Delights of Turkish Cooking Cooking Class Vacation Details

Delights of Turkish Cooking

Cooking Class Vacation Details

Istanbul -- the crossroad of civilizations where Asia and Europe meet -- offers the best of both the ancient and the modern worlds. Home to the Greeks, Romans and Ottomans and the wealth of knowledge and riches these empires amassed, Istanbul is the culinary, cultural, religious and artistic center of Turkey. Istanbul is a cosmopolitan and sophisticated city that manages to maintain its character in its network of neighborhoods, each with its own distinct identity waiting to be explored. From the breathtaking domes and minarets of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to the hustle and bustle of the Egyptian Spice Market, Istanbul offers delightful experiences at every turn.

Like the spice market, Istanbul’s cuisine combines the best of the Mediterranean diet with Middle Eastern culinary traditions. Join Selin, a self-trained home cook, for private, hands-on cooking classes in her Turkish home. We say make yourselves at home and we mean it! Recipes are geared to the home cook. Cooking classes are designed to be a full immersion into Turkish gastronomic culture and include the preparation of authentic Turkish dishes, traditional recipes and the learning of the basic techniques of Turkish cooking. Recipes vary according to the season, utilizing only the freshest ingredients available and providing you with a deeply individual Turkish experience. The best part is the conclusion: Tasting your creations!

During your cooking class vacation in Istanbul, you will stay at a boutique, luxury hotel in the desirable Pera district. Your hotel is conveniently located a short walk to the popular Beyouglu area restaurants and just steps away from the tram to the historic Sultanahmet district. Your welcome and farewell dinners have been carefully crafted to expose you to typical modern Turkish dishes as well as historical Ottoman dishes once enjoyed by the Sultans and lovingly recreated from the archives of the Topaki Palace kitchens. As part of your cooking tour, Selin will accompany you to the famous Egyptian Spice Market where you can marvel at the variety of specialty culinary products available and purchase some to recreate your Turkish cooking class creations at home! In your free time you can explore Istanbul on your own, or you can participate in one or more of our culinary and cultural excursion options.

Not ready to say farewell to Turkey? Join one of our spectacular add-on trips to see magical Cappadocia or some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the Mediterranean at Ephesus!

DATES/PRICES OFFERED

April 11-15, 2010	$2445.00
May 2-6, 2010	$2445.00
June 27, 2010-July 1, 2010	$2445.00
July 25-29, 2010	$2445.00
September 12-16, 2010	$2445.00
October 24-28, 2010	$2445.00
November 28, 2010-December 2, 2010	$2445.00

There is a single supplement associated with this trip. The cost is: $210.00

* Prices do not include additional excursions

*This program is available at any time with a minimum of 2 participants upon request and pending confirmation of availability.

INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM

Four nights accommodations in a luxurious boutique hotel in the desirable Pera neighborhood, including breakfast
Welcome dinner and farewell dinner, including wine
2 cooking lessons followed by 2 lunches based on the class, including wine
Visit to the famous Egyptian Spice Market
Transfers to and from the Ataturk airport and hotel
Transportation to and from the welcome and farewell dinners
Recipe booklet of the dishes learned
A souvenir apron
Taxes and service

One Day Cooking Program

This trip also offers a one day option for anyone interested in only attending the one-day cooking program. Available any of the days listed above, or upon request.

One Day Details

If you don't have time for a full culinary week, choose our one-day cooking class, which always includes the meal with wine after the lesson.

Join Selin, a self-trained home cook, for a private, hands-on cooking class in her Turkish home. We say make yourselves at home and we mean it! Recipes are geared to the home cook. Guests are supplied with aprons as well as detailed recipe booklets that are theirs to keep. Meanwhile, non-cooks can relax with a glass of wine and a book or enjoy the neighborhood until lunch or dinner time. Recipes vary according to the season, utilizing only the freshest ingredients available and providing you with a deeply individual Turkish experience. The best part is the conclusion: Tasting your creations!

Classes are available upon request, based on confirmation of availability, for a minimum of 2 for the lunch-based class and a minimum of 4 for the dinner-based class. Class runs from 10:30 AM through 2:30 PM for lunch. Class runs from 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM for dinner.

Price: $200.00