Maria - our host - was extremely helpful in getting our internet booking
accomplished easily. After a long drive from the airport in Rome, we arrived
at the Castel, a wonderfully well restored agriturismo set in a series
of 12th-15th century buildings in a quiet rural setting. We arrived late
on a Saturday night and were welcomed with open arms by Maria who re-arranged
the evening dinner schedule to accomodate the four of us. What a meal
- 4 courses all cooked wonderfully and superbly presented in a dining
room with very friendly atmosphere. We stayed in one of the apartment
accomodations which are somewhat rustic but SPOTLESSLY CLEAN and very
comfortable beds! The accomodations were very quiet (except for one morning
when the gardener started early) so we had very restful sleeps.
We
stayed for 1 week and ate some of our meals in the dining room, all of
which were excellent and all freshly made by the superb kitchen staff.
Two of us took a 1/2 day lunch cooking class with the staff - 3 lovely
ladies who were quietly supervised by Maria - who allowed us to do as
much or as little as we wanted. We made fresh pasta, lasagna, veal, frittatas,
tiramasu, all with fresh ingredients, most of which came from the agriturismo
farm. A great time after which we ate our preparations with other guests
and a sommelier who took us on a local winery tour after lunch.
Maria was most helpful in giving us ideas on local places to go, advice
on tours etc, and she was truly a great introduction for us to Italian
hospitalilty and we would highly recommend this agriturismo to all who
are looking for quiet relaxation, along with some of the best food we
sampled in Italy.
City: Newmarket, Ontario Country:
Canada Date: May 17, 2008
Message: Maria, I booked this holiday for a surprise 40th birthday present
for my husband and it was fantastic. We both thoroughly enjoyed the cooking
experience with your wonderful girls in the kitchen. The relaxed atmosphere
is amazing. Your home is and its grounds are spectacular with all the
wildlife. Our early morning walks were a perfect start to the day seeing
all the hares and pheasants etc. We both very much appreciated and enjoyed
the company of Mario. His knowledge of the wine and cheese was vast. He
was more than happy to answer any questions we had. We would like you
to pass on a big thank you to him. The course couldn't have been any better
only maybe a little longer as we were just getting into full swing and
it was time to return home! I would appreciate it if you could e-mail
me some of the recipies we cooked as now we have returned home we have
forgotten them. Also any new ones that you would care to share your secret
would be wonderful and enhance our family meals.
Message: Dear Maria Our family - 2 adult daughters, husband and myself
thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Tenuta. We all love Italy and Italian
food so learning to cook the Italian way with fresh produce was just perfect.
Everyone was very friendly and helpful and Mario's
descriptions of Italian wines was the perfect complement to the cookery
week. The first thing I did on my return to UK was to purchase a pasta
machine. Thank you for organising such an enjoyable holiday for our family.
With best wishes, Elizabeth.
Message: Contessa,
My husband, Paul, and I attended the five-day course in early October.
We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend it. Thank you for the
hospitality, and please thank the ladies in the kitchen for all their
hard work...they were so much fun and so good at teaching! I wrote a review
on Trip Advisor
City:Westminster Country: USA Date:
November 27, 2007
Message: Dear Maria, A trip to Italy to learn to cook some wonderful Italian
meals was just perfect at Castel Venezze. Such a peaceful, beautiful home
in the middle of agricultural Italy - simply a wonderful place to unwind
from trans-Atlantic flights. Your day trips to the nearby winery
and Chioggia were wonderful
excursions and you took such good care of us. You even arranged for your
driver to take me all the way back to the Venice airport in the middle
of the night! I can't imagine a more lovely, relaxing place to enjoy Italian
cooking than Castel Venezze. Thank you for an unforgettable vacation,
Darlene
City:Springfield, Oregon Country:
USA Date: October 18, 2007
Message: Dear Maria, I am so sorry I did not get a chance to say goodbye
to you. I looked all over for you and I guess you may have been off premise.
The course was just so great. I really looked forward to it and was not
one bit disappointed. my room was a memory I will keep with me forever.
It would have been wonderful to stay longer. The
winery was great and the grapes were perfect. I suggest you get some
of Lorenzos wines to your place. I loved the cakes and the girls were
just wonderful.
Thank you once again on behalf of Peter and Catherine from Saudi Arabia.
All my fond thoughts and Iwish you well today.
City: Riyadh Country: Saudi Arabia
Date: September 24, 2007
Message: Dear Maria,
I am very sorry to have waited so long to write to you about my week at
your beautiful hotel. There is never a good reason to wait so long but
I haven't forgotten.
I have been to more than a dozen properties from Karen Browns book and
yours is with the best that I have enjoyed. From the property itself to
the staff it was a great week for me. Lisa
as your guide to the field trips is a very valuable asset to your
guests stay.
The cooking experience I enjoyed. The ladies in the kitchen were great
to work with. I would say that it is for more the beginning cook. Myself
I was looking for more hands on and differnet dishes. To compare it with
another course I took after yours. We would all ( 4 people only ) have
a work station and after each dish we prepared we would sit down and eat
and discuss the plate. And that was 4 courses like that. It made for a
longer day which I understand you cannot do as you have other guests to
prepare for. And it also got a little crowded with 8 people in the kitchen.
But saying that I think it works great for the not so serious guests who
like to cook. The hardest part is having to eat two big meals with dinner
following lunch and as they were all delicious it is hard not to finish
everything.
I hope it has been a busy summer for you and look forward to staying with
you another time.
Kindest Regards,
City: Lagrasse Country: France Date:
June 30, 2007
Message: My daughter and I had a fantastic week at Tenuta in June. Cookery
lessons were great fun, company excellent, and we learnt so much. The
food was simple, and finished result so professional and really easy,
once you know how, to replicate and impress back home. Accommodation and
facilities superb,take extra days to explore area.
Message: Thanks for a rich and education experience at your cooking school.
I enjoyed myself every minute. And thanks to Lisa
for her sincere and informative tours.
She made my stay even richer.
Message: Dear
Maria, I want to thank you for organising such a wonderful holiday for
us. We thoroughly enjoyed the cooking classes. The atmosphere was relaxed
and using the best of the local produce- the results were delicious. My
husband has bought a pasta machine and I am happy to tell you I have already
used it several times with great success!.
The
excursion to Chioggia was a day to remember The
guide was a delightful girl and the lunch at El Gato a true gourmet
experience.
All in all a very happy holiday.
Message: Hi Maria
How are you? I got safe home and already back to work. I want to thank
you again for the great time I had at the villa, specially because of
you.
You just take care of everything! and you also make a great atmosphere.
I enjoyed the cooking lessons and my freinds at work already plan a meal
at my place.
City: Hagor Country: Israel Date:
June 2, 2006
Name: Y. H.
Message: Dear Maria,
We would like to thank your hospitality.
We were very much relaxed with wonderful atmosphere and surroundings.
Cooking class was excellent and it gave us a lot of new ideas about Italian
cooking. It was easy and pleasant for us to learn thanks to your hands
on approach for cooking lessons.
Your place is ideally located to visit many interesting towns and cities.
When golf course is completed we would very much like to visit again.
City: London Country: UK Date:
May 28, 2006
Name:Mary Lou O'Brien
Message:
"We set up cooking classes ahead of time, which were fantastic. The
morning class made lunch for everyone and the afternoon class made dinner
for everyone. The Chef was wonderful! "
City:Fredericksburg, Texas Country:
US Date: Apr 28, 2005
Name:Clementine Farley
Message:
"The staff was excellent and I would highly recommend it for a family.
I expected a bit better hotel-- the staff was wonderful, food, good--
but the room was not a 4-star accommodation. Tours were excellent; cooking
classes were fabulous."
Name:Chris Battifarano
Message:
"We found this very worthwhile. In summary, we had a very pleasurable
and memorable experience at the cooking school. We believe that we received
exceptionally good value for the price we paid, and we highly recommend
this particular school to your clients. "
Name:Lisa Lewis
Message:
"Maria was wonderful! The class was great; very professional and
informative, and Maria is so hospitable. He is charming and speaks excellent
english. He knew that we had some experience and prepared more complex
items with us."
We
stayed for 1 week and ate some of our meals in the dining room, all of
which were excellent and all freshly made by the superb kitchen staff.
Two of us took a 1/2 day lunch cooking class with the staff - 3 lovely
ladies who were quietly supervised by Maria - who allowed us to do as
much or as little as we wanted. We made fresh pasta, lasagna, veal, frittatas,
tiramasu, all with fresh ingredients, most of which came from the agriturismo
farm. A great time after which we ate our preparations with other guests
and a sommelier who took us on a local winery tour after lunch. 
Dear
Maria, I want to thank you for organising such a wonderful holiday for
us. We thoroughly enjoyed the cooking classes. The atmosphere was relaxed
and using the best of the local produce- the results were delicious. My
husband has bought a pasta machine and I am happy to tell you I have already
used it several times with great success!.