Ischia Island Cooking

This looks do-able and interesting. Here is their blurb: Experience the culinary delights of traditional Ischian cuisine in our hands-on, cooking classes at the Augusto. The professional kitchen, led by our team of award-winning chefs, is the setting for your cooking experience. Traditional recipes are prepared with typical regional and island products.

• Coniglio all'ischitana, the island's most famous dish, is rabbit in white wine, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and chili pepper.
• Mackerel, the herring family, squid, octopus, and anchovies are among the many varieties of fresh seafood that are abundant in this fishing community.
• Broad beans, peas, tomatoes, artichokes, peppers, potatoes, and zucchini are the foundation of the local cuisine.
• Ischia also produces fresh, aromatic herbs such as basil, oregano, sage, parsley, rosemary, and chili peppers.
• Oranges, peaches, cherries, figs, grapes, walnuts, apricots, lemons, and prickly pears are among the many varieties of fruits that grow sweet and ripe in the fertile volcanic soil of the island.
• Used in everything from jams and marmalade to pasta, biscotti, and chocolate, the lemon plays a significant role in the island's cuisine and is what makes the famous Limoncello liquor.

Program includes:

• * 8 days/7 nights accommodations
• * Daily breakfast
• * 6 hands-on cooking classes, followed by lunch or dinner on the foods prepared in class
• * Island Tour by land
• * Visit to Limoncello maker and wine producer
• * Visit to Sorgeto /bath and thermal springs
• * Boat tour~ tour the Island by sea
• * Half-day visit to the Poseidon Gardens, entrance included.
• * Round trip transfers to Naples Airport or Naples Train station

Program Prices Rate per person/based on double occupancy: $2,900.00. Single supplement $250.00 airfare ~1,100 week in Naples at Hostel of the Sun (http://www.hostelnapoli.com/languages/english/) 50Euro/night=75*7=$525 food $200 transportation= $100 total would be $4085 for two weeks.

Tuscan Cooking Vacation

A great Tuscan Cooking and Wine vacation in the Heart of Tuscany with Chef Paolo Monti. In this comprehensive "Hands On" cooking and wine tour, you will learn the best of "Tuscan Cooking and living" with 4 exciting Italian cooking classes: traditional, Tuscan, pasta and fish Cooking Classes with effervescent Chef Paolo Monti, all together more than 45 recipes! Fish and vegetable market visits, 2 winery visits, excursions to Lucca, Parma, Modena and Siena. -A great Tuscan Cooking and Wine vacation in the Heart of Tuscany with Chef Paolo Monti. In this comprehensive "Hands On" cooking and wine tour, you will learn the best of "Tuscan Cooking and living" with 4 exciting italian cooking classes: traditional, Tuscan, pasta and fish Cooking Classes with effervescent Chef Paolo Monti, all together more than 45 recipes! Fish and vegetable market visits, 2 winery visits, excursions to Lucca, Parma, Modena and Siena. - 7 nights full board "All Inclusive" program. The Cost For the 7 day all inclusive cooking package with hands on Tuscan Cooking, with 4 cooking lessons, all meals, wines and tours included is as follows:

From November to end March:
• Euro 1490,00 per person in double room (USD $2,156.38)
• Flight to Pisa (round trip transfer 100 Euros ... USD$142) plus ~$1000 US for flight
• total: $3,298 plus 1 week in Lucca ~$800