiday whets your appetite for learning to cook, other courses are also on offer, including wine tasting and chocolate making, please follow this link to more cookery courses at this school or email for details
Go learn to cook and hunt truffles in the north of Italy near Umbria, pursue your passion for food and wine and discover all this region has to offer on a truffle hunting and cookery holiday with a difference.