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 from the north, the middle and the south of Italy . . . bread, pasta, gnocchi, risotto, antipasti

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

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

• Welcome with Italian breakfast (croissant and cappuccino) on the terrace overlooking the lake
  
• Hands-on Cooking lesson (one day)
• Lunch which includes three different wines, a bottle of water and espresso or cappuccino
• Duration five hours
• Each student will receive a personalised folder with the recipes
• At the end of the lesson the students will receive a culinary diploma
• Cooking lesson pictures will be forwarded to the students by email on their return home

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

SPECIAL PACKAGES

Package One:

• 2 days of the Basic cooking classes
• Visit and tasting of grappa in a top quality distillery
• Visit the olive oil museum
• One gala dinner in the restaurant

Package Two:

• 2 days of the Advanced cooking classes
• Visit one of the smallest wineries in Valpolicella valley and tasting the Amarone wine
• Visit and tasting of grappa in a top quality distillery
• Visit the olive oil museum
• One gala dinner in the restaurant

All the cooking courses are held in the morning. Upon request Andrea and Lara can arrange accommodation, just five minutes drive from the restaurant.

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

CREATE YOUR FAVOURITE PACKAGE

Choose from one or more cooking classes, either basic or advanced:

• Visit and tasting of grappa in a top quality distillery
  Duration 1 hour
  
  
• Visit the olive oil museum
  Duration 1 to 2 hours
  
  
• Visit one of the smallest wineries in Valpolicella valley and tasting the Amarone wine
  Duration 2 to 3 hours
  
  
• Visit to organic cheese farm located 2,000 metres up on Mount Baldo, with a tasting of the products and lunch in a very wild location
  Duration 4 to 5 hours
  
  
• Excursion to Isola della Scala the rice town for a risotto menu and a visit to the Ferron rice farm
  Duration 4 to 5 hours
  

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

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.

Andrea and Lara can arrange accommodation, just a short drive from the restaurant, if you need their help.

Relais San Michele

The Bed and Breakfast Relais San Michele is situated near the village of Gaium in the Rivoli Veronese area, a pleasant place on the right bank of the Adige river. The Relais, originally built as a house in the early Nineteenth century and left to fall into disrepair in more recent years, has been lovingly restored by its present owners. It is an ideal place to stay for anyone looking for peace and tranquillity and to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

All the rooms are furnished in new country style, and are very bright and airy and all have a private bathroom, independent heating and TV. Breakfast is served buffet style and in the summer can be enjoyed in the garden, accompanied by the sound of the water as it runs through the canal near the house. There is also private car parking and a beautiful garden where in summer you can relax in the sun and listen to the song of cicada.