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Cooking everything under the sun...the Sicilian way. An eclectic mix of Italian, Spanish and Greek influences, the Sicilian kitchen reflects the warm sunny climate and bold spirit of its people. Jody Adams, chef/owner of Rialto Restaurant in Cambridge, MA heads our May 4-11, Chef Roberto Donna, of Bebo Trattoria in Arlington, VA joins us Sep 14-21 and Chef Joe Hafner, of Gracie's in Providence, RI headlines our Sep 28-Oct 5 departure. All chefs celebrate the specialties of Sicilian cuisine. Our menus include fresh sheep's ricotta, fettuccine with cream & lemon zest and grilled calamari paired with tomatoes, capers and olives. Biking to open air markets, watching the catch hauled in, or plucking oranges from the trees, we are immersed into the hearty specialties of the area.
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• The imposing view of Mt. Etna from our inn
• Biking through the lava fields
• Shopping in the open-air vegetable market
• A late night visit to the local fish market to select our pesce straight from the fishing boats
• Visiting Bartolo & his mother as they teach us to make maccheroni
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Highlights of our week include:
Bike to an open air market brimming with purple artichokes, prickly pears and pomegranates. Later, stop by a wood-fired oven as the women pull out freshly baked sesame bread.
A late night visit to the local fish market to select our calamari, amberjack and sea bass straight from the fishing boats.
An afternoon in the kitchen to prepare antipasti siciliani:caponata, fennel & orange salad, peperonata and smoked eggplant.
A visit by boat to Salina, where we picnic at an island home and tour a family vineyard for the best sweet Malvasia wine and salty island-grown capers. A morning in the kitchen with Donna Teresa, a Sicilian mother who teaches us her secrets to making hand-rolled maccheroni and involtini.
Our tour begins on the volcanic islands of Lipari, Vulcano and Salina. We hike upto the crater in Vulcano and cruise by private boat to the village where Il Postino was filmed. Next, we visit the stylish resort town of Taormina and secluded villages along the base of Mt. Etna.
• Hotels include Villa Meligunis, a 4 star property in Lipari, and Grand Hotel Timeo, a magnificent 5 star property in Taormina.
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2008 Dates and Guest Chefs:
• May 4-11: Jody Adams, Rialto Restaurant, Cambridge, MA
• Sep 14-21: Roberto Donna, Bebo Trattoria, Arlington, VA
• Sep 28-Oct 5: Joe Hafner, Gracie's Restaurant, Providence, RI
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Dates: May 4-11, Sep 14-21, Sep 28-Oct 5, May 3-10, 2009
Length: 8 days/7 nights
Level: 1 B/C
Daily Mileage: 15-35 miles on gently rolling to rolling terrain. A few climbs.
Cost: $5180
Single Supplement: $1000
Meals: All breakfasts, all dinners but 2; picnic lunch
Hotels: Beautiful 4 and 5 star villas.
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