The student will learn how to utilize the basic tools used to prepare a typical meal, in addition to the principal techniques for dressing the plates. We also encourage students to prepare new dishes with their imagination -- we always look forward to learning from our students' creativity!

Most of the dishes chosen can be easily made at home and the ingredients can generally be found in your country of origin. They are surprisingly simple to prepare yet are unforgettably flavorful and will have a profound effect on your future guests.

A detailed description of the basic course is outlined below, to give you an idea of what awaits you on your culinary voyage:

First Day of Classes:

Just after breakfast, we will visit the market to learn how to select the best vegetables, fruits, and other raw materials used during the preparation of our meals.

Around noon there will be a short class where you will learn how to prepare several cocktails, tarts, and other snacks to enjoy a delicious 'aperitif' and to create a relaxed environment to meet your classmates and introduce yourself.

After the welcome party, we will leave the school by van and go up to the surrounding hills to see the best view of the town. From there we will proceed to one of the oldest traditional cheese factories and watch the production of old-fashioned braided Neapolitan Mozzarella, the Casocavallo, and other unique cheeses produced in this area.

On the way back down, we will stop in Sorrento for a stroll around the town - an experience rich in surprises. We will point out various bars and meeting places in addition to many elegant shops carrying merchandise from the most exclusive names in Italian fashion as well as small precious handcrafts and antique shops.

We will then return to the house to relax and have a good time over a warm dinner.

Second Day of Classes:

As soon as breakfast is over we will start our first lesson: how to prepare fresh pasta and gnocchi. You will make the dough, cut it, and shape it.

The class will have a break at noon and will restart a couple of hours before dinnertime. During this pause you can rest, go to the beach, or start examining our detailed excursion book for ideas to use on your time off.

The course will restart at 6pm when we will dress the fresh pasta and gnocchi made in the morning.

We will then prepare a traditional fish dish -- what kind of dish depends on what Neptune gives us from the sea.

If the market has less than ideal offerings, we can prepare 'baccala', a dry salt cod. We will soak it and then bake it in the oven with olive oil, garlic, sliced potatoes, black olives, capers, and cherry tomatoes.

Since no dinner is complete without dessert, we will show you how to make such delights as Tiramisu', Caprese, and Millefoglie alla Nocciola, using ingredients ranging from chocolate and coffee cream to walnuts.

Day Off:

Free day.

Third Day of Classes:

After breakfast we return to the class, where this time you will focus your attention on the preparation of the following:

Neapolitan Sfizi: The word Sfizi comes from something that is enjoyable to do or something that makes you happy.

Crochette: Mashed potatoes with ham, mozzarella cheese, and basil, covered with bread crumbs and lightly fried like an Italian-style tempura.

Arancini: Balls of rice filled with meat or ham, sweet green peas, parmesan cheese, and covered with bread crumbs.

Tender zeppolette di alghe: filled with a secret from the sea.

Zucchini flowers filled with ricotta and parmesan cheese among other things.

As soon as everything is finished we will seal it in the refrigerator and wait for the afternoon class which will be focused on learning proper frying techniques.

During the interval you may join us for a visit to a traditional pastry shop where you will assist in the production of Italian Gelato, and choose your favorite flavor.

The afternoon class will begin with taking out the 'Neapolitan Sfizi' from the refrigerator, frying them and keeping them warm in the oven.

You'll then prepare the famous Pasta e Fagioli that is made either with fresh or dried beans depending on the season.

For the finale you will make a dessert, but this time based on fruit, such as a fruit tart, fruit mousse, or Babà with fresh fruit.

Fourth Day of Classes:

The last class will be late in the afternoon at 6pm.

During this class we will prepare the Gala Dinner, based on delicacies from the sea, and teach you how to formally decorate a plate. For example, we could fill a small boat-shaped plate full of seafood for a nice appetizer. We will continue on with the lesson, preparing the traditional southern Italian Risotto alla Pescatora. This dish is a direct descendent from the age of Spanish domination, since it resembles paella and does not relate to anything else in Italian cuisine. For the second course we will prepare an imperialcalamaro (big squid) filled with different types of sea food, covered with a sweet cherry tomato sauce, and baked in the oven. We will complete the evening with a light cake and fruit cocktail.

Graduation Day:

Graduation certificates, delivery of the exclusive apron and the recipe handbook including all the dishes made during your stay and goodbye party.

March 01-08
March 08-15
March 15-22
March 22-29
March 29 - April 05

April 05-12
April 12-19
April 19-26
April 26 - May 3

May 3-10
May 10-17
May 17-24
May 24-31
May 31-June 7

June 07-14
June 14-21
June 21-28
June 28-July 05

July 05-12
July 12-19
July 19-26
July 26-August 02

August 02-09
August 09-16
August 16-23
August 23-30
August 30-September 06

September 06-13
September 13-20
September 20-27
September 27-October 4

November 01- 08
November 08-15
November 15-22
November 22-29
November 29-December 06

13 hours

26 hours

39 hours

52 hours

• 5 Dinners (including the Welcome Party and Graduation Gala Night and Goodbye Ceremony
• Demonstration classes in Sorrento in one of the oldest cheese factories with choice of souvenir product
• Demonstration classes in Sorrento artisan Ice Cream Shop with choice of your own ice cream
• Enrollment charges, didactic material, attendance certificate, handwritten recipe book, exclusive apron and gift basket

Notes: There is no refund for school hours missed by students. The school reserves the right to alter its programs.