LUXURY BREAKS
Treat yourself to a quick trip
Learn to make classic Sicilian recipes such as pasta alla norma and arancini
Merlin Labron-johnson at Rocca delle Tre Contrade A week-long luxury cooking experience in Sicily
Treat yourself to the delights of springtime Sicily and hone your culinary skills under the guidance of chef Merlin Labron-johnson (under whose aegis London restaurant Portland gained a Michelin star). Staying at the grand Rocca delle Tre Contrade villa on the east of the island, you’ll spend your time learning how to make Sicilian dishes through hands-on classes, cooking demonstrations and market visits while enjoying five-star surroundings and meals.
The blush-pink private villa and former wine estate of Rocca delle Tre Contrade is an impressive sight, perched on a hilltop, surrounded by palm trees, bougainvillea and jasmine, it has panoramic views of the blue Ionian Sea and Mount Etna. This is your home for an all-inclusive foodie experience, designed to inspire guests with the very best of Sicilian ingredients, much of it sourced from local artisanal producers and the villa’s own kitchen garden. Breakfast includes prosciutto from the black pigs reared in the nearby Nebrodi Mountains, baked sheep’s milk ricotta, lemon blossom honey, freshly squeezed juice and marmalade from the villa’s own citrus groves. Classes take place in the villa’s sleek, purpose-built kitchen. With a maximum of 16 participants and four work stations, there’s ample workspace and personal attention from chef and his team. Lebronjohnson calmly guides you through preparing classic Sicilian recipes such as pasta alla Norma, arancini and delicate pastries like cannoli. After each class, guests eat together to enjoy the fruits of their labours. Shop like a local with an early morning trip to the charming coastal town of Riposto. Led by Lebron-johnson, select from the fresh catch at the fishmonger’s including amberjack, red mullet, and bonito. Walk to the fruit and vegetable market to find a dazzling array of citrus fruits and wild greens; you might even spot Sicilian avocados and mangoes which thrive in the Mediterranean climate.
The trip includes a breathtaking drive to Mount Etna vineyards accompanied by Master of Wine Isabelle Legeron. Discover at first-hand a new wave of Sicilian winemakers such as Rori and Cinzia of SRC Vini who are bringing a brash style and innovation to the industry and making the most of their high altitude climate and volcanic soil to produce internationally acclaimed wines. Stylishly restored and exquisitely decorated, the villa houses antiques and contemporary furniture, Sicilian ceramics by Alessi, vintage Italian posters and a collection of original art from local artists. Bedrooms are spacious and nearly all have sea views and private balconies or patios. Ensuite bathrooms are modern, oversized with natural light, featuring lava stone and marble with organic toiletries. Elegant displays of fresh fruits and flowers from the gardens are dotted around, creating a chic and comfortable home-from-home ambience.
Alpana Deshmukh