Cooking or culinary holidays, vacations, tours in Italy:

Learn great Italian cooking
. . . relax and enjoy the beauty of Lake Garda

Lake Garda the largest of the Italian lakes, sits at the foot of the Alps, in one of the most beautiful areas of southern Europe. Being only 30 kilometres from Verona, 100 kilometres from Milan and 130 kilometres from Venice it is well placed for road, rail and air travel and makes a wonderful place for a vacation or a short break, especially a short break learning and enjoying Italian cooking with an expert like Chef Andrea Messini as your teacher.

The Lake's natural scenery, full of colours, surrounded by the Dolomites of Brenta in the north and the gentle slopes of the Morainic hills in the south makes a great place to stay. Thanks to the Mediterranean climate lemon trees, oleanders, magnolias and bougainvillaea grow throughout the area, whilst the cultivation of vineyards and olive groves produces good wines and olive oil.

Walking leisurely around the small village centres, going on a boat trip, exploring the surroundings in a wide choice of itineraries are the best ways of enjoying the lively atmosphere of the lake and the beauty of the landscape.

Lake Garda is also the ideal base for visiting some of the historical cities like Verona, Brescia, Mantua, Trent and Venice . . . experience an evening performance of the opera in the Roman arena in Verona.

Le Gemme di Artemisia is a restaurant on the shores of Lake Garda whose owners Andrea and Lara Messini, as well as running a superb restaurant, also provide cooking classes which are taught by Chef Andrea. The cooking classes are organised for between two and six people, so that everyone gets personal attention, in the restaurant kitchen. Choosing from different topics, you will enjoy spending several hours with the chef learning about Italian food, cooking a menu, as well as sharing opinions and ideas, tasting wines and having lunch.

Basic lesson
Traditional Italian food such as bread, Bruschetta, Ciabatta, antipasti, pasta-ravioli, tagliolini, tortelloni, Risotto and dolci (desserts)

• Welcome with Italian breakfast (cappuccino and brioche) on the terrace overlooking the lake
  
• Hands-on Cooking lesson (one day)
• Lunch which includes a bottle of wine, a bottle of water and coffee or cappuccino
• Duration four hours
• Each student will receive a personalised folder with the recipes, complimentary bottle of water during the
  class and an apron
• At the end of the lesson the students will receive a culinary diploma signed by the chef
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD on their return home

Basic courses for 2/3/4 days available

Intermediate lesson
Choose your favorite topics: Italian Antipasti, bread / Panini, finger food, home made pastarice , risotto technique, gnocchi (potato dumplings), vegetarian, fish and seafood, meat and poultry, dessert

• Welcome with Italian breakfast (cappuccino and brioche) on the terrace overlooking the lake
  
• Hands-on Cooking lesson (one day)
• Lunch which includes two differrent wines, a bottle of water and coffee or cappuccino
• Duration four / five hours
• Each student will receive a personalised folder with the recipes, complimentary bottle of water during the
  class and an apron
• At the end of the lesson the students will receive a culinary diploma signed by the chef
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD on their return home

Intermediate courses for 2/3/4 days available

Advanced lesson
Italian culinary evolution - preparation of five course set menus . . . starter, soup, pasta, main course and dessert

• Welcome with Italian breakfast (cappuccino and brioche) on the terrace overlooking the lake
  
• Hands-on cooking class
• Lunch which includes three different wines, a bottle of water and coffee or cappuccino
• Duration five hours
• Each student will receive a personalised folder with the recipes, complimentary bottle of water during the
  class and an apron
• At the end of the lesson the students will receive a culinary diploma signed by the chef
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD on their return home

Advanced courses for 2/3/4 days available

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, AVAILABILITY AND PRICES EMAIL info@legemmediartemisia.it

SPECIAL GOURMET TOURS

Basic Gourmet Tour One:

• 2 days cooking class (basic)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD
• Visiting and tasting at a grappa distillery or the Olive Oil Museum
• One Gala dinner set menu in the restaurant

Basic Gourmet Tour Two:

• 3 days cooking class (basic)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be fowarded to the students on a CD
• Visit to the Amarone Wine estate and tasting (5 different wines including Amarone and Recioto)
• One Gala dinner set menu in the restaurant

Basic Gourmet Tour Three:

• 4 days cooking class (basic)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD
• Visit to the Amarone wine estate and tasting or visit a cheese boutique and tasting
• Visit to the Olive Oil Museum
• One Gala dinner set menu in the restaurant

Intermediate Gourmet Tour One:

• 2 days cooking class (basic)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD
• Visiting and tasting at a grappa distillery or the Olive Oil Museum
• One Gala dinner set menu in the restaurant

Intermediate Gourmet Tour Two:

• 3 days cooking class (basic)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be fowarded to the students on a CD
• Visiting and tasting at a grappa distillery or the Olive Oil Museum
• One Gala dinner set menu in the restaurant

Intermediate Gourmet Tour Three:

• 4 days cooking class (basic)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD
• Visiting and tasting at a grappa distillery or the Olive Oil Museum
• One Gala dinner set menu in the restaurant

Advanced Grand Gourmet Tour One:

• 2 days cooking class (advanced)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD
• Visit to the Amarone Wine estate and tasting
• One Gala Dinner set menu in the restaurant

Advanced Grand Gourmet Tour Two:

• 3 days cooking class (advanced)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD
• Visit to a grappa distillery
• Visit to the Amarone Wine estate and tasting or visit to a cheese boutique and tasting
• One Gala Dinner set menu in the restaurant

Advanced Grand Gourmet Tour Three:

• 4 days cooking class (advanced)
• Lunches included
• Complimentary breakfast upon arrival
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef, complimentary bottle of water during the class and an apron
• Cooking class pictures will be forwarded to the students on a CD
• Visit to a grappa distillery and Olive Oil Museum
• Visit to the Amarone Wine estate , the cheese boutique and tasting
• One Gala Dinner set menu in the restaurant

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, AVAILABILITY AND PRICES EMAIL info@legemmediartemisia.it

Three star hotel in Albisano

The 3 star hotel is located in Albisano, very close to the restaurant which is just a five minute walk away. It has been recently rennovated with its twelve rooms finely furnished. It offers bar service, TV satelite, air conditioning (on demand) private parking place, garden and swimming pool.

The hotel is open from the end of March to mid October - please ask about availability.

Package No 1 - Basic cooking class (1 day):

• Welcome Italian breakfast upon arrival
• Personlized folders with recipes
• Hands- on cooking class
• Lunch which includes 1 bottle of wine, water, coffee or tea or cappuccino at the end of the meal
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef
• One cd with cooking class images taken during the class

Accommodation in the hotel located in Albisano for 2 nights including breakfast in a double occupancy for 2 people (minimum 2 nights and minimum 2 people required)

Package No 2 - Basic cooking class (2 days):

• Welcome Italian breakfast upon arrival
• Personlized folders with recipes
• Hands- on cooking class
• Lunch which includes 1 bottle of wine, water, coffee or tea or cappuccino at the end of the meal
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef
• One cd with cooking class images taken during the class

Accommodation in the hotel located in Albisano for 3 nights including breakfast in a double occupancy for 2 people (minimum 2 nights and minimum 2 people required)

Overview from Le Gemme di Artemisia

Staying at The Residence

The Residence offers its guests an unforgettable experience in hospitality. It offers different types of apartments well equipped with garden or private terrace, communal swimming pool, wellness, panoramic bar and hobby area, parking spaces and underground car park. Each apartment has a kitchen area and bathroom and the bright comfortable rooms are characterised by a magical view of the town of Torri del Benaco and its picturesque port with its ancient Scaligera Castle. All apartments are complete with every possible comfort such as air-conditioning, colour TV, satellite TV, Wired internet connection.

Package No 1 - Basic cooking class (1 day):

• Welcome Italian breakfast upon arrival
• Personlized folders with recipes
• Hands- on cooking class
• Lunch which includes 1 bottle of wine, water, coffee or tea or cappuccino at the end of the meal
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef
• One cd with cooking class images taken during the class

Accommodation at The Residence located in Torri del Benaco about 4 km distance from the restaruant for 2 nights including breakfast in a double occupancy for 2 people (minimum 2 nights and minimum 2 people required)

Package No 2 - Basic cooking class (2 days):

• Welcome Italian breakfast upon arrival
• Personlized folders with recipes
• Hands- on cooking class
• Lunch which includes 1 bottle of wine, water, coffee or tea or cappuccino at the end of the meal
• Culinary diploma signed by the chef
• One cd with cooking class images taken during the class

Accommodation at The Residence located in Torri del Benaco about 4 km distance from the restaruant for 3 nights including breakfast in a double occupancy for 2 people (minimum 2 nights and minimum 2 people required)

Please note the above packages are suject to availability and valid
for the months of March, April, May, October and November

Le Gemme DI Artemisia, described as atelier del gusto which literally translated means workshop of the taste . . .

Le Gemme DI Artemisia is the restaurant run by Chef Andrea Messini and his wife Lara, and where the cooking classes are held.

Le Gemme DI Artemisia is a private villa with an exclusive fine dining restaurant. It is located on the hillside of Albisano, only five minutes drive from Torri del Benaco, a small village on the west coast of Lake Garda. The restaurant is noted for its privacy and quietness and for being surrounded by the beautiful landscape. The restaurant which utilises three rooms at three different level is, because of its privacy, very exclusive. As well as the three different dining rooms there is also an outdoor terrace where guest can enjoy al fresco dining in the summertime . . . with an astonishing view of the entire lake.