Join us for the most delicious
culinary retreat in Sicily!
October 13-19, 2024
*This trip is sold out. Please join our interest list for the Spring 2025 trip to Tuscany here*
Culinary Adventure in Sicily!
October 13-19, 2024
Grab your partner, BFF or just come solo and let’s go! Six nights accommodations with five full days of custom cooking and food experiences in Sicily, Italy. Includes dining, cooking, tours and more. Space is limited so don’t miss this foodie adventure on the gorgeous island of Sicily! They are best known for arancini, cannoli, and pistachios. It’s going to be the trip of a lifetime. Let’s make memories!
This unique culinary experience is for you if:
You are a foodie and want to experience the most delicious Italian food you have ever tasted
You love local wine
You love to eat and experience a region through their food
You like to have a trip completely planned for you including the best spots to visit
You love to eat and talk about food and have a chef (me) as your guide
You like to take hands on cooking classes from local Italian chefs
You like hanging out with culinary likeminded people
You want to getaway in the Fall for the trip of a lifetime
What is included
6 nights accommodations- 3 nights in Palermo and 3 nights in Taormina both in 4 star hotels
All breakfasts are included. Three lunches and three dinners are included with a complimentary glass of local wine at each meal
Two cooking classes, including traditional foods from the region and cannoli
Full day trip to the Aeolian Islands (weather permitting)
Full time access to Chef Debbie and her lifetime of global food knowledge
Pre trip virtual cooking class to meet the group and learn one of Chef Debbie’s famous recipes
FUN and connection
Our Itinerary
Day 1
Group transfer from the Palermo airport to the hotel
Late afternoon guided walking tour with street food tasting (if time allows)
Welcome dinner
Day 2
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Guided walking tour of the Ballaro Market with tasting
Cooking class with a local Sicilian chef to prepare typical foods of Sicily
Lunch at the cooking class
Free afternoon to walk around and relax
Dinner on your own
Day 3
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Visit to Marsala, the westernmost part of Sicily
Tasting at ancient Marsala winery
Lunch at winery
Visit Lake Stagnone
Local aperitif tasting
Dinner on your own
Day 4
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Depart for Taormina, on the east coast of Sicily on the Ionian Sea
Visit northern coastal town of Tindari
Lunch in Tindari
Group dinner in Taormina
Day 5
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Day trip by boat to the Aeolian Islands (weather permitting with back up plan to visit Siracusa)
Stop in Lipari to have lunch on your own (weather permitting)
Evening and dinner on your own
Day 6
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Visit ancient Tauromenion (Greek amphitheater)
Cooking class for cannoli making with a Sicilian chef
Lunch on your own
Afternoon free with local recommendations for touring
Farewell dinner
Day 7
Breakfast buffet at the hotel
Group transport to Catania airport
Parmigiano Reggiano tour in Parma, Italy- a unique experience for us
Why travel with Chef Debbie?
I live to and love to travel and started going on family trips at a young age which laid the groundwork for a lot of International travel as a young adult. I was always fascinated by the tastes and smells of the places we visited and as someone obsessed with food, I wanted to try it all. Early on, I realized the best way for me to explore a new region is through their food and food culture and my mission now is to share that with others through these culinary retreats. Traveling with me is like having your very own food guide. I seek out the best foodie hot spots and special unique experiences. My trips are not cookie-cutter tours. I work tirelessly with our local guides to build the perfect culinary trips.
Don’t take my word for it. See what past culinary retreat participants have said:
“I am willing to go anywhere with Chef Debbie. It is nice having someone in charge of the group to facilitate the agenda. Debbie your travel experience is a bonus to us new travelers.”
— Diane D.
“The culinary retreat was wonderful! The staff at the hotel, Debbie, and my fellow travelers made for a very special and memorable experience. I felt very comfortable traveling alone as an older single woman, which is a huge thing for me. The cooking classes were amazing and fun, and the organization of the trip was perfect - Debbie is incredible and wonderfully thoughtful!”
— Deb H.
“I absolutely loved this trip! I never thought I would have a chance to visit Italy, but this trip made it possible. It is super easy for a solo traveler to go on this adventure without any hesitation! The food and accommodations were top notch. Everywhere we went, I felt like a VIP because we were taken such good care of. I know that even if I had visited Italy on my own, I would not have seen it in this way. Debbie is amazing and the cooking classes were so fun! Highly recommend, but bring your appetite and stretchy pants because you will want to eat and drink EVERYTHING!!”
— Gina A.
Pricing
$3,600 per person, double occupancy **
$600 deposit required upon registration and balance due by August 1st
Rooms can accommodate two travelers in two single beds or one large bed
All rooms have en suite bathrooms
Single room upgrade available for the solo traveler for $600 surcharge
** 3% will be added for credit card payments (4% outside the US)
** If the Euro is higher than 1.20 USD to the Euro at the time of final payment, adjustments will be made to the final price
FAQs
Where are we staying?
Two 4 star hotels, one in Palermo and one in Taormina. Both are located in the city centers.
Is the flight included?
No, flights are not included. Please do not book any flights until you confirm your spot on the trip with Chef Debbie. Please note that we have group transfer included for pickup at the Palermo airport at 1pm on October 13th. If you come in early or arrive later, you will be responsible for your own transport to the hotel. For the return on October 19th, we will have group transport to the Catania airport. If your flight time is before or after the group drop off, you will be responsible for your own transport to the hotel.
Can I get travel insurance?
Yes, once registered and confirmed with Chef Debbie, travel insurance is highly recommended. The best kind to get is the Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) insurance purchased through an independent carrier (so bypass the insurance on the airline website if you are going for CFAR). CFAR must be purchased before any deposits are paid or flights are booked for the trip. If you prefer to instead purchase insurance for the trip based upon a dollar amount or other coverage, there are a number of carriers that can help. I used Allianz for mine and purchased for my household for a full year since I travel often.
What is the cancellation policy?
After booking, any cancellation forfeits the $600 deposit per person. It is recommended to purchase travel insurance (CFAR) to cover the bulk of your cost. The balance is due by August 1, 2024 and cancelation needs to be done by August 12, 2024 to recover the balance less the deposit and by September 12, 2024 to recover 50% of the balance less the deposit.
What is the refund policy?
If the trip is cancelled by The Effortless Kitchen after payment is received, you will receive a full refund..
What are the Covid restrictions?
We will follow the local government guidelines. If at the time of travel, there are Covid testing requirements, any costs associated are the responsibility of the individual traveler.
Can dietary restrictions be accommodated?
Each situation is unique and we will do our best to accommodate your dietary needs. Please indicate on the allergy section of the retreat agreement your preferences and indicate whether it’s an anaphylaxis allergy. It is very helpful to know foods, especially vegetables, you don’t enjoy eating as well.
Are all meals included?
Three lunches and three dinners are not included by design . We want to give you the opportunity to explore and sample a variety of local restaurants at your leisure. All other meal times are covered. Breakfast at the hotels is buffet style with typical Italian breakfast foods such as sweets, meats, and cheese.
Do I have to participate in all group activities?
Nothing is mandatory and you are welcome to spend this trip as you wish. While we would love for everyone to do all of the group activities together, we understand. We just ask that we are notified the day of or the day before so we are aware. Also, participants who miss group activities will not be reimbursed.
How many people are going on this trip? I have not done a group trip before.
This is going to be a small group and the plan is to have a maximum of 12-14 people to keep it intimate. Chef Debbie will reach out to each participant prior to registering to ensure they are a good fit for the group experience. There is also free time built into parts of the itinerary to allow for down time or independent exploring. Depending on the location, there will be suggestions provided for what to do during our downtime.
Are there additional expenses I should know about that are not indicated on the itinerary?
Besides the obvious expense for shopping and souvenirs, alcohol is extra with the exception of a glass of wine at group meals that are included in the itinerary. Tipping is optional but should also be a consideration when thinking about how much euros you will need for the trip. Some people like to tip our guide, Marco. He will be with us for the entire trip.
What should I pack?
No need for dressy clothes or shoes. Outfits can be casual and comfortable. Some people may choose to dress up a bit for dinner but it is not mandatory. Layers are helpful as nights can be cooler. October in Sicily averages around 70F. Comfortable shoes are the most important in Europe as the streets tend to be cobblestone. It’s helpful to wear long pants and closed toed shoes for the cooking classes. If the weather cooperates, you may want to pack a bathing suit.