This holiday will give you the chance to get acquainted with Greek cuisine, discover rare regional recipes and sample some excellent local products. You will learn to prepare two full menus, have a wine and cheese tasting, visit a traditional taverna, and visit the local market where you can try and buy local delicacies. You will have the chance to visit a medieval settlement and swim on pristine beaches. You will be staying in a mansion full of old world charm, in the magnificent town of Ermoupolis, which is the capital of the Cyclades, and one of the most beautiful towns in Greece.
Day 1
Arrival by morning or evening ferry. If you arrive in the morning, free time to explore the town or swim in Vaporia, an excellent swimming spot less than 10 minutes’ walk from the villa.
Evening welcome drinks and buffet dinner with local specialities.
Day 2
Breakfast in the courtyard.
Organic and homemade! With freshly baked wholemeal bread, cakes (such as carob, cinnamon and orange, nuts and raisins), jams made with fruit from our garden (fig with rose geranium, lemon/lavender, Seville orange marmalade), thyme honey, butter and yoghurt from the local dairy farm and our homemade seed, fig and nut granola.
10 a.m: Cooking Class
Learn the basics about Greek cuisine. Why it is one of the most balanced and healthy in the world. Secrets and techniques.
A hands-on 3-hour class during which we will prepare a Greek feast of several dishes, that we will then enjoy in the shaded courtyard.
Sample dishes
- traditional olive bread
- parsley/garlic dip
- beetroot/walnut and yogurt salad
- “ladenia”, a Greek island focaccia with tomatoes, olives, oregano and onions
- courgette pie with goat cheese and mint
- split peas purée with caramelized onions, capers and sun-dried tomatoes
- chickpeas with rosemary
- stuffed peppers and tomatoes with herbs, bulgur, pine nuts and currants
- anchovies in vine leaves with fennel/lemon sauce
- sweet milk pie
- semolina halva
- free evening to explore the magnificent town of Ermoupolis, or visit the medieval settlement of Ano Syros.
Day 3
Breakfast in the courtyard.
Market tour where we will visit the fruit and fish market, a shop selling loukoumia ( a kind of mastic or rose-flavored Turkish delight) and halvadopites (a kind of nougat), the traditional sweets Syros which is famous for, as well as a shop where you’ll find all the best local products from the Cyclades (many different cheeses, award winning thyme honey, capers, rock samphire, olives and olive oil, olive oil soaps, pickled artichokes, local fennel sausages, sun dried tomatoes, pasta, liqueurs etc.)
Light lunch in a local taverna, where you will try some of the local specialities.
5:00: Cooking class/ wine and cheese tasting
We will prepare a feast with mezedes, small dishes that will accompany our wine tasting. We will then sample white, rose and red wines from small producers from different regions, and various sheep, goat and cow’s cheeses.
We will also use cheese in various recipes, such as:
- feta cheese and egg “flour pie”
- figs with goat cheese and mint
- aubergine rolls with ricotta cheese and tomato sauce
- smoked aubergine dip
- salad with raw zucchini, herbs and lemon
- stuffed vine leaves with herbs and tahini sauce
- black lentil and barley salad with red peppers and walnuts
- almond figs poached in sweet wine and spices with yogurt
Day 4
Breakfast in the courtyard.
Free morning to explore the town, visit some of the sights and museums, or, if the weather permits, have a swim at Vaporia.
Departure with the afternoon ferry at 4.00.
Cost per person
750-850€ (private double room/single occupancy, price varies for different rooms)
700€ (shared twin or double room)
Minimum number of participants: 4
Maximum number of participants: 12
For 1-2 participants, there is a 150 € supplement per person.
For 3 participants, there is a 100 € supplement per person.
What is included
- 3 nights accommodation
- 3 breakfasts
- 1 buffet dinner with wine
- 2 cooking classes ( followed by lunch and dinner)
- 1 wine and cheese tasting
- 1 market tour/ light lunch
- Refreshments, teas, coffees during your stay
- All the cooking class recipes
What is not included
- Airfare, ferry tickets
- Extra drinks/meals not mentioned above
- Optional activities
Note
This holiday can be tailor-made on requested dates.
Some activities may change depending on the weather and time of the year.