Course itinerary
Tucked away in the pretty white pueblo of Torrox, charming and tastefully restored Moorish houses are the setting for your Spanish cookery holiday in Andalucía.
Under the guidance of your fun and friendly hosts and Chefs Christopher and Arthur, you will immerse yourself in Spanish life to discover the gastronomic delights of this beautiful area of Spain.
The aim of the course is to give you the skills to cook fabulous Spanish dishes from the region to impress even the most experienced foodies. You’ll learn to cook in Christopher’s own kitchen with as much cooking as possible done outside under the Andalucian sunshine.
During the week, your hosts will take you on a culinary journey to discover the secrets of Spanish cuisine. Rather than plan a menu in advance, you’ll cook as the locals do by seeing what produce is available fresh at the markets and learn to think on your feet to interpret and create recipes, handle cooking equipment, understand technical terms and produce delicious food using the freshest organic ingredients available.
You’ll also combine a fun packed week of visits to olive oil co-operatives, market visits, a local organic farm, wine makers and discovering the secrets of the famous Jamon Iberico with fun Spanish cooking lessons with plenty of time to relax on this 6 night / 7 day Spanish cookery holiday with a difference.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced foodies
- Lessons will be in English (with help for Spanish translation when you head to the markets to buy ingredients)
- Minimum age: 12 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged over 25)
Travelling Solo?
- These cookery holidays make great singles holidays and in fact, many people travel solo
- Courses only run with a minimum of 2 people but singles can join existing groups and single rooms can be booked with a single supplement. To check availability for singles please contact us at or call 08445020445 with your preferred date of travel and we’ll get back to you quickly with availability
Non-Cooking Guests
- Non cooking guests are welcome to share a room with a cooking guest and prices for the non-cooking guest will be discounted accordingly depending on which excursions / meals you wish to join in with, please email or contact us via live chat (click on the ‘start chat’ link at the bottom of this page) or call us for details
Spanish Cookery Holiday Start Days
- This Spanish cooking course runs on set dates in May, June, September and October
- All arrivals are on Sunday and departures are 7 days later on Saturday (6 nights / 7 days)
- Saturday arrivals may be possible as are midweek dates if you have a party of 4 people, email with your preferred dates and party size and we’ll get back to you very quickly with availability
Spanish Cookery Holiday Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival Day
- You’ll be collected from Malaga airport and driven to the house
- Enjoy some free time to explore the beautiful village on your first day
- In the evening, join your hosts for a welcome reception and dinner at Christopher’s house where you’ll learn all about the history of Andalucian cuisine and the cultural influences of ethnic cookery
- During the evening, you’ll receive a full itinerary for the week and all the materials you’ll need
Day 2 – Market Visits, Paella and Olive Co-Operative
- Today you’ll get a complete introduction to the basics of Paella cookery and how to make Sangria
- Armed with your new found knowledge of what ingredients to look for, you’ll head to the local fresh market and municipal to plan and search out your own fresh ingredients
- Your hosts will take a step into the background during the market visits as the aim is for you to learn from the morning discussions how to select and pick out the best ingredients for your own unique paella
- Although the emphasis is on you to put your new found knowledge into practice, your hosts will always be on hand to guide you and assist with translation when needed
- You’ll also visit an olive co-operative to find out more about the olives from the area and to purchase any additional ingredients needed
- After your market experience, you’ll head back to the kitchen for your hands-on paella, ensalada and sangria making lesson
- Relax over lunch eating what you have learned to prepare
- After a leisurely lunch, enjoy some more free time to relax after a fun packed day
Day 3 – Andalucian cuisine and wine making at the farmhouse (Cortijo)
- Today your lessons is all about the historical development of local cuisine
- After a lecture, take a coach trip to the farmhouse (Cortijo) where local women will prepare lunch on their farm and give you a cookery demonstration as well as teaching you all about their homemade wine
- During the morning you’ll have the chance to explore the farm and taste a host of organic local delicacies all produced on the farm
- Relax with the locals over the lunch they have prepared for you accompanied by their wonderful homemade wine
- After lunch, head back to the village and take the rest of the afternoon and evening off to relax or explore Torrox
Day 4 – Tapas and Wine Tasting
- This morning you’ll have a lecture on the origin of the well known Spanish tapas and the basic recipes
- After the lecture, head to the village of Torrox to take a look in the locals own homes at their fresh produce on your way to the municipal market to pick up fresh ingredients for your tapas cooking lesson
- After the market visit, head back to the kitchen for your tapas cookery class enjoying a lovely tapas lunch after cooking
- In the afternoon enjoy some free time before an evening of wine tasting with Steve Ochman, the Director the Wine Education Institute accompanied by more tapas cooking, presentations and eating
Day 5 – Alpujarras and Serrano Ham
- Today is all about jamon, you’ll take a step back in time on a visit to Alpujarras where you’ll visit the two small mountain villages that are famous for the Jamon Serrano and other delicacies
- You’ll gain a real insight into the production of the hams, spending time underground where the hams are cured and prepared before heading upstairs for the all important tastings
- The group will visit a local small restaurant for a typical Alpujarra meal
- On your return to Torrox, you’ll spend some time planning the final dinner you will be cooking for the group and locals alike on your last day
- You are free in the evening to make your own arrangements for dinner
Day 6 – Cooking Dinner for Locals
- In the morning you’ll shop and prepare food for the final dinner in the evening
- After shopping enjoy your final cookery lesson where your skills and cooking will be enjoyed by locals from Torrox who will join you for a farewell dinner to sample the delicious Spanish food you’ve learned to cook that week, there’s no better way to show off your new found cooking skills!
Day 7 – Hasta Luego
- After breakfast guests are asked to check-out of their rooms by 11am ready for their airport transfer back to Malaga taking home with them new Spanish cooking skills and an insight into Spanish life that will stay with them long after the holiday is over
What Will I Learn?
The geography, climate, and numerous cultural historic influences that encompass Spain's extensive history have led to a unique cuisine with literally thousands of recipes and flavours. While a significant portion of Spanish cuisine derives from hundreds of years of Jewish and Moorish tradition, Spain's Christian ethnicity has also been a primary influence and a source of differentiation from other Mediterranean cuisines.
- You’ll learn all about the history and influences on Spanish cuisine
- How to choose fresh, local ingredients from the market
- How to plan, prepare and adapt menus
- Courses concentrate on the cuisine of the Andalucía: its paella, tapas, traditional Spanish main courses and desserts
- All about how Serrano ham is made along with tastings
- You’ll gain an insight into a local Spanish working farm tasting produce and seeing how wine is made
Sample Spanish Menus
The focus of the course is on what local, organic produce is available and so dishes vary according to the season and what food is on sale at the market but may include:
- Paella
- Potaje de Garbanzos
- Albondigas
- Pulpo con uva y ajoblanco
- Manchego with miel de cana
- Pollo al Ajillo
- Puerro con queso
- Empanadas
- Local wines are carefully chosen to accompany each dish and of course you’ll have plenty of locally produced wine including wine made by local women
- No meal is complete without Christopher’s homemade Sangria
- Dietary requests can be catered for including if advised in advance of booking
About Your Chefs
- Your Chefs are the easy going, fun and friendly Christopher and Arthur
- Chefs Christopher and Arthur will teach you to be creative with your menus, to use only the freshest ingredients and to cook simple, flavoursome Spanish food with confidence
- Christopher and Arthur take traditional Spanish recipes, as prepared in Spanish homes, accompanied by local wines and homemade Sangria to produce dishes that will surprise and delight you
- Chef Christopher Carnrick is the former owner of two Seattle restaurants; one of which received 4 stars from Gourmet Notebook, featured on N.W. Afternoon TV and received accolades from the press. Christopher was also awarded first prize in the Classic Cuisine competition in Seattle and has published a cook book featuring Spanish dishes
- Arthur Knighton shares nineteen years restaurant catering experience serving customers from the Marriott Fine Dining and the famous Seattle Pike Street Market. Arthur’s attention to detail assures all guests have the best cookery holiday experience possible
Accommodation
- You'll stay in one of two charming and tastefully decorated Moorish houses in Torrox
- One house sleeps up to 4 and the other sleeps 2, all have private bathrooms and small kitchen and lounge areas
- Tastefully restored to retain the rustic charm; your room will have a twin or double bed, private bathroom and a delightful view over the village
- Singles can book a room for a supplement
- Please note that you'll cook in the kitchen in Christopher’s house which is just a few minutes’ walk away from the Moorish houses
- Check in is on day 1 anytime after 2pm and check out is by 11am on day 7 although luggage can be stored if you have an early or late flight
- Towels and linen are provided and houses have kitchen and lounge where you can prepare meals / breakfasts
Meals
- Dinner is included on Sunday, Thursday and Friday
- Lunch is included on Tuesday and Wednesday
Airport Transfers
- The course includes a complimentary return airport transfer to and from Malaga airport, to book this please advise us your arrival and departure details into Malaga at least 7 days in advance of your course
Go learn to cook in Southern Spain near Malaga, pursue your passion for food, good wine and discover all this region has to offer on a Spanish cookery holiday with a difference.