Tasty and Artistic Retreat - Alentejo
Cooking Class Vacation Details
The quaint and rustic Herdade da Matinha located in a wooded valley about 100 miles south of Lisbon, is the perfect ‘get away from it all’ location you have been dreaming about. Off the beaten path, surrounded by wildflowers, this unique country home calms and soothes the nerves the minute you step foot inside. There is no TV to disrupt the tranquility, but you will not miss it. The owners, Monica and Alfredo, are warm and welcoming and make you feel like one of the family. The main living areas of the Herdade are cozy, filled with reading materials related to all things food and art. Alfredo’s stunning art pieces fill the house and decorate the bedrooms, giving each its own individual character.
The Herdade’s open kitchen is a relaxing setting for laughing and sipping wine as you learn how to prepare authentic, local Portuguese cuisine. Alfredo, your chef and instructor, will lead you through hands-on cooking classes using local ingredients unique to the area, sometimes from their own garden. The cooking program has been designed to highlight dishes resulting from the rich marriage of Portuguese history and culture, influenced to a great degree by trading routes that passed not far from this location. Each of your cooking classes is about 2-1/2 hours long. At the end of each lesson you will enjoy your culinary creations in a leisurely sit-down dinner.
In your free time, you can participate in one or more of our excursion options listed below. Alternatively, you can explore on your own with a visit to the historical area of Santiago do Cacem, with its Roman ruins, medieval castle and church, hike along a path to the ocean, or be lulled to sleep by the sound of the wind rustling the leaves in the back garden. No matter what path you choose, you are certain to return from your cooking vacation at the Herdade with a sense of serenity.
DATES/PRICES OFFERED
| March 15-19, 2010 | $878.00 |
| March 22-26, 2010 | $878.00 |
| April 5-9, 2010 | $878.00 |
| April 12-16, 2010 | $878.00 |
| April 19-23, 2010 | $878.00 |
There is a single supplement associated with this trip. The cost is: $255.00
* Prices do not include additional excursions*Please note that all weeks require a minimum of 4 participants to be a guaranteed departure.
INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM
Four nights accommodations at Herdade da Matinha, including breakfast
Welcome dinner including wine
3 cooking lessons and three dinners including wine
Excursion to local bread baker
Farewell lunch by the sea
Taxes and service
Note: Transfers are not included in the price of this vacation. Given the location of the Herdade, we recommend clients hire rental cars to explore the area. Transfers to/from the airport in Lisbon or Faro can be arranged upon request at an additional cost.
Note: This facility is not air conditioned, however the temperate climate and the construction of the house make it unnecessary.
