An Italian Vacation...that cooks.

Imaginary Me on a Vespa - the guy came with the picture

Ok. Picture me - well, I'll picture me and you picture you - whizzing around the hills of Sorrento, Italy on my very own little Vespa.  I've just checked in to the sweetest little boutique hotel at the top of the hill.  I'm surrounded by unbelievable panoramic views.  I can see the Gulf of Napoli and the Gulf of Solerno - I can even see Capri and Positano from here.  The hotel is called Oasi Olympia Relais.  It's a renovated ancient colonial house built in 1892. I can choose either a suite with those amazing views or my own cottage complete with it's own kitchen.  Maybe I'll choose the cottage so I can try out my new recipes, because this hotel also has it's own cooking school.

Oasi Olympia Relais

I can learn how to make pasta, gnocchi, stuffed Napoletan style squid (well, maybe I'll skip that class) and other classic dishes using organic ingredients from the estate’s own gardens. I can take a whole week of classes or just one. The classes are taught by the hotel's Chef Carmen. She learned to cook (like all good Italian girls) in her mama's kitchen.

The Kitchen

Chef Carmen

 After class, we'll take our freshly prepared dishes out on to the veranda, open a few bottles of wine and enjoy.  After dinner, I'll hop back on my Vespa, feel the wind in my hair, and head down the hill for more shopping or maybe I'll just unwind by the pool and enjoy the view.  What a marvelous vacation and those recipes will be a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
http://www.oasiolimpiarelais.it/