Living There
Porto Club is a small, bespoke Greek travel agency, founded in 1986 by George Portokalakis, a well-known chef and proud Cretan. Known for personal service and custom travel, Porto Club works under the umbrella of Paleologos SA www.ferries.gr a major Greek shipping agency and travel agency making extensive pan-Hellenic opportunities available to the traveller.
CULTURAL GETAWAY AND HANDS ON COOKING COURSES IN CRETE
Expand your seafood and casserole meats and veggies repertoire on this wonderful cookery getaway course in Crete where you’ll learn to cook and prepare fresh seafood Cretan style; stay in a 150 year old / newly restored Cretan villa for 6 nights / 7 days and discover the delights of the freshest of Cretan cuisine.
Completely hands-on fish and casserole cooking lessons
Stay in a beautiful 150 year old restored Cretan villa
Relax by the pool and explore the ‘real Crete’
LOCATION OVERVIEW
Villa Kerasia: http://www.villa-kerasia.gr/ This lovingly restored 150 year old Cretan storehouse is surrounded by breathtaking views, an unspoiled landscape of rolling hills, olive groves and vineyard valleys is the setting for your Cretan holiday, only 15 minutes from Heraklion city and 20 minutes from the airport.
PRICES
$3.328 USD (For One Person, Double Occupancy based on 2 people)
$3.106 USD (For One Person, Double Occupancy based on 3 people sharing triple room)
Single use: + $324 USD
DURATION
Seven-Day, Six-Night Cooking Tour with Meals
INCLUDED
- 4 cooking lessons where you’ll learn to cook both seafood and casserole dishes
- Local Meats and Casseroles cooking classes X 3 times
- The “Seafood Evening” Cooking Class X 1 time
- All cooking materials, apron and ingredients
- The dinner you’ve learned to cook each night with 1 bottle of wine per couple and water
- A welcome dinner with 1 bottle of wine per couple on your arrival day
- Accommodation in a twin/double/triple room at the villa Kerasia for 6 nights
- Breakfast each morning
- 6 lunches days 1 – 6 with variety of Cretan Mediterranean dishes at selected spots
- The city of Rethymnon walking and tasting tour
- The city of Heraklion walking and tasting tour
- A visit to archaeological site of Knossos (guiding / entrance fees are extra)
- A visit to archaeological sites of Gortys and Phaestos (guiding / entrance fees are extra)
- A visit to local winery and tasting of wine and raki
- Honey Bees, bee comb tasting and Art pastry work shop
Prices are based on two or three sharing a room, a single supplement applies for those travelling solo.
NOT INCLUDED
- Entrance fees at archaeological or historical sites not included. Pay when you enter the site.
- Alumni discount is available. Please contact us.
- High season charges may apply and to be confirmed.
- Gratuities / tips
In Crete, tipping drivers, guides, etc. is customary but not mandatory. Our guides, host, driver, etc. all happily accept tips, but they are never expected. We have seen guests leave huge tips for our staff, and we have seen guests leave no tip at all. Either way, both of those guests are equally appreciated.
HOLIDAY ITINERARY
Day 1. SUNDAY
Arrival Heraklion port. Reception at the port. Transportation to the villa. Dinner at the villa with local home cooked foods accompanied by owners wine. Accommodation villa Kerasia. http://www.villa-kerasia.gr/
Day 2. MONDAY
SOUTH CENTRAL CRETE: CULTURE FOOD AND HISTORY
Day start at 09.AM. After your buffet breakfast, set out with your host George to see Gortys, the ruined capital city of the Roman province which included the island of Crete . You’ll see the impressive amphitheatre and the Basilica of St Titus before driving west to the archaeological site of Phaestos, the first palace built around 2000 BC which stands dominantly on a hill with panoramic views. According to mythology, King Radamanthes, son of Zeus, ruled over the city and over the South of Crete, 4000 years ago. The caves of Matala have a rich history from Roman occupation 2000 years ago to more modern luminaries such as Bob Dylan, and Cat Stevens, Lunch will be in the fishing village of Kokkinos Pyrgos consisting of “just caught” Seafood specialties.
After lunch you’ll head back to the villa and head to the kitchen for your first cooking class
Cretan Heritage Cooking Class
Tonight’s hands-on class is based on a variety of vegetables and minced meat with prep techniques that transforms basic ingredients into a full table of colour, variety and richness. Moussaka, Aubergines Papoutsakia, fried vegetables in tomato sauce, smoked eggplant and Pastitsio (the Greek Version of Mac and Cheese), with vegan and vegetarian options will be in abundance. As always, local wine will compliment your meal and enhance your evening.
Day 3. TUESDAY
WESTERN CRETE: ARKADI MONASTERY, CITY OF RETHYMNON AND THE WATERS OF ARGYROUPOLIS
After a rich breakfast, you will enjoy a slow drive through the vineyards and small villages of the region. You will visit the 16th century monastery of Arkadi, the small village of Margarites popular for the ceramics they produce and the city of Rethymnon where every street will take you on a journey through history. Venetian and Turkish buildings have become small restaurants, cafés and shops. Your walk down the narrow streets will take you to small tourists’ shops and coffee houses where you can mingle with locals. A slow drive to the Water of Argyroupolis where lunch will be served with a variety of Cretan vegetable and cheese specialties and abundance of grilled meats.
The “Seafood Evening” Cooking Class
The evening will feature your second hands-on cooking class based on the fish and seafood that was purchased earlier in the day. Fish soup, the famous KAKAVIA (fisherman fish soup), fish with tomato and onion sauce baked in the oven and shrimps “saganaki” in tomato sauce, wine and feta cheese are a few of the cooking menu items.Once you’ve cooked, you’ll sit down to enjoy a dinner of the delicious seafood dishes you have learned to cook that day accompanied by a few glasses of wine perfectly matched to your fish. (Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner)
Day 4. WEDNESDAY
AGIOS NIKOLAOS / STUFFED VEGETABLES COOKING CLASS
Breakfast and drive north east to visit Agios Nikolaos and Elounda. Lunch at a sea front tavern in village of Plaka facing the Spinalonga Island. After lunch, drive back to the villa and get prepared for the third cooking class
Cooking Class Featuring Stuffed Vegetables, Vine Leaves and Olive Oils
It is believed that the secret for a long and healthy life lies in olive oil, the principle ingredient in the Cretan diet. Past and present research conducted in the US and Europe supports the view that olive oil not only shields the human heart from disease, but also increases healthy operation of other organs by reducing cholesterol. Olive oil is an important ingredient in all dishes on the dinner menu. This hands-on class will take you through the process of making stuffed tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, and aubergines…as well as Dolmadakia (little stuffed wraps) with vine leaves, sorrels or pumpkin flowers. These all can be enjoyed as a meze or main course.
Day 5.THURSDAY:
CENTRAL CRETE: FORGOTTEN MONASTERY. MOUNTAINS AND THE WOMEN COOPERATIVES ART PASTRY WORK SHOP AND HONEY TASTING:
After your buffet breakfast your tour will start in the direction of MountNida (Psiloritis) the highest mountain onCrete, and according to legend, where Zeus was born. A visit to a unique small stoned church of St. Iakinthos(Orthodox Saint Valentine) built by the well-known famous song writer and singer Loudovikos of Anogia. You will taste the finest quality cheeses, including Kefalotyri and Kefalogryere. Next, the village of Axos and the drive ends at the small village of Drossia known by the local people with the Turkish name GENI-GAVE where you will enjoy lunch at the finest little restaurant on the island – Giannis Petoussis Tavern. Lunch will feature everything natural and fresh from the proprietor’s own land, cooked by the lady of the house. After lunch, you visit two almost forgotten monasteries, and a church with beautiful frescoes.. Next stop at the women cooperative work shop at village Marathos and at Doxa, a small local café run by the owners since 1949. Just 20 km from the city, it is beautifully untouched, and a natural pasture for bees. Old traditional bee-keeping methods ensure ecological, clean honey that is free from any additives. This golden yellow honey is a perfect source of natural vitamins and minerals. You will sample honeycombs straight from the beehive and learn a few secrets know only to the bee-keepers. At the end of this visit you will sample an herbal tea comprised of 9 mountain herbs, and enjoy local donuts drizzled with pure thyme honey.
Local Meats and Casseroles Cooking Class
Preparation is the key to the variety of dishes that will be created. Time spent in slicing, dicing, chopping and pealing enables the assembly of various dishes in record time. Pork bites in tomato sauce, and Drunken Pork bites cooked in wine and oregano are wonderful appetizers paired with Raki (an alcoholic drink that is made from the grape peel, after the wine has been produced). Boneless pork with celery and egg and lemon sauce, Dinner will be accompanied with copious amounts of pure, homemade local wines. Viniculture is a 4000 year old practice on the island of Crete.
Day 6.
WINE TASTING, THE PALACE OF KNOSSOS / CITY OF HERAKLION
Today we visit the palace of Knossos.
When visiting the island of Crete someone must see the ancient palace of Knossos, built 3.500 years ago.Combination of archaeological discoveries and food tasting: The day start at 9.30 am and drive to the near village of Sivas where we visit one of the best small family wineries providing organic wines. Spend some
time there tasting a variety of wines. Keep driving direction the palace of Knossos. Start at 11.30 AM. Visit takes 1 1Ž2 hour. After the palace we drive back to the city and will walk the streets of the city and meet nutritional wanderings elevating the palate to heaven!! Will explore unique tastes on this walking tour of Heraklion. Visit at a small cheese shop (one of the best in Crete) and taste unique fresh and old Cretan cheese accompanied by a shot of Raki. Walk the central market and stop for an OUZO (anise) with MEZE (small bites accompanies the spirit) at one of the traditional Mezedopolion of the street. On the way back after lunch stop at one of the finest small family wineries and taste some of the best wines Crete provides. Back to the villa.
Farewell Dinner
Tonight your dinner will be prepared by the owners of the house.. You will have the opportunity to sample a large variety of specialties (called mezedes) accompanied by the Cretan Snap RAKI! Are you tempted to compare her dishes to those you have learned during the week? You have made wonderful new friends and explored a new region of the world filled with some of the best food you have ever tasted – what more could one ask? After a restful sleep, transportation will be provided for you to meet your departing flight.
Day 7.
LAST DAY, FLIGHT BACK HOME
After a restful sleep, transportation will be provided for you to meet your departing flight.
