264715 Tue Oct 05 18:47:42 -0700 2004 7 26 International 0 1397659 I am considering taking a culinary/cooking trip to Italy (I live in Los Angeles). However, they tend to be quite expensive and seem geared toward 40+ people. Does anyone have any recommendations for a good and not-over-the-top culinary trip to Italy that might be more appealing to a 30 year old traveling alone? A tall order I know...please email me if you have any info. Thanks, CK Tue Oct 05 18:47:42 -0700 2004 0 Clare K. 1 1397662 What region in Italy? Italy is a vast country with cuisine that varies from region to region. In my experience just about every region has agriturismos (working farms with inns) that offer cooking lessons. They vary from informal (grandma teaching you how to make a few dishes) to the chef of an onsite restaurant leading formal classes. There is no easy answer and I would recommend that you do some preliminary research to at least narrow down the regions and or cities that you want to visit. Wed Oct 06 00:56:07 -0700 2004 1397659 0 Victoria Libin 2 1397688 I would like to be close to Florence if possible....as for what type of cooking, I'm open to anything. Wed Oct 06 12:14:25 -0700 2004 1397662 0 Clare K. 3 1397694 A friend thinks the cooking classes here are great. http://www.divinacucina.com/code/classes.html Wed Oct 06 13:40:09 -0700 2004 1397688 0 Javier T 3 1397707 Here's a Tuscan-based site that might be helpful. Link: http://www.great-travels.com/gt/cooking.cfm Thu Oct 07 09:54:51 -0700 2004 1397688 0 Taralli 4 1397725 there are some additional schools listed on this Kevin Phillips website Link: http://italianfood.miningco.com/od/schoolstours/ Thu Oct 07 22:27:41 -0700 2004 1397707 0 jen kalb 1 1397722 If you live in LA, try contacting EVAN KLEIMAN at Angeli Caffe. She is the host of NPR's Good Food radio show,is a cookbook writer, and owns Angeli Caffe. She takes 6-8 people on a 7 day tour to Italy 2 times a year. You are based in villa and take culinary day trips during the day, cooking at the villa, learning to shop in the local markets... lately she has been based out of Montalcino - what a great little town, and region of Tuscany. She and her travel partners speak fluent Italian - so its pretty low stress. Link: http://www.angelicaffe.com/italyclasses.htm Thu Oct 07 19:03:04 -0700 2004 1397659 0 EAO 1 1397870 Try the site CookItaly.com. I took a wonderful class in Bologna last year. Shopped in the market in the morning with Carmelita, and then taxied to her apartment and cooked and ate a glorious meal. It was such a lovely experience. WE were just 2 couples and Carmelita. CookItaly hosts classed all over the country. We found them throught the tourist office in Bologna. Buona Fortuna Sat Oct 16 11:48:24 -0700 2004 1397659 0 Doreen