Cooking with us
Knead, season, taste: you prepare a traditional lunch with someone from the village, then sit down at the table together.
Calabria, Italy · between two seas
Live Calabria like the people who call it home
Pick olives, cook with the people who keep the family recipes, walk where tourists never go. Stay in a house in the countryside and leave with a gift: some of what we made together.
One stay, always the same recipe
Every stay is made of three ingredients. Only the seasonal one changes, and if you want to stay longer you can add days and experiences.
- 3
Signature experiences
Always included, whatever the month.
- 1
Seasonal experience
Follows whatever the land is giving at that moment.
- 1
Free day
Go and discover Calabria: the sea, old towns, the mountains.
A sample stay
- Day 1Cooking with usSignature experience
- Day 2The seasonal harvestSeasonal experience
- Day 3A special walkSignature experience
- Day 4Free dayFree day
- Day 5Meet the makerSignature experience
- +And if you like, moreExtra days and experiences, tailored to you
Your house is included. You book your own travel and rental car, and we tell you everything you need.
Three signature experiences
Whenever you come, these three days are always part of your stay.
A special walk
A path through olive groves and hills with someone who has walked it all their life, up to a view you will carry home.
Meet the maker
Visit a local grower, see how their food is made and taste it right where it comes from.
Every season has its own experience
The seasonal experience follows the farming calendar. Pick a season to see what you will do and what we give you when you leave.
Autumn · October – December
Olives, chestnuts and mushrooms
Gather olives, bring them to the mill and taste the fresh oil on warm bread. Meanwhile, the woods are full of chestnuts and mushrooms.
Our gift to youSome new-season olive oil
Winter · December – February
Citrus and marmalade
Pick oranges and mandarins straight from the trees and make marmalade the old way, slowly, over the fire.
Our gift to youA jar of marmalade
Spring · March – May
Wild greens and home cooking
Walk the fields to find and gather wild greens, then cook them together with family recipes.
Our gift to youFamily recipes
Summer · July – September
The summer garden
The vegetable garden is at its best: tomatoes, chilli peppers, aubergines and much more. Pick them and make sauce the same day, all together, as every Calabrian family does in August.
Our gift to youSome homemade sauce and preserves
Periods are approximate and depend on the year and the weather.
A souvenir you can eat
When you leave, we give you some of what you made with your own hands. No labels, just homemade food: the trip goes on at your table.
Free day
So much of Calabria to discover
A day of your own to explore a region full of places worth seeing. A few ideas, all within driving distance:
- Tropea and Capo VaticanoThe clifftop town above the sea and some of the finest beaches on the Tyrrhenian coast.
- PizzoA castle by the sea, narrow old streets and the famous tartufo ice cream.
- La SilaForests, lakes and mountain villages: the other face of Calabria.
- Le CastellaA fortress that seems to float on the Ionian Sea.
We share our favourite routes and addresses to help you plan the day.
Who welcomes you
There is no reception desk. You are welcomed by local people: they open their doors, teach you their recipes and take you to the places they love.
Between two seas
We are near Lamezia Terme, in the narrowest part of Calabria: the Tyrrhenian Sea on one side, the Ionian on the other. Olive groves and beaches are never far apart.
- Lamezia Terme airportabout 20 min
- Lamezia Terme Centrale stationabout 15 min
- Tyrrhenian beachesabout 20 min
- Ionian beachesabout 45 min
Approximate driving times.
What’s included and what it costs
One simple price, per person per night, covering everything that makes the stay special.
Included
- A self-contained countryside house, all to yourself
- The three signature experiences
- The seasonal experience
- The meals that come with the experiences
- A homemade gift when you leave
Arranged separately
- Travel and flights
- Rental car
- Other meals
- Extra experiences, on request
First departures
from€85
per person per night, 4 nights minimum
For example: a couple for 4 nights, from €680.
Children under 3 stay free, from 3 to 13 half price.
Ask for a quoteQuestions
How much does it cost?
For our first departures, from €85 per person per night, with a 4-night minimum. Your house, the experiences and the meals that come with them are included. Send us your dates and we will reply with the programme and a quote.
Are flights included?
No. You book your own travel, however you like. We give you all the directions from Lamezia Terme airport.
How long is a stay?
The core stay is at least 4 nights and includes the three signature experiences, the seasonal one and a free day. You can stay longer and add more experiences: just tell us what you would like.
Do I need a car?
Yes. To get around and enjoy your free day you need a rental car, which you can pick up right at Lamezia Terme airport.
Are meals included?
Some lunches and dinners are included, as part of the experiences. On other days you can cook at home with local produce or try the traditional trattorias nearby: we will tell you where to go.
Where do I stay?
In a simple, self-contained house in the countryside, all to yourself: your base for each day and a quiet place to rest at night.
Can I bring children?
Yes. Each house has 2–3 beds and sleeps up to 4 with children. Children under 3 stay free, and from 3 to 13 they pay half price. Kids love harvesting and cooking too.
How many guests are there at a time?
Very few. There are two houses: at most two couples or families at a time, or a small group of friends taking both.
Do I need any farming experience?
None at all. We show you everything, at your own pace.
What if it rains?
The programme is flexible: we move outdoor activities and bring indoor ones forward.
Would you like to come?
Leave your details and your preferred season: we will write back with the programme, dates and price. No commitment.
