3 Day “Truffle and Olive Oil” Cookery Course at La Preghiera

All inclusive 3 day package with luxury accommodation starting on Thursday 2nd November.
Visit a truffle fair, see Extra Virgin Olive Oil being first pressed at an ancient oil mill and get to experience hands on pasta making with our cooks!
We would be delighted if you would like to extend your stay with us, before or after the course, to relax and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of La Preghiera, a dream setting, steeped in history….

PROGRAMME:
Thursday 2nd November

• Afternoon arrival and welcome drinks at La Preghiera
• 19.00 Aperitivo and Stuzzichini (Italian Canapés) before dinner
(Served infront of the open log fire in the reception at La Preghiera)
• 20.00 Informal evening meal at La Preghiera. Menu includes local produce such as ciaccia con prosciutto (local unleavened bread), salame, pecorino (sheep’s cheese) and tozzetti (almond biscuits) with Vin Santo (fortified matured sherry wine)
Meet Mara and Emma, our cooks, and sample traditional Umbrian cooking in the company of John and Liliana Tunstill, your hosts at La Preghiera

Friday 3rd November

• Buffet Breakfast at La Preghiera
• 09.30 Morning Cookery Class at La Preghiera (3 hours approx):
LEARNING THE ART OF PASTA MAKING WITH “LA CUOCA”
TAGLIATELLE, RAVIOLI or CAPPELLETTI.... .PASTA FILLINGS AND SAUCES FOR PASTA
• 13.00 – 14.00 Lunch at La Preghiera
• 14.30 Departure for a visit to an Olive Oil Frantoio (or mill) to see the first harvest of olives being pressed for Extra Virgin Olive Oil, followed by tastings and the chance to purchase afterwards...
• 20.00 Aperitivo and Dinner at La Preghiera including wines, coffee and liqueurs



Saturday 4th November

• Buffet Breakfast at La Preghiera
• 09.30 Departure to Città di Castello to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the extraordinary Truffle and Olive Oil Fair, with chances to taste and purchase local produce including truffles, olive oil, wild boar sausages, salami, prosciutto, porcini mushrooms and roasted chestnuts!
• 12.30 – 14.00 Lunch at a traditional Italian trattoria in Città di Castello
• 16.00 Afternoon Cookery Class at La Preghiera (3 hours approx):
LEARNING UMBRIAN ANTIPASTI AND LEARNING TO PREPARE MEAT IN A TRADITIONAL UMBRIAN WAY (MARINATED/PANCOOKED)
• Dinner based on truffles at La Preghiera including wines, coffee and liqueurs


Sunday 5th November
• Buffet Breakfast at La Preghiera
• 09.30 Morning Cookery Class at La Preghiera (3 hours approx):
LEARNING ITALIAN SALADS AND DOLCI WITH “LA CUOCA”
• 13.00 – 14.30 Lunch at La Preghiera
• Afternoon departure at your leisure

Included in the programme:
• Three nights luxury accommodation in historic home
• Three hands-on cookery classes as detailed above, approx 3 hours each
• All meals including; Buffet Breakfast, Lunch with wine, soft drinks and coffee, and Dinner with aperitivo, wine, liqueurs, soft drinks and coffee.
• Aperitivo and Stuzzichini on first evening
• One guided excursion and one market visit including car, driver and interpreter
• Gift of hardback book of typical Umbrian Recipes
Email Sally Ann on info@lapreghiera.com for cost and more information or phone at
0039 075 930 24 28

TRUFFLES & CHOCOLATE: A TASTE OF UMBRIA

For ten days every October, the Umbrian capital of Perugia celebrates a full-scale love affair with chocolate. And for a long weekend every November, nearby Città di Castello gets festive in honour of the Italian delicacy of truffles. And when you stay at nearby La Preghiera, you can tuck-in to a traditional slice of Umbria whilst enjoying the luxuries of a restored 12th Century monastery oozing with style, comfort and period character.

Truffles and chocolate – two key ingredients of Italian cuisine. So where better to bite into the real Italy than in the gourmet region of Umbria? Home to the truffle and with a goumet reputation that has surpassed that of neighbouring regions, Umbria is the destination for serious foodies, truffle hunters and anyone who wants to step into Mama Italia’s kitchen. Discover your nose for truffle hunting, enjoy smooth indulgence at the chocolate festival, let loose your inner chef on an Italian cookery course, source the best local produce in vibrant markets, and feast in authentic trattorias.

Situated in the heart of Italy, La Preghiera, originally a 12th Century Monastery and now privately owned, has been beautifully converted to a charming and unique, luxury bijou country house, available for exclusive holidays. La Preghiera retains many original features that have been fused with creature comforts, modern amenities and stylish décor, to create five-star country house accommodation and is surrounded by several acres of landscaped gardens, with a private chapel and eco friendly swimming pool, all encompassed by lush countryside and the foothills of the Apenines.

In the spacious, beautifully designed bedrooms you will find king-size beds, original Umbrian wall hangings, antique furniture and family collectables from the owners’ worldwide travels. White waffle gowns, towels and slippers await you in marble-clad bathrooms, and wonderful in-house beauty treatments from massages to manicures are available. Refresh and rejuvenate in the outdoor ecologically sound pool (no chlorine), and build an appetite for the Italian feasts that await.

For a delicious treat to coincide with the truffle festival, La Preghiera is running one of its frequent Italian Cookery Courses. Arrrive on Thursday 2 November to settle in to your luxury accommodation in the green heart of Italy and meet your Italian cooks. In addition to a hands-on experience making ravioli and tagliatelle, antipasto and desserts, you will visit an oil mill to see how Olive Oil is pressed, take a trip to the truffle fair, and visit the thriving local markets where you can savour the atmosphere, the smells and stock up on fresh local ingredients. The final cookery lesson takes place on Sunday morning but you are welcome to stay on and enjoy more of the treasures La Preghiera has to offer.


For the Chocoholics, the Perugia Chocolate Festival is held from 14-22 October 2006 (www.eurochocolate.com). Perugia is home to the biggest chocolate festival, with chocolate sculptures, chocolate cocktails, chocolate head-wear, chocolate-themed discos and this year a chocolate building site is being set up. Stay nearby at La Preghiera and join-in this extraordinary meeting of a million chocoholics.

Accommodation: 11 double rooms in the monastery and 3 double rooms in Moscatelli villa. Sleeps up to 29 in total if you hire out both for a lavish house party. Includes one bedroom and bathroom accessible for wheelchair users, plus two bed bedrooms for people with mobility difficulties. Choose luxury bed and breakfast accommodation with all the trimmings, or self-catering/half-board in the beautiful Villa Moscatelli that also stands in the monastery estate.

How much? From €175 per room per night. Optional four course dinner €50. Deals from €48 per night per person self-catering (for groups of over 18 people). Three-day cookery courses cost from €1185 - €1410 (including accommodation and meals).

How do I get there? Fly to Ancona, Bologna or Rome. Ryanair offer great deals to Ancona and Bologna (Forli). Transfer time to La Preghiera is 2-3 hours. You can hire a car or be picked up by your hosts.

For more information about La Preghiera Luxury Country House please contact Sally Ann on +39 075 930 2428 or by email to promotions@lapreghiera.com

www.lapreghiera.com
www.villamoscatelli.com
www.weddingsumbria.com
www.propertiesumbria.com
www.tunstillsumbria.net

Events in the Upper Tiber Valley...August/September 2006....

What’s happening in Umbria in August/September…..

Montone – Donazione della Santa Spina - Donation of Holy thorn – 12th to 20th August 2006
Great historical commemoration. It is a revocation of the donation of the Thorn, with its procession in costume.


Città di Castello – Festival delle Nazioni - Nations Festival 2006 – from 25th August to 8th September
39° Edition
The Festival delle Nazioni was conceived in 1968 with the view of promoting the artistic heritage of the Upper Tiber Valley and its culture and music as well as occupy a quality space in the most prestigious Italian and European cultural events arena.


Città di Castello – Mostra Mercato Nazionale del Libro Antico e della stampa antica
2-3 September 2006


www.lapreghiera.com
www.villamoscatelli.com
www.weddingsumbria.com
www.tunstillsumbria.net

COOKERY COURSE AT LA PREGHIERA – UMBRIA –ITALY

The recipe of today.....GRILLED FIG AND PROSCIUTTO BRUSCHETTA WITH ROCKET

This combination of caramelised and crisply barbecued prosciutto is irresistible. The figs are best cooked on a barbecue, but you can use a stove-top grill pan or a grill – just get the right amount of charring on the figs.
To make the bruschetta grill, toast or pan grill the bread on both sides until lightly charred or toasted. Rub the top side of each with the cut garlic, then drizzle with olive oil. Keep them warm in a low oven.
Take the figs and stand them upright. Using a small, sharp knife, make two cuts across each fig, not quite quartering it, but keeping it intact at the base. Ease the figs open and brush with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Put the figs cut-side down on a pre-heated barbecue or stove-top grill pan and cook for minutes until hot and slightly charred – don’t move them during cooking. Alternatively, put the figs cut-side up under a hot grill until beginning to brown and heated through.
While the figs are cooking, put half the slices of prosciutto on the barbecue or stove-top grill pan or under the grill and cook until frazzled. Remove and keep warm while cooking the remaining slices. Put two figs, three pieces of prosciutto and some rocket on each slice of bruschetta. Sprinkle with parmesan shavings and drizzle with olive oil. Serve immediately.

www.lapreghiera.com
www.villamoscatelli.com
www.weddingsumbria.com
www.tunstillsumbria.net

Cooking class info at info@lapreghiera.com