Santorini, Greece
with Rosemary Barron

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Tables – The foods, wines, food history & culture of Santorini. Rosemary Barron has been an expert on Greek food for 30 years. Her best selling book Flavours of Greece was ‘Editor’s Choice’ in the New York Times; she is now writing a sequel. Her highly acclaimed cooking tours on Crete & Santorini are a favourite destination for food lovers. Her love of the history and food lore of Greece and the islands has convinced her that the ‘secret’ to good health may lie in this heritage - in the wonderfully fresh foods, good local produce and wines we still find today. Her cookery courses aim to teach about both the past and the present. Above all Rosemary is great fun to be with!

The island of Santorini has a haunting, mysterious beauty. As well as being one of the most subtly understated and fashionable of the Greek Islands, it is steeped in history and has a wonderful food culture. It is an ideal place to learn the secrets of real Greek food. The food is delicious – contrary to some people’s perceptions. The real cuisine is very much undiscovered. With Rosemary’s personal contacts and knowledge you will discover the island and its astronomic treasures; fantastically fresh sea-food and fish soups; the miniature, richly-coloured tomatoes that take their concentrated flavour from the volcanic soil; the gorgeous caper bushes that straddle the low stone walls; bay leaf-scented chicken with figs; a very special yellow-gold lentil that gives its name to the famous Santorini dish “fava”; and lovely purple-streaked, tiny white aubergines. You will also find many outhwatering desserts; creamy rice puddings, sticky yoghurt cakes and Island lemon pies. Its breads are coarser in texture and stronger in flavour than those of many other islands.

These courses are run slightly differently to our other courses. They are a combination of demonstration classes and workshops incorporating local experts and producers. As with our other courses they include trips and tastings.

 

 Below is a sample schedule of your week's stay

Monday

 

Monday: arrival and transfer to hotel, welcome drinks & orektika & mezes
Tuesday
introduction to the course & local ingredients & food history talk, ‘Greek brunch’, afternoon free, visit to the beautiful cliff-top village of Oia, dinner at a Fira taverna Wednesday: workshop/demonstration: Greek Foods
Wednesday
workshop/demonstration: Greek Foods & the
Herbs and Flavours of Santorini, lunch at Selene overlooking the caldera, afternoon free or visit Byzantine church, visit to the private Gizi museum, dinner at an excellent traditional restaurant

 
Thursday
guided visit to the New Cyclades Museum & tour of Akrotiri, coffee on the beach, a visit to a village bakery, lunch at a country Taverna, visit and winetasting at Boutari winery, workshop & demonstration: The History of Greek Food from Ancient to Byzantine, cheese & Meze tasting, tasting of ancient wine varietals, including ‘old’ Santorini wines and Retsina, evening free
Friday
early morning visit and guided tour of the Archaeological Museum, private Boat trip to 'small island', lunch on the boat, tutored wine tasting, workshop/demonstration: The Greek Meze Table, evening free
Saturday
workshop/demonstration: Seasonal Greek Ingredients, cooking techniques, tasting olives and olive oil, visit to Sigalas winery travelling through gorgeous scenery, country taverna lunch, afternoon free, gala dinner
Sunday
departure

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