The Secret Garden: 8 day cookery course on the Amalfi Coast

Our Secret Garden program takes you through a culinary tour of the famed Amalfi Coast and its Mediterranean cooking, with recipes featuring the healthy Mediterranean diet.

We welcome you to our professional Mediterranean kitchen, where you will experience authentic hands-on cooking using different recipes, techniques and styles. After each class, everyone eats the foods that were prepared in class. Toast with local red or white wine, and end with a sweet dessert. This one-of-a-kind cooking class program brings you up close and into the kitchens of the Amalfi Coast’s most celebrated chefs - ideal for the real foodie - and also includes a visit to the countryside kitchen of Mamma Rosa.

During the week, if you choose, you will also learn the technique of cooking authentic Neapolitan pizza with Pietro, a real pizzaiolo from Naples. This authentic pizza making class shares the secret recipe for mixing, kneading and stretching the best pizza dough and cooking it in a wood-burning oven for a perfect crispy crust. If pasta is your favorite, you can choose to learn how to make hand-made pasta. Mamma Rosa starts out the morning in her country kitchen with a class on making her homemade cheeses, where she will start by teaching you how to make fresh organic hand-made mozzarella. Fresh pasta making is an art in Italy; and Mamma Rosa will show you step-by-step the artisan way! Italy’s pastas include over 1,000 different types, including gnocchi, ravioli, tortellini, cannelloni, orecchiette, casarecci, and garganelli, to name but a few.

Itinerary: 8 days 7 nights

Saturday to Saturday, or check in and start your program on any day of the week.

Saturday: Benvenuto & Welcome

Pick-up and transfer from Naples airport or train station to the property. Arrival and check-in. Relax on your private terrace with an aperitivo. Introduction to the area and your cooking program for the week. A welcome dinner is included. Dine on award-winning southern Italian food set in charming surroundings that overlook the panoramic Amalfi Coast. (Wine, cold drinks, fruit juice, grappa and an assortment of after dinner digestives are not included, and are available at a surcharge).

Sunday: Cooking Class 1, Discover Positano and Tour Sorrento, City Of Song, the Tarantella, Limoncello & Confetti Candy

Breakfast is served.

Take the morning to discover Positano and walk to the Bar Mulini in the Piazza for a cappuccino or refreshing drink. You can also easily visit Sorrento, a suggestion, which is just a short bus ride away with the blue SITA or the Positano-Sorrento Water Taxi. (You will need to buy your round trip bus tickets in the Mulini Café in the Piazza Mulini or at Bar International.)

Explore Sorrento the city of song, dance & the Tarantella on your own. Visit Piazza Tasso and the famous Fauno Café, walk through the cobblestone streets and see artisans make shoes, leather bags, ceramics and confetti, wedding candies. Visit the artisan soap maker, who produces lemon soap from the essence of the Sorrento lemons. Visit the famous limoncello maker and see how this delicious local drink is made, complimentary tastings included. Stop at the artisan “Confetti & Agrumeti,” and watch Antonio toast the almonds and then coat them in chocolate, orange zest or lemon. Complimentary tastings of the sugarcoated almonds are available. Walk to Marina Grande in old Sorrento and visit Saint Ann’s Church- patron saint of the marina, sip a Prosecco at the Fauno Café, or stroll along the famous Corso Italia.

Cooking Class 1

Your first hands-on cooking class. The class starts late in the afternoon in our Mediterranean kitchen. You will learn to prepare a dinner using the best recipes of the region and with farm fresh local produce- the menu varies as it is based on the seasonal produce. Dinner follows and everyone eats together the dishes prepared in class. Toast with red or white wine, and end with a sweet dessert, both included. Linger on the terrace overlooking the sea as you dine on your cooking class creations-watch the sun set, and the twinkling lights of Praiano & Li Galli Islands.

Monday: Capri, Italy’s Glamorous Seaside Island & The Blue Grotto

Breakfast is served

A full-day visit to the Isle of Capri, where you can choose to see the Blue Grotto- the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, or stroll along the port. The Blue Grotto has a special cavern entrance where the sunlight reflects on the water in the cave, tingeing it a dramatic Mediterranean cerulean shade of blue. Capri is Italy's most popular and glamorous seaside island and is just twenty minutes away. Once in the port of Capri, you can choose to take the funicular up to the famous Piazza Umberto. This square, better known as ‘la piazzetta’, is perched high above the sea and offers a panoramic view of the Bay of Naples. You can also choose to visit Anacapri-the highest point on the island and go back in time to narrow streets and white-washed villa properties dotting the way. In town, you can shop at world-class luxury boutiques or simply enjoy a gelato or Prosecco Mimosa in the Piazza Umberto.

This full day excursion, departs from Positano port at 9:00am, please arrive in the port no later than 8:45am.

After your stay on the island, we re-embark on board with our Captain for a sail around the Island. The boat tour includes a stop at the Blue Grotto (if open and weather permitting), a swim by the White Grotto (towels included), and a stop for Prosecco, soft drinks and Italian cakes served on board (included).

Evening free and on your own. Suggestion: Tre Sorelle. Tell Luigi you were recommended by Cooking Vacations. After dinner, take a walk to the beach and visit the fabulous café and music bar, "Music On The Rocks", carved in natural rock formation, or “Buca”, where you can dance under the stars, or sit outside at a café table by the sea.

Tuesday Cooking Class 2

Breakfast is served.

In the morning take a walk through town and to Fornillo at Ferdinando’s Beach, where the locals go. Lined with colorful beach chairs and umbrellas, let Guido guide you to your seat at the shoreline for some rest and relaxation. Have lunch, take a swim and sip a limoncello on the beach of Positano. Walk the sands where Diane Lane’s love story took her in- “Under The Tuscan Sun.”

Cooking Class 2

In the late afternoon, tie on your apron and get ready for your second hands-on cooking class. Dinner follows and everyone eats together the dishes prepared in class on the terrace. Toast with red or white wine, and end with a sweet dessert, both included. Enjoy the evening, and listen to the Neapolitan music as you overlook the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Wednesday: Cooking Class 3 ~ Mozzarella Cheese & Cooking Class

A UNIQUE FOOD & CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

Breakfast is served.

Join our family for an early morning departure for a visit to the country kitchen of Chef Rosa at her farmhouse in the hills. Tie on your apron and follow Mamma Rosa in an old-world artisan cheese-making class. She takes fresh milk and works it into creamy cheese-weaved into braids and twists. This cooking class includes an unforgettable opportunity to partake in artisan mozzarella and old-word cheese making. While the cheese sets, her son will give you a tour of the property filled with lemon and olive groves.

Then it’s off to the kitchen where you will participate in a Neapolitan pizza class, or fresh pasta making or even limoncello making. Roll up your sleeves for a morning of kneading and rolling the dough. Mamma Rosa will teach you her technique for stretching and rolling the delicate dough into crispy creations hot from the wood-burning oven. You can also choose the pasta class, where she takes you through the art of making an assortment of fresh pasta and sauces. If you choose to make limoncello, you will pick your own lemons and bring them back to the kitchen for a lesson in limoncello making.

Work up an appetite for lunch, which is served on the terrace. Wine, water, dessert, limoncello & caffè included. After lunch, tour the olive groves and olive oil making area for a taste of the farm’s prized oil. Return to Positano by private transfer.

In the later afternoon explore Positano. Walk the “Strada Of The Gods”, the footpath that overlooks Positano or take the orange bus or “pulmino” up to the old village of Montepertuso for a panoramic view that spans Capri to the Cilento coast. Or if you are in Sorrento, visit the town, take a horse & buggy ride or sip a caffè in the Fauno Bar.

Evening is free and dinner is on your own. Suggestion: La Taverna del Leone. Tell Antonio you were recommended by Cooking Vacations.

Thursday: The Amalfi Coast & Ravello-The Hilltop Town, A Pastry Café Visit & Ceramic Pottery Visit

Breakfast is served

Drive along the famed Amalfi Coast headed to Amalfi & the hilltop village of Ravello. Along the way, stop to visit our artisan ceramic maker (optional). You will see old-world artisans paint seascapes, mermaids, suns & moons, and romantic angels in soft pastel shades.

Colorful pasta plates, cappuccino & espresso cups, serving platters, and giant table tops decorated in hues of pink, yellows and sky blue are just some of the Mediterranean ceramics for sale. Select a piece or an entire set; the shops ship worldwide.

Amalfi & Ravello

The town of Amalfi is rich in culture and history. The small city, perched on the coastline, is dominated by Amalfi’s Cathedral and its main streets are lined with small shops and elegant bars. Merchants display their wares outside and nothing could be more pleasant than browsing through stalls of herbs and spices, jewelry, shoes, handmade Amalfi paper, and local lemon specialties such as soaps and local lemon liqueurs. We bring you to one of the most famous and oldest pastry makers, dating back to the 1800’s, in southern Italy. Look inside the sweet showcase to chocolate drenched eggplant flavored with pine nuts, liqueur & orange; or fragrant ricotta pear tarts, candied lemon & orange dipped in chocolate or festive pastries of the day! Whatever you decide to order, take a seat outside in the piazza at one of the small café tables-a great place for people watching.

The afternoon continues with an excursion to Ravello. Ravello is perched 350 meters above the rocky spur of the Amalfi Coast separating the Valle del Dragone from the Valle del Regina. Today, Ravello is world-famous for its outdoor music concerts. Visit Villa Cimbrone, once the residence of Greta Garbo, and wander through the lush gardens and the Terrazza Della Rosa, stroll down the path that leads to the Terrazzo dell'Infinito, Terrace of Infinity-this is a must-see! The natural balcony is adorned with imposing marble busts. From this unique vantage point you can see the distant Cilento Mountains and the Licosa beyond the sparkling sea, the lush Amalfi Coast, its distinctive terraces of colorful lemon trees, and the houses that cling to the rugged coastline. Stroll along the streets and alleyways and discover little gems of churches, chapels, and noblemen's residences. Also see the Cathedral, Villa Rufolo, San Giovanni del Tauro, and Santa Maria.

Return to Positano.

Food Lover’s Tour & Prosecco Toast

Upon returning to Positano, we visit Emilia at our local market for a food lover’s tour. She greets us with home-cooked foods, baskets piled high with fruits and vegetables, and an assortment of local artisan cheeses. Italians “fanno la spesa” each day, and this little shop is one of Positano’s most authentic. Its shelves are piled high with everything from over 600 pastas to cafe to daily breads. And Italians carry on their daily lives in these little markets, shopping daily and exchanging the news of the day. Emilia, owner and foodie, shares her recipes and knowledge on artisan cheeses, wood-oven baked breads, spices. She can also tell you if a melon is sweet from 6 feet away. Figs burst with a burgundy pulp; cherry red tomatoes–the sweet fruit that is a staple in Neapolitan cooking are piled high in baskets; Italian pumpkins line the shelves, black velvet grapes hang on their vine; and zesty yellow lemons, or cedro-the famous melon-size Amalfi Coast citrons are piled high. Informal discussion and food tastings offered.

Next stop is Vincenzo’s. Visit this quaint enoteca, wine bar & café. Vincenzo and Luigi, wine experts and foodies, take you on a mini-wine tour through the different regions in Italy. Also learn about artisan chocolates spiked with candied lemon, orange; and even hot chili pepper. Biscotti, chocolate-lemon kisses and limoncello are just a few of the sweets you will not only learn about, but taste too.

Evening is free and dinner is on your own. Suggestion: Da Vincenzo. Tell Marcella you were recommended by Cooking Vacations.

Friday: Pompeii Excursion~Discover The Ancient Roman Civilization

Breakfast is served.

After breakfast you will begin your day with an early morning excursion to Pompeii. You will visit this famous seat of ancient Roman civilization near Naples whose ruins date back to 79AD. Discover and explore the ancient city that was covered by the eruption of Vesuvius, and unravel the ancient mystery of the Roman Empire. Visit Pompeii's open-air museum and explore the labyrinth of paths that lead you through the ruins of the buried city. Take time out during your visit for a panino in the café near the forum. A private tour guide is available for 2 hours at $265. Return to Positano with private transfer.

The evening is free and dinner is on your own. Suggestion: Mediterraneo, where good food & music will sweep you away. Tell Enzo you were recommended by Cooking Vacations.

Saturday: Check Out & Departure

Breakfast is served.

Departure transfer to airport or train station. Ciao e a presto!

Note: This is a sample itinerary, your actual itinerary may vary.

A Little About Positano

John Steinbeck lived in Positano in 1953 and wrote, “Positano bites deep, it’s a dream place, that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” Over time, Positano has attracted artists, writers, and photographers, who came to capture its magical effects. It is a little Moorish-style village that was discovered by American and British troops at the end of World War II. Positano's small winding streets are filled with tiny cafés, terraces, and artisan shops selling ceramics, limoncello and antiques. Take a walk along the stone pathway, the one little street that leads to the beach. Visit the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta in Piazza Flavio Gioia, a Romanesque structure that was completely rebuilt in 1700. The people of Positano celebrate her feast day every August 15th, when the locals carry the statue along the beach with a parade of musicians. A spectacular fireworks display follows.

In the 10th century, Positano was part of Amalfi’s Maritime Republic, and rivaled Venice as an important mercantile power. It was an important center during the 16th and 17th centuries, when its ships traded in the Near and Middle East, carrying spices, silks and precious woods. The advent of the steamship in the mid-19th century led to the town’s decline; and some three quarters of its 8,000 citizens left for America, with most settling in New York. Gracing the pathway is the Palazzo Murat, originally built by Prince Joachim Murat, whom Napoleon designated as King of Naples in 1808. Murat wanted to lead the simple life, yet built a grand palazzo. He was killed in battle and never enjoyed his palace.

The majolica dome, Positano’s landmark, is the Chiesa Madre, or the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta. It has a green and yellow majolica dome, topped by a cupola. It was built on the site of a former Benedictine Abbey of Saint Vito, a 13th century Romanesque structure, and was almost completely rebuilt in 1700. The church has a carved wooden Christ, a, masterpiece of devotional religious art. At the alter, is a Byzantine 13th century painting on wood with the Madonna and Child, known as the Black Virgin. Legend claims that the painting was once stolen by Saracen pirates, who, fleeing in a raging storm, heard a voice from the heavens, say “Posa, Posa put it down, put it down.” When they placed the statue on the beach near the church the storm calmed, as did the Saracens. Positano was saved, and the town’s name was established. Others claim the town was named after Poseidon.

The footpath along the sea leads to Fornilo’s Beach is called Via Positanesi d’America, with the Torre Trasita, one of three of the coastline towers. Set in the sea just off the shore, are the mysterious islets of Li Galli.

The Secret Garden

Our charming Secret Garden Positano program is hosted at a villa-style Bed & Breakfast located in the center of town and overlooking the sea. Each bedroom has its own private terrace and sea view surrounded with flowered pergola and greenery. Cool ceramic tiles line each large bedroom. Each bedroom has a private bathroom, jacuzzi & shower, hair-dryer, safe, refrigerator, and air-conditioning. Breakfast is served in your room each morning, and daily maid service is provided for your convenience. The Secret Garden is truly a magical setting. Positano itself is a garden, set under spectacular Bougainvillea and overlooking the sea. Guests sunbathe on the terrace, walk to the beach or relax at a cozy side-walk café with a fresh squeezed lemonade. Step out your door and cafés, book shops, and trattorias spill onto the sidewalk. A panoramic view spans Li Galli Islands and the Amalfi Coast. The Tyrrhenian Sea is literally at your feet, and the beach is just a short walk away. As the sun sets, sit back on your terrace and watch the world-class yachts and local fishing boats ripple through the cerulean waters. Shuttle boats connect from each of Positano’s beaches and sail along the Coast. From Positano’s port you can take a water taxi to Sorrento, Ischia, Capri, Amalfi and Naples.

Mediterranean gardens dot the Amalfi Coast where red cherry tomatoes, plump eggplant, zucchini, sweet oranges, lemons & pink grapefruit, and olives grow in abundance thanks to the warm Mediterranean climate, fertile volcanic soil and salted sea breeze which provide perfect growing conditions. Organic herbs of basil, sage, parsley, oregano, rosemary and mint, line gardens and fill terracotta pots set on terraces. The local organic herbs that we grow are used in our cooking classes, along with our own 100% Extra Virgin, first-cold-pressed, Olive Oil.