Issue1 TasteBound compressed - Flipbook - Page 85
ITALY
PICTURE CREDITS IN HERE
Sicilian cuisine with
the masters
Perched between Mount Etna and
the Ionian Sea is Rocca delle Tre
Contrade – a dusky pink 19th-century
villa that has quietly become a notable
culinary hub, drawing world-renowned
guest chefs such as Claire Ptak, Skye
Gyngell and Merlin Labron-Johnson.
While each one of them brings their
own unique perspective, one constant
is Dora Maugeri, the villa’s beloved
in-house cook – a soulful nonna whose
generosity, passion and Sicilian flair
underpin each stay. Her daily feasts
– featuring the likes of crisp arancini
and delicate cannoli – lend the retreat a
sense of enduring authenticity, and her
relentless enthusiasm means that
a few of her own classes often creep
into the course schedule.
Aside from the time participants
spend in the impeccably (and enviably)
appointed villa kitchen, days often
include outings such as vineyard
tastings, foraging walks through
Rocca delle Tre Contrade’s beautiful
surrounds or Catania street-food tours.
But the itinerary is far from rigid:
there’s always time for a game on the
clay tennis court, or an aperitivo on
the terrace to toast a day well spent.
From £3,500 for 7 nights, including
transfers, food and drink, plus culinary
workshops. thethinkingtraveller.com
TA S T E B O U N D
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