An authentic culinary experience of Puglia
. . . the best flavours and tastes of southern Italy

Virtually undiscovered by overseas visitors, Puglia is the heel to Italy's boot, bordered by the Adriatic Sea to the east and the Ionian Sea to the south, with a total of five hundred miles of coastline.

An ideal location for a gourmet holiday, Puglia is home to some of the brightest seas, most diverse architecture, brilliantly whitewashed towns, aristocratic cities, a landscape graced with over fifty million ancient olive trees and kindest people in all of Italy.

Most of all, this region is a food and wine lover's paradise. Puglia's cuisine is true cucina povera (peasant cooking) created from fresh produce and intense with flavour. It is a cuisine of the sun, drawing energy from one of the most amazing climates on the continent. Puglia also rivals Sicily as Italy's largest wine producer.

Puglia has a typical Mediterranean climate with mild winters and hot dry summers. Summer temperatures average between 25° and 30°. Any month of the year is good to visit this sunny region.

Puglia has been occupied by the Greeks, the Romans, the Spanish, the Turks all of whose influences are evident in the food, in the architecture, the arts, the language and the traditions of the region.

Stile Mediterraneo has designed its luxury workshops and activities to include select and authentic experiences that best capture the unique food, wine, arts, landscape, lifestyle and traditions of this Mediterranean region.

You will discover Puglia’s authentic secrets still unknown to many, thanks to the local people you meet. The magic of a Stile Mediterraneo experience lies in the people it carefully chooses to provide the most wonderful and first class service!

There is a variety of cooking lessons, artisans workshops, visits to vineyards and olive oil mills, outdoor activities and language classes.

• The best Mediterranean lifestyle
  Stile Mediterraneo philosophy is that the best way to find out about a place is through the colors, the smell, the taste of the local food and wine as well as through the arts, the traditions and the people.
  
  Stile Mediterraneo wants you to experience the best of Puglia and its Mediterranean lifestyle!
  
  Therefore, it designs only very special, authentic and customized experiences that best arouse the enjoyment of life, in the most Mediterranean sense.

• Simple food and first class restaurants
  Puglia being home to the true Mediterranean cuisine, there is an emphasis on home-made and traditional food, recipes which are very simple (easy to replicate at home) and healthy. Restaurants are carefully selected : only first class service, excellent food and wine list with an amazing sea view or historical setting.

• Hands-on Classes and Fun
  Stile Mediterraneo specialises in small, intimate, hands-on classes based on personal instruction and individual attention.
  
  The approach is informal and relaxed so as to make your experience truly special and truly enriching, whilst at the same time having fun and relaxing!

• Only the best services and comforts
  Stile Mediterraneo carefully select all the professional cooks, sommeliers, wine makers, vineyards, pasta producers, skippers, artisans, designers, artist studios, markets, galleries, golf courses, farmhouses and . . . even the locations where to enjoy the sunset or have a coffee in order for you to discover the authentic secrets of Puglia, still unknown to many, while having a memorable and magic experience.
  
  Every single detail is taken care of by Stile Mediterraneo so that you experience the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle. The most luxurious and charming locations are carefully chosen for the workshops, activities and accommodation: beautiful villas, private palaces and aristocratic castles are rented in their entirety for the programs and classes.

• Experience the authentic Southern Italy
  Stile Mediterraneo is run by local people, born and brought up in Puglia, which ensures guests attending the classes will discover the authentic Southern Italy and Puglia! At the Stile Mediterraneo School guests will do what the local Italians do . . . dine at the best local restaurants, mingle with interesting local people, learn about the local culture, visit the best artisans, eat the best authentic food and wines, get to see local events.

• Customized itineraries
  In addition to the pre-arranged workshops and activities Stile Mediterraneo is happy to customize a program according to your interests and wishes.

THE CUISINE

The cuisine is one of the best ways to take you to the heart of Puglia. This beautiful region is home to the true Mediterranean Cuisine with an emphasis on seafood, vegetables and olive oil. It ranks number one in the production of olive oil and wine and number two in almond production. When the almond trees are in bloom the air is rich with their sweet scent.

The cuisine is very tasty but at the same time simple. It brings together different flavours which enable you to taste the balance between the sun, the land, the sea and the wind. Puglia is a land that exudes the smells and tastes of herbs and wild vegetables, of home made bread, fresh pasta – troccoli, orecchiette – and legumes. The sea brings in a harvest of mullet, dorado, sea bass, cuttlefish, mussels and eels. All served with a light sprinkling of the region’s excellent olive oil. Cheese is the Puglia region's pride and joy: Caciocavallo, scamorza, ricotta, Cacioricotta and bufala mozzarella.

THE CLASSES

Stile Mediterraneo carefully selects all the people you meet and every single detail of this special experience is designed to reveal, in the best way, the unique food and traditions of this Mediterranean region. You will experience the best of the authentic Pugliese cuisine through a variety of cooking lessons (from private to groups, hands-on or demonstration). Classes are always held in the most luxurious and charming private villas and noble palaces while you will have the run of the beautiful gardens, terraces and swimming pools. Class numbers remain small and intimate while the approach is very informal and relaxed.

THE ACTIVITIES

The Stile Mediterraneo experience includes: visits to the best food and fish markets, to the farmers, to the artisans (producing home-made pasta, bread, cheese and mozzarella, salami, chocolate, ice-cream, figs with almonds), as well as outdoor activities such as cycling to visit a mozzarella producer, fish cooking lessons in beautiful sailing boats or golfing. You will have a chance to learn or practise your language skills through focused language classes or while dining at private homes with selected local families, at chef’s tables, or at the best authentic restaurants. Also, you will experience the culture and arts of the region: Pizzica local dance events; visits to the artisans and craftsmen workshops (ceramic, papier machè and leccese stone); visits to famous fashion stylists who choose the finest fabrics to design tailor made clothes.

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Stile Mediterraneo has designed its luxury workshops and activities to provide very special and authentic experiences that best capture the unique food, wine, arts, landscape, lifestyle and traditions of this Mediterranean region.

You will discover Puglia’s authentic secrets still unknown to many, thanks to the local people you meet. The magic of a Stile Mediterraneo experience lies in the people it carefully selects to look after you!

There is a variety of cooking lessons, artisans workshops, visits to vineyards and olive oil mills, outdoor activities and language classes.

One of the villas where classes take place, and where people are accommodated, is in a beautiful small village, forty kilometres from Lecce and roughly ten kilometres from the Adriatic Sea. The villa is located in the main square, of this village of not more than three thousand inhabitants. It is a real experience to have a coffee in the square and soak up the local relaxed pace of life!

COOKING AND LEARNING ITALIAN . . . THE CHOICE IS YOURS!

Stile Mediterraneo organizes many different programs as well as also customizing classes and events that combine culture and fun for individuals, couples, groups or corporate people. Every single service can be customized to your wishes and needs to ensure you experience the best of Puglia and its Mediterranean lifestyle. This is why Stile Mediterraneo puts together only special and authentic programs that best enable you to enjoy the lifesyle of the region, in the most Mediterranean sense.

Every experience is different and unique. You discover the authentic secrets of this Mediterranean region thanks to the local people you meet, their knowledge, tales and traditions. Stile Mediterraneo carefully selects every single experience, from the professional cook to the food market visit, from the best restaurants with a sea view to the vineyard . . .

Exclusivity is an important part of what Stile Mediterraneo does . . . you have the run of the palaces, villas, gardens and open terraces where your activities and events happen.

A TYPICAL CULINARY PROGRAM

Classes are taught by a professional cook and you are free to choose between a demonstration class or a full hands-on one. What you learn are simple Pugliese dishes that you will be able to cook at home. Stile Mediterraneo cooking school approach is that only the freshest and most wholesome ingredients are used.   Saturday : Arrival at airport in Puglia and private transfer to your accommodation. Relax in the villa. Welcome aperitif. Dinner at the villa prepared by a local cook.     Sunday : Cooking class and lunch. After the siesta, experience the Southern Italian lifestyle with a coffee in front of one of the most stunning sea views while mingling with the locals. Cycle through the amazing countryside (or take the private transport) to visit a famous traditional pasta maker Dinner by the sea at one of the best fish restaurants of the region.     Monday : By today you will know enough Italian to be able to talk to the farmers and fishermen that bring us their fresh products in the morning. Visit to one of the best vineyards where you can taste some of the best local wines followed by lunch in the countryside. Cycle along the beautiful Adriatic coast (or take the private transport) to the beach and enjoy the sunset on while having an aperitif or an amazing ice cream. Return for a barbecue dinner.     Tuesday : Cooking class and lunch. Cycle through a nature reserve (or take the private transport) to one of the best mozzarella and cheese farmhouses. Experience the Mediterranean lifestyle with a before dinner aperitif whilst watching a beautiful sunset followed by dinner.     Wednesday : Depending on the season, cooking lesson on a sailing boat. We fish and cook together with the fisherman. Dinner.     Thursday : Visit the weekly market and then lunch. In the afternoon you can choose between learning Italian, playing golf or riding your bike or just relaxing. Dinner at a typical Masseria (farmhouse) in the country.     Friday   Private visit to a fashion stylist studio. Lunch at a first class restaurant in Lecce. Cooking class and dinner while enjoying the rhythm of typical Puglian music and dancing at Pizzica Salentina. Diploma certificates. Farewell party.     Saturday   Deaprture. Private transfers to the airports and train stations. Depending on your flight departure we will spend the day with you shopping at the best artisans shops.

You will get exposure to the Italian language throughout the whole of the program. Please let us know if you wish to have a more formal and structured language class.

During the program you will be free to use the Stile Mediterraneo bicycles or private transport.

To see details of the latest available programs visit the Stile Mediterraneo web site www.stilemediterraneo.it:

(Click on any of the headings below for further information)

• CULINARY WORKSHOP

• WINE SCHOOL

• ARTS, OPERA & FASHION

• OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

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Here are some examples of other programs and events offered by Stile Mediterraneo:

(Click on any of the headings below for further information)

• Wine Tastings and Winery Tours:
  Stile Mediterraneo organizes visits to "private" wine estates, by bike or by private transfer. The tour includes wine tastings in your native language and according to the season a chance to attend the grape harvest and wine making.

• Olive Oil Tours:
  Up to 80% of Italy's olive oil originates from Puglia. You will experience the art of making extra virgin olive oil from olive picking to oil mill visits. You will have the opportunity to explore a landscape of more than 40 millions ancient olive trees . . . endless rows of ancient olive trees whose twisted trunks, on a par with sculptures, frame the land. You will also visit the "frantoi ipogei" - oil mills dating back to ancient Greece.

• Language Classes:
  Stile Mediterraneo offers classes for beginners, intermediate and advanced levels. Language classes are usually combined with activities such as culinary tours and biking itineraries. Classes can be customized according to your wishes.

• Bike and Mozzarella Tours:
  Puglia has some of the most renowned mozzarella producers. Stile Mediterraneo organizes biking tours of the best mozzarella and cheese producers. You will have the opportunity to visit the very ancient "masserie" (farmhouses) in the countryside, producing cheese and mozzarella with artisan and traditional methods.

• Weddings & Honeymoons:
  Stile Mediterraneo can help you organize your dream wedding.

• Customized services:
  Stile Mediterraneo provides customized services to groups, individuals and corporate people, combining activities according to their wishes and interests.

NEED HELP OR FURTHER INFORMATION THEN PLEASE EMAIL <CLICK HERE>

Stile Mediterraneo is run by the two sisters, Cinzia and Marika Rascazzo.

All classes are given by professional cooks, sommeliers, wine makers, skipper, artists, designers, stylists, carefully selected in order to provide an unforgettable and authentic experience.

All the Stile Mediterraneo team speak English and French and personally escort you through the experience, attending to your every need.

Cinzia Rascazzo

Cinzia ,who is fluent in English and French, grew up in Southern Italy where discovered her great love of food, cooking and wine at a young age. Her grandmother taught her the secrets of how to make hand-made "orecchiette" pasta and her grandfather, during the grape harvest, allowed her to squeeze the grapes with her feet in order to make the must. Cinzia has since loved to have family and friends for meals, cooking great food, trying new recipes and tasting fantastic wines.

Having earned an MBA from Harvard Business School in Boston and worked for many years in marketing and finance in New York and London, Cinzia experienced many diverse and international cultures, tastes and cuisines. With the passion to find out what life has best to offer, she has travelled extensively looking for the finest in hospitality and the culinary arts.

Eager to contribute to her home-land, and passionate about the wine, food and hospitality sectors she decided to move back to Puglia and worked as a consultant for niche regional companies, in the wine, food, jewellery, hotel and fashion sectors. Cinzia gained a deep knowledge and access to a broad network of artisan companies, producing the best wine, olive oil, cheese, pasta, meat and other regional delicacies, still using traditional methods . . . some of them are in almost inaccessable locations.

Cinzia's approach to life, food, wine and hospitality was influenced by the Slow Food movement which promotes the preservation of culinary heritage and the production of local traditional foods and fosters people's use and enjoyment of food having the highest possible quality.

Cinzia was concerned that available tours did not do justice to the Italy that exists beyond the traditional tourist places and guide books. Equipped with her intimate knowledge of Southern Italy, her broad network of food artisans and wine estates, Cinzia founded Stile Mediterraneo so that the authentic style and life of Puglia and Southern Italy could be truly experienced, with the real local people.

Stile Mediterraneo's mission is to customize every activity to provide a luxurious experience that will get its guests to the heart of Southern Italy's cuisine, wineries, culture, traditions, natural beauties and people.

Marika Rascazzo

Marika works as a Clinical Cardiologist at the Lecce main hospital.

She joined Cinzia in the Stile Mediterraneo project sharing the same passion and interest for cooking, food, wine and the arts. She is an excellent cook and a member of Slow Food Organization.

Given her professional experience she has a deep knowledge of the benefits for people’s heart and health of the Mediterranean diet and wines.

She is an expert photographer. She loves traveling and cycling and she speaks fluent English, as well as Italian.

All Stile Mediterraneo cooking and language classes take place in the most stylish villas, aristocratic palaces or luxury castles that are rented in their entirety for the duration of your stay. You have use of the house, the kitchens, the gardens, terraces and swimming pools, so you are free to relax in the shade, have a hand-made pasta or pizza cooking class by the swimming pool nestled in the garden, or have an aperitif language class on the terrace while enjoying a beautiful sunset.

For your accommodation during your culinary holidays, Stile Mediterraneo wants to make every experience really unique which is why the most charming and luxurious accommodation is chosen.

You may have the option to stay at the same villa or palace where the cooking classes take place. All rooms have private bathrooms and all other comforts. There will be a cook for all meals at the palace and two maids who provide breakfast and general housekeeping and room cleaning. There will be private transfer service and bikes available at the villa for the guests.

The accommodation Stile Mediterraneo chooses is all privately owned by local families and rented out exclusively to Stile Mediterraneo during the whole program. You and the Stile Mediterraneo staff will be the only guests at the villas.

As an alternative, Stile Mediterraneo does organize some cooking holidays where a hotel is the most suitable accommodation to fit in with the culinary workshops and tours. Where this is the case only first class, stylish and pleasantly located hotels are used. Stile Mediterraneo prefers to use hotels located in the historical centers or in beautiful little towns where you can get an authentic experience with the real local people.

• All the rooms have private bathrooms and all other comforts.
• There will be private transfer service and bikes available at the villa for the guests.
• Stile Mediterraneo School's staff will personally escort you during the whole program.
  

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