A Cooking — And Eating and Drinking — Holiday in the Veneto

What could be better than eating your way through Italy? Helping the lovely chefs make the meal at a cooking school in a gorgeous Venetian palazzo.

CISON DI VALMARINO, Italy – "Use your core!" she calls out. "Kneading dough keeps you in shape!"

Those are motivational words from Sophie Braimbridge, the teacher encouraging me to get physical on the first day of a week of group cooking classes. It's an excellent ice-breaker. There's nothing more bonding than rolling pasta dough — and flexing your abs under your shirt — with seven strangers.

I had joined a six-night residential cooking holiday organized by Stirred Travel at Villa Casagrande, the 15th-century palazzo an hour drive north of Venice owned by Count and Countess Brandolini d'Adda. This was a holiday I had enjoyed previously and was happy to book again.

Why repeat it, you might ask? Well, for so many reasons. To be creative with hands-on classes using the best seasonal and regional ingredients — without worrying about the washing up (grazie, in-class helpers). To discover the excellent local award-winning wines. To stay in a beautiful, antique-filled private palazzo setting with two acres of grounds to explore and an unending supply of Instagram-worthy spots. To be with a crowd of always fun guests and team. To bond with like-minded people over our shared interest in food and travel in convivial surroundings. Stirred cultivates a relaxed atmosphere, where all levels of cooking ability and interest are welcome.

It's like cooking with a side of cappuccino. Or a Campari spritz. You get the idea. (And you probably want it right now.)

My springtime group consisted of eight guests from the United Kingdom (myself included), Australia, and Switzerland (a returning guest who told me about the autumnal recipes she had cooked on her last visit). We were cooking under the enthusiastic tutelage of London-based chef Sophie Braimbridge, formerly of the legendary Italian restaurant River Café, Chez Panisse, and author of the cookbook Simply Italy (among others).

Later in the week, we were joined by estimable Italo-anglo gastronome guest teachers Rachel Roddy, a Rome-based food writer and author of, most recently, Two Kitchens: Family Recipes from Sicily and Rome, and Jeremy Lee, chef proprietor at London's Quo Vadis restaurant — both of whom brought deep knowledge, style, and panache to the proceedings.

 Fresh squash blossom.

Rationed ingredients.

The days started with a relaxed breakfast of local bread, preserves, fresh fruit, cheeses, and prosciutto, after which we'd gather in the state-of-the-art kitchen. Sophie outlined the day's class and the prep required to get lunch and dinner dishes ready. The program's no-stress approach meant that ingredients and recipes were always measured and neatly set out on trays for us by the unflappable assistant, Amanda. (If only she could have followed us home…) The mornings progressed with demos and top chef tips from Sophie, like how to hold a knife and how to perfectly line a baking tin with parchment paper (fold it like an airplane).

We'd then team up to carry out the different tasks, such as boning rabbit (easier than you'd think, once you find the small bones in the spine and wiggle around the joints), trimming artichokes, cleaning fresh cuttlefish (it's a messy job that requires disposable kitchen gloves), shaping spinach and ricotta gnocchi with two spoons, thinly slicing fennel for salads (obviously…), and making focaccia and polenta biscuits. (Seriously, is this what Italian home cooks do every day?)

Miraculously, all the separate and seemingly unrelated recipes and steps came together as delicious dishes when we sat down for our al fresco lunch. I say miraculously, but, in truth, it might simply have been the alchemy of Sophie and Amanda working their magic to ensure our meals were always ready on time and beautifully presented and ridiculously tasty. We students savored our long and leisurely meals under the former silk mills with views of the rose garden. Birds chirped overhead. The sun streamed across the cobbled patio. Wine poured freely. Sophie brought out a basket of cherries to nibble. Bliss.

Fresh pasta. The best kind.

Pasta cooked and dressed. 

Spaghetti with tiny clams.

Salut with a spritz between meals.

Plenty of downtime.

We had free time in the afternoons to do what we wanted: explore the village, work off dessert, nap by the pool (walk through the rose garden, turn right at the chestnut tree, and there it is). A few of us, led by Jeremy, played cards and drank espresso. There were always bottles of wine and Fernet Branca at the ready. Si, grazie! If you insist, it seems rude to refuse...

Evening classes began around six and ended when we sat down for dinner a few hours later and were punctuated by aperitivi. Glasses of Venetian Spritz, Campari, or Bellini would appear as we poached the apricots for dessert or took turns to stir the risotto. I loved our dinners — relaxed, candlelit affairs with animated chatter about the day's activity, travel tips, stories, ideas on entertaining at home, and foodie films to watch. Where do you stay in Palermo? You must watch Susanne Bier's Love is All You Need, it will make you want to stroll through a lemon grove. Favorite stately homes and gardens to visit in England. At our table, Anglo and American geopolitical turmoil were overlooked in favor of the writing of Elizabeth David, discussions on favorite comfort foods (spaghetti with tomato sauce is mine), and films that inspire travel. I kept a running list of all these on my iPhone and have added Babette's Feast, Tampopo, and The Leopard to my movie queue.

The week's thoughtfully paced itinerary included special events such as a private prosecco wine-tasting, culminating in sabrage using the Count's antique sword. We took a trip to visit and taste the goods at Perenzin, a local, artisanal, award-winning cheese maker.

A day trip to Venice filled with so many pinch-me moments: sipping cappuccino, watching the gondoliers, walking the Rialto food and fish market, and shopping with locals. When we picked up produce for class, I wondered why homework wasn't always this good.

We made a getaway from the crowded center via private water taxi to the gentler pace on Mazzorbo, the island on the lagoon that's home to Venissa, a Michelin-starred restaurant and osteria set in a 13th-century walled garden. This was a rare opportunity to taste Venissa wine made from Dorona, an ancient grape grown on the island, in the company of Matteo Bisol, of the Bisol Prosecco family. It was a magical setting for an al fresco lunch: views of the vines, roses in bloom, contemporary art installations scattered among the grounds. (Read more about it on Fathom.)

The pool and patio at Villa Casagrande.

Sitting room inside Villa Casagrande.

Wall fresco in the bedroom.

Another gorgeous room detail.

Modern art meets centuries-old walls.

A high point of the holiday was the venue itself. Villa Casagrande, with its distinctive deep red door and shutters, sits proudly in the main piazza of Cison di Valmarino. This gorgeous palazzo has a homely feel, despite its grand size and décor. The d'Addas were not in residence when we were there, and we were left to enjoy the common areas — to browse the light-filled library, play billiards, take off for quiet time in one of the sitting rooms. The villa, which is filled with personal photographs, books, and mementoes, is an attractive mix of frescoed rooms, stucco, antiques (Murano chandeliers, precious glass, battle pennants, and swords), and contemporary furniture by acclaimed Italian architect and designer Gae Aulenti. I particularly loved the abstract paintings by the Count's mother, an artist who previously exhibited at the Venice Biennale. Seriously, this is the way to have a vibrant house party.

My cooking holiday was so much more than learning how to chop an onion or make polenta — although we did cover both and more. I felt like I was immersed in the local culture. I met neighboring producers of top-quality food and wine. I shopped the markets. I learned about the region's history and customs. The village of Cison di Valmarino, which has been voted one of the most beautiful in Italy, was bedecked in Italian flags during our stay in celebration of the Festa degli Alpini, in honor of the contribution made by the region's residents during WW1.

It was an inspirational slice of Italy with a topping of conviviality. I left with a renewed confidence in my cooking abilities (prawn risotto and home-made mayonnaise are now firmly in my repertoire), an appreciation for canasta, new friends, and truly happy memories.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

How to Get There
Most guests arrive at the airport in Venice (VCE) for the group transfer that's included in the trip; it's an hour north to Cison di Valmarino.

Getting Around
Transport for all trips and excursions on the schedule are arranged by Stirred Travel; anything else is accommodated by friendly local taxi drivers.

Accommodations
The seven bedrooms in the Palazzo are spacious and individually decorated with views of the gardens or the village piazza. The scheme blends antique furniture and original features with contemporary designer pieces, charming family photos, and fresh flowers from the garden. It's wonderful to wake up, open your eyes, and see 17th-century frescoes. Each bedroom comes with Italian designer linens by Society, Wi-Fi and iPod docks, and a private, beautifully appointed modern bathroom.

Rate
Price for 2017 is £2695 per person based on two people sharing a room. There's a £250 supplement for solo travelers.

When to Go
The season at Casagrande runs from April to end of November with a mix of scheduled weeks and bespoke group trips. Stirred operates private, tailor-made culinary holidays throughout Italy and beyond year-round.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE

Massimo Bottura Is on a Mission to Feed the Body and the Soul
A Great Italian of the Table Hits the Screen
Get Your Italian Pantry Staples Delivered From Family Farms in Puglia