Holiday itinerary
Turkey is renowned for its healthy and fragrant cuisine, as well as its scenic landscapes and crystal clear seas, and the vibrant town of Bodrum will be the setting of this 6 night/7 day Turkish cookery holiday. Your cookery holiday will be focussed on using fresh ingredients from local producers and secret ancient recipes passed down through generations.
Learn to make delicious 5 course menus and also regional specialities such as pasta making, cooking freshly made bread on a wood oven, and even visiting a famous chef on her gulet yacht for a peaceful day cruising on the Aegean. Classes are informal and relaxed, with a fun vibe and flexible structure meaning you can choose to participate as much or as little as you wish.
Your cooking classes will take place in the spacious kitchen at your villa accommodation, and the cookery school also has its own onsite restaurant offering a range of local delicacies, making it the perfect setting to spend lazy evenings soaking up the peace and tranquillity of the area.
Your friendly and experienced host and chef Asli will be on hand at all times to share her wealth of knowledge of Turkish cuisine and culture, and to ensure you have a holiday of a lifetime. Asli is passionate about traditional dishes and fresh local produce, and she will accompany you on a variety of culinary excursions to vineyards, cheese producers and food markets to give you a real insight into Turkish culture.
Stay in the tranquil village of Ortakent on the southern coast of the Bodrum peninsula in a stunning stone villa. The village is home to a range of hand-crafted stone villas all connected by winding stone streets and steps, which creates a magical feel as soon as you arrive.
The villa has 5 large bedrooms with private bathroom and is elegantly decorated in a traditional Turkish style with handmade furnishings and colourful textiles to create an authentic and peaceful setting for your stay.
The villa is surrounded by fragrant tangerine orchards and herb gardens, and also has a large swimming pool with sweeping views of the sparkling Aegean, the island of Kos and Gökoya Bay – the perfect way to cool off from the midday sun and absorb the stunning views.
Experience the best that Turkey has to offer on this Turkish cooking holiday with a difference - enjoy the warm sunshine, sparkling waters, unrivalled hospitality, great food and wine, and memories to last a lifetime.
Suitability
- Cookery holidays are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced cooks
- Minimum age 18
- Children are permitted on this course but the minimum age is 9 and each child must be accompanied by an adult
- Your chefs are Turkish but speak perfect English and lessons will be taught in English
- This holiday is suitable for vegetarians as it focusses on local traditional Turkish staples such as vegetables, herbs, olive oil, and meat is often replaced by fish
- Please mention any specific dietary requirements or allergies during the booking process so that the cookery school are aware of these prior to your arrival and they will accommodate you where possible
Travelling Solo?
- These cookery holidays make great singles holidays and singles are welcome to join an existing group
- Please note this course will run for a minimum of 2 people
- Solo travellers can book a private room for a compulsory supplement
- To book a private room, email or contact us via live chat (click on the ‘start chat’ link at the bottom of this page) to check availability
Non-participating Partners
- Non-participating partners and friends are warmly welcomed on this course
- Bodrum is a varied and fascinating region of Turkey, and non-participating partners can choose to take advantage of the delicious meals, stunning beaches and watersports, or explore the region by foot
- Non participating partners will have breakfast daily and dinners along with participants on the course
- To check availability for this please email us with your travel date and we can check availability straight away for you
- For pricing please see the ‘Costings and Extras’ tab
Turkish Cooking Holiday Start Days
- Arrivals are every Saturday
- If you wish to stay for extra nights please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you
- If dates appear ‘on request’ please email us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible
Turkish Cooking Holiday Itinerary
The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows:
Day 1- Saturday - Arrival and welcome dinner
- You will be met from Bodrum airport/port by a member of the cookery school and transferred to your beautiful accommodation in the picturesque village of Ortakent
- The afternoon can be spent at your leisure – take time to explore the magical stone houses and fragrant gardens, or take a dip in the swimming pool
- Enjoy a group welcome dinner accompanied by wine tonight, where you will be discover the delights of Turkish cuisine and have a short introduction from your hosts and a chance to chat about the forthcoming weeks activities
Day 2 – Sunday – Market visit and cooking lesson and wine tasting
- Enjoy a leisurely Turkish breakfast followed by an introduction to local produce and cuisine from your Chef
- The holiday is focused around fresh, local produce and the importance of using this for your dishes
- You will then head to one of the local food markets to soak up the atmosphere and buy the ingredients for your cooking session with your Chef
- This afternoon you will have your first hands on cookery lesson, where you will learn to cook meze – the Turkish name for a starter cooked with fresh vegetables or fruits
- You will learn to cook a full 5 course menu from scratch, and in between cooking you’ll have a break for a light lunch
- You will then enjoy the delicious dinner you have learnt to cook tonight, accompanied with a glass of fine Turkish wine especially picked to complement your food
- After dinner, you will taste three different Turkish wines in a guided wine tasting session to uncover the delights of the region
Day 3 – Monday – Culinary cruise on a gulet yacht
- Please note: The gulet cruise operates from April-November. If you are travelling from December-March, an alternative culinary excursion will be offered instead such as olive harvesting, orchard picking etc. An alternative culinary excursion will also be offered in the event of poor weather conditions
- After a selection of fresh delights for breakfast, you will head to the harbour ready to spend the day sailing on a gulet on the sparkling Aegean
- Gullet yachts were originally wooden boats traditional in Bodrum for fishing and sponge hunting, which have now been upgraded to spacious and powerful yachts and is the perfect way to cruise the blue waters
- On the cruise, you will meet the friendly owner who is also a very talented cook
- She will cook lunch for you on board and share her recipes and top tips for Turkish cooking
- The crystal clear waters are the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy freshly cooked food!
- After lunch, take a swim in the sea or relax on one of the sunbeds under the shade on the deck
- A group dinner will be served tonight accompanied by wine
Day 4 – Tuesday – Wine and cheese tasting tour and culinary challenge
- After a leisurely breakfast it’s time to embark on a wine and cheese tasting tour
- You will visit an ecological farm and impressive vineyard owned by an enthusiastic local couple who will teach you about wine making and how the production of wine has changed through the centuries
- After the talk, you will taste a variety of local wines from the vineyard accompanied with homemade cheeses
- The farm is set in a stunning rural location surrounded by olive trees
- Once you return from the wine tasting, you will enjoy a fun culinary based game!
- You will find a range of ingredients in your fridges and every guest will create a dish for dinner tonight to bring to the table
- Your host Asli will then choose the best dish and award a special prize to the winner before dinner
Day 5 – Wednesday – Cooking day and farmers market and Bodrum visit
- Today you will visit Ortakent Farmers market after breakfast, to buy the ingredients for this afternoon’s cooking class
- You will smell the aromatic spices and see local farmers’ organic produce and learn how to select the best ingredients for your dishes
- This afternoon learn to cook a 5 course Turkish meal, focussing on classic Turkish dishes and flavours
- Spend the afternoon enjoying the delicious food you’ve created as you sit down for lunch outside
- Tonight you will be driven to central Bodrum for you to explore the shops, bars, and restaurants at your leisure and soak up the vibrant atmosphere (dinner is an additional charge)
Day 6 – Thursday – Traditional bread making and pasta making
- On your last full day, you will travel to the rural village of Kizilagac which takes about 15 minutes to learn to make delicious fresh bread
- You will make traditional local breads using a wood fire in the village which is the authentic Turkish method
- For breakfast, you will eat your warm fresh breads with homemade jam, local olives, free range eggs and more
- After breakfast, you will return to your accommodation for some free time to relax by the pool, visit the nearby beaches or take a walk through the tangerine orchards
- This afternoon your cooking class will focus on learning to make delicious fresh Turkish pastas called Manti and Piruhi
- ‘Manti’ is served with creamy yoghurt and ‘Piruhi’ pasta is served with fresh basil and pine nuts
- Enjoy the fresh pastas for a light lunch in the sun
- The evening is dedicated to a farewell dinner at a local famous fish restaurant overlooking the sea with stunning views
Day 7 – Friday – Final market tour and cooking class before departure
- After a leisurely breakfast at the villa, you will visit Bodrum’s largest food market on a guided tour with your chef, picking ingredients for your final cooking class
- Cook another delicious 5 course Turkish dinner using the produce bought from the food market and sit down with the group afterwards with a glass of wine and reflect on your culinary holiday, and the skills and insights you’ve gained during the week
- Your class and meal will finish around 3pm, and you will then be taken to Bodrum airport to return home, or you are welcome to extend your stay and indulge in more culinary delights of the region!
About Your Chef
- Your talented host and chef is Asli Mutlu
- Alsi led a busy executive life as a tour operator and founder of her own hotel management company before deciding to pursue her dream to open a restaurant and spend her days cooking
- She made the move to Bodrum, to found this fabulous cookery school and restaurant and has never looked back since!
- Alsi is passionate about delicious traditional recipes and the Turkish history surrounding them, and over the years she has collected a wide range of stories and recipes from her mother and grandmother and also travelling around Turkey and abroad
- Asli works closely with her team to create dishes and menus, and you will be taught by either Asli herself or one of her passionate and skilled chefs
- She will be thrilled to share with you her recipes, methods of preparation and the joy of fresh ingredients during your stay, and will be on hand at all times to ensure you have a relaxing and fascinating holiday to remember
What Will I Learn?
- Your week will build on your cooking skills and techniques in a fun environment
- Classes are informal and relaxed, with a fun vibe and flexible structure meaning you can choose to participate as much or as little as you wish
- The history of Turkish food and cooking from the region
- All about the local producers from the region during talks and market visits, as well as using their fresh produce during your lessons
- How to select the best produce for your dishes from market visits
- To cook a traditional Turkish 5 course meal from starter to dessert
- Learn to make local bread using a traditional wood fire
- How to cook two tasty Turkish pastas – Manti and Piruhi
- How to cook healthy Turkish cuisine with plenty of olive oil, vegetables, fish and herbs
- Wine tasting sessions will introduce you to Turkish wines and local producers will provide you with a tour around their vineyard and farm to discuss wine making
- Learn about the influence on Turkish cuisine including Greek culture and the regions landscape and natural resources, such as lemons from the citrus orchards of Bodrum
- Your holiday will also be a cultural experience, learning about the region’s history and culture, not just through the food but also excursions to local villages and producers
Sample Menus
Dishes vary according to the season and what food is available but a typical daily menu is as follows:
- Chargrilled Aubergine Salad with thick garlic yoghurt
- Pinto beans cooked in tomato and garlic sauce
- Broccoli, spinach and samphire topped with magic garlic, lemon and olive oil sauce
- Small fried filo parcels filled with cheese
- Stuffed dry aubergines with ground beef and lamb
- Fresh Figs cooked in citrus sauce and cloves topped with clotted cream
The Accommodation
- Your accommodation is set on a secluded hilltop in the pretty village of Ortakent, just 20 minutes west of Bodrum centre and 45 minutes from Bodrum airport
- You’ll stay in a beautiful hand-crafted stone villa set amongst other stone villas
- Each villa is connected by stone alleyways and pretty stairs ensuring peace and tranquillity during your stay
- The main villa has a total of 5 bedrooms with private bathrooms
- You will stay in a twin/double bedroom with a private bathroom
- If you are travelling solo, stay in a twin/double room for sole occupancy for a compulsory single supplement
- Bedrooms are decorated with fine handmade furnishings, quilts, carpets and paintings
- Please note: if the main villa is fully booked, you will stay in a private room stone villa adjacent to the main villa
- There is a large spacious kitchen at the villa which is where your cookery classes will take place
- There is a lovely secluded swimming pool with unrivalled views of the Aegean Sea
- The villas are surrounded by verdant orchards and fragrant herb gardens, and have stunning views of the island of Kos and the sea
- Accommodation is included for 6 nights / 7 days
- Check in any time after midday on day 1 and check out by 3pm after lunch on day 7
Meals
- A large breakfast is included daily and will include fresh free-range eggs, homemade jams, harvested olives, fresh fruits, homemade yogurts and cheeses
- Lunch will be provided on all days except Thursday and is often the meals you have prepared during your cooking classes
- You will enjoy delicious group dinners on all evenings except for Wednesday night
- On Wednesday evening, you are free to take dinner wherever you choose in Bodrum centre (extra cost)
- Wine and soft drinks will be served with dinner as well as during your wine tasting sessions
Free Time In Turkey
- This Turkish cookery holiday is packed with culinary delights but in your free time you may want to explore the local area
- Your villa accommodation is surrounded by beautiful tangerine orchards and herb gardens, and the village of Ortakent is a walker’s paradise with its attractive meandering streets
- There is also a lovely swimming pool at the villas which is ideal for sunbathing or cooling off from the warm summer sun
- The nearby Ortakent beach is a 10 minute walk and boasts a range of thrilling water sports such as snorkelling, windsurfing, jet skiing, sailing and boat trips
- Ortakent beach is perfect for relaxing on the beach or trying out one of the local romantic bars and restaurants
- Yahsi beach is also nearby and offers a selection of charming shops to buy trinkets, souvenirs and, of course, colourful carpets
- Your hosts will be happy to give you lots of information on what activities are on offer in the local area such as the local markets, wine tasting, walking and more
Discover Turkish cooking at its best through a range of authentic cookery lessons, beautiful villa accommodation, delicious food and wine, gastronomic excursions and beautiful scenery on this Turkish cooking holiday with a difference.