Corfiot Cuisine at a Scenic Mountaintop Vineyard - Day Trip — CALL

Traveling Spoon

OFFER ID 1315304

Vasiliki, a passionate food lover who has loved cooking for decades, has undertaken a search for forgotten flavors. After exploring historical sources and experimenting with local ingredients she published a cookbook with traditional local recipes that bring back the cooking secrets and flavors of previous generations on her native island of Corfu. Your Traveling Spoon experience takes place on a hilltop estate alongside a vineyard, where wine and olive cultivation has existed for more than 400 years. Vasiliki received her undergraduate and masters degrees in the United States, and then worked as a Computer System Analyst for 25 years. Vasiliki has a daughter and granddaughter who live in Athens and will be part of the experience when they are visiting. Vasiliki’s husband is civil engineer as well as a passionate sailor and wine maker. Vasiliki cooks a traditional meal inspired mainly from the Venetian influence of Corfiot cuisine. Enjoy a full five-course meal that may include dishes such as melitzanosalata (smoked eggplant) or traditional vegetable and cheese pie, green salad, pork roast or slowly cooked veal “sofritto”. End your meal on a sweet note with a delicious lemon tart or pudding. Your meal will be accompanied with authentic local wines produced by Vasiliki’s husband. At the end of the experience Vasiliki will present you with a copy of her cookbook, “Corfiot Cuisine – in search of the origins”. This experience is filled with warm hospitality, delicious local food and magnificent views of the vineyard and all of central Corfu! If you book a cooking experience, you will be welcomed with herbal tea or a welcome drink of red wine with citrus fruits. Enjoy a short presentation on history of the vineyard and buildings, as well as an overview of the equipment and processes used in traditional olive and wine making. Then enjoy a hands on cooking class which will begin with learning about Corfiot culinary culture and the ingredients used in Corfiot cooking (including a local product tasting!). Your cooking class will be hands-on using only fresh, local ingredients cooked with traditional recipes and techniques. The fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers used in the meal are grown in Vasiliki’s estate or by local producers. You will forage some herbs from the garden for your cooking class and then join Vasiliki to make a vegetable & herb salad, pork “dolce garbo”, a traditional cheese & vegetable pie and Ambelonas’ special cake for dessert. Please note the cost of the experience includes soft drinks, wine, or beer with your experience.

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Featured Destinations

Corfu

Corfu's unique scenery, with gentle green hills and luxuriant southern flora, makes it one of the most beautiful of all Greek islands. Many beautiful buildings can be seen in Corfu Town. Corfu is a popular holiday destination for vacationers from all walks of life who come to enjoy mild climate, calm blue-green water, rugged mountains, hidden coves and miles of sandy beaches. A number of historical sights range from old fortresses and mansions to cathedrals and palaces. Corfu Town is surrounded by arcaded Venetian buildings. The Spianada is considered to be the largest square in Greece. Explore the narrow streets of Old Town. See Town Hall and the 300-year-old Church of Saint Spyrídon; a silver sarcophagus contains the remains of the town's patron saint. The Royal Palace - a neo-classical mansion - holds on its upper floor the Museum of Byzantine and East Asian Art. The Archaeological Museum has displays of artifacts discovered on Corfu. The Old Fortress, an impressive 14th-century Venetian structure, is now used as a popular venue for concerts.

Excursions

Corfu Town & Achilleion Palace - 4.5 hours

Corfu Culinary Experience (Full Day)

Highlights/Description:
Corfu is the ideal place to enjoy a diverse mix of different tastes. The cuisine is inextricably tied in with its history and this is what makes the food here so different from the rest of Greece. The cuisine is neither spicy nor bland, but rich in the flavours of the Mediterranean. Specialties consist of local ingredients found on the island; especially olives, lemons, vegetables, tomatoes and fish. Many dishes hark back to the days when cooks put all the ingredients in a single pot and left it to simmer all day.

Today’s excursion starts with the Old Town of Corfu, where you may enjoy a walking tour of this UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. You will discover the town’s beautiful sites such as Saint Spyridon Church, dedicated to the protector of the island, the charming narrow Venetian alleyways, the famous Esplanade, one of the largest squares in Europe, the elegant Liston where access in the past was only allowed to the aristocracy of Corfu who were written down in the “Libro d’Oro’’, the Dimarcheio, or Town Hall, and the imposing Palace of St Michael and St George. After exploring Corfu historical center take a stroll through the local market.

Your tour continues with a scenic drive through the countryside to Triklino Vineyard, also known as Ambelonas Corfu, which is situated in Pelekas upon a hill with a panoramic view of central Corfu. Here local varieties of grapes are grown around a building of local architecture, in which traditional oil and wine production tools are displayed.

Upon arrival you will be welcomed with herbal soft drink. Get to know the history of the estate, the vineyard, the wild herbs and vegetables, the equipment and the processes for traditional olive and wine making and then spend some time learning about the principles ingredients and techniques of Mediterranean cuisine and the Corfiot culinary culture. You will then follow a step-by-step live presentation of the preparation of a full Corfiot meal – starter, salad, first course, main course, and desert. Participate in the cooking and sample the dishes at different stages of cooking. After the demonstration you will be able to enjoy lunch while relaxing in the ambient surroundings in the nature before returning to the port.

Tour Duration: 7 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light

Inclusions:

Licensed, English-speaking guide
Applicable taxes
Transfers to/from Corfu port (applies to tour + cooking class only)

Not Included:

Meals, unless otherwise noted
Gratuities
Personal expenses

Cultural Tour of Corfu (Half Day) - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:

Kanoni (Mouse Island and the Monastery of Vlacherna)
Museum of Asiatic Art in the Palace of St. George
Old Town of Corfu

Your tour begins with a scenic drive to Kanoni, where you will have the opportunity to admire Mouse Island and the Monastery of Vlacherna before continuing on to the historical center of Corfu. Here you will explore the Museum of Asiatic Art which is unique in Greece and one of the most important of its kind in Europe. The museum contains approximately eleven thousand exhibits spanning the 11^th century BC to the 20^th century AD from a variety of Asian countries The greater part of the collection, more than ten thousand objects, come from China and Japan, while the rest come from Tibet, Korea, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand and Cambodia. The museum is housed in the imposing Palace of St George and St Michael.

After visiting the museum, you may enjoy a walking tour of the Old Town of Corfu, a UNESCO’s World Heritage site. Discover the town’s beautiful sites such as Saint Spyridon Church, dedicated to the protector of the island, the charming narrow Venetian alleyways, the famous Esplanade, one of the largest squares in Europe, the elegant Liston where access in the past was only allowed to the aristocracy of Corfu who were written down in the “Libro d’Oro’’, and the Dimarcheio, or Town Hall. Upon completion of the tour, we return to the Port.

Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light to Moderate

Inclusions:

Licensed, English-speaking guide
Luxury vehicle
Applicable taxes
Pick-up/Drop off at Corfu port
Entrance and tasting fees will be additional and can be pre-booked

Not Included:

Meals, unless otherwise noted
Gratuities
Personal expenses

Exciting Jeep Safari in Corfu (Half Day) - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:
Discover Angelokastro, Lakones and Paleokastritsa driving through lush vegetation routes and traditional Corfiot villages. Admire panoramic breathtaking views of West Corfu and explore the magnificent bays with the crystal clear blue waters in a premium 4x4 vehicle.
First we will follow a route through Corfiot villages heading towards the western part of the island to Angelokastro – (“Castle of Angels”) which is located at the top of the highest peak of the island’s shoreline in the northwest coast near Paleokastritsa and is one of the most important Byzantine castles of Greece. A stunning view of Corfu’s west coast and the amazing terrain provide an ideal spot to admire the view, shoot some panoramic photos and refresh ourselves. Continuing our route through Lakones village with its surroundings is also known as Bella Vista, one of the top 10 views in Europe, and along the road in and out of the village, we will stop to enjoy the view while enjoying our coffee or tea. After our coffee stop, we follow a route from the top of the hill down to Paleokastritsa. Paleokastritsa is one of the most celebrated and attractive spots on Corfu island, with many coves with incredibly clear water surrounded by olive, cypress, and lemon trees. The lush vegetation and landscape combines blue and green waters with picturesque rocky bays and the monastery of Virgin Mary with the small museum. Visit the Monastery of The Virgin Mary in Paleokastritsa and take in superb views over the sea, and the rock that is said to be Odysseus' ship turned to stone.

Tea/coffee or juice included
liability insurance included
Angelokastro is closed on Tuesdays
Don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes
Sun protection and a hat are recommended

Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light to Moderate

Inclusions:

English-speaking driver - escort
Applicable taxes
Entrance fee to Angelokastro
Pick-up/Drop off at Corfu port

Not Included:

Meals, unless otherwise noted
Gratuities
Personal expenses

Highlights of Corfu - 4 hours

Highlights/Description:

Mon Repos Palace
Kanoni (Mouse Island and the Monastery of Vlacherna)
Old Town of Corfu

Our exciting tour begins with a drive to Kanoni, where guests will have the opportunity to admire magical Mouse Island and the Monastery of Vlacherna. There will be time to take photographs to capture this picturesque panorama, before continuing our tour.

Our tour continues to The Palace of Mon Repos. The palace was once the summer residence of the ex-Greek Royal Family. Its wild-natural park is an oasis of tall trees and shrubs. According to historians, the ancient city of Corfu had originally been located. It was built by Commissioner Adams for his wife, although she soon vacated the palace when her husband was sent to serve in India and it became a rarely used summer house for all the governors.

During the British occupation a school for clergymen was located there. After the union of the Ionian Islands with Greece, King Georgios I took possession of the area and named it Mon-Repos. At Mon Repos one can see a beautiful view from the hill of Analipsi, the ruins of the ancient city and the basilica of Palaiopoli.

Our final destination is the Heritage Old Town of Corfu, where guests may enjoy a walking tour. Inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as a fortified Mediterranean port town of high integrity and authenticity, guests will discover all the interesting sites like the Saint Spyridon Church, protector of the island, the charming narrow alleyways of the old Venetian town, the famous Esplanade - one of the largest squares in Europe, the elegant Liston which access in the past was only allowed to the aristocracy of Corfu, written down in the “Libro d’Oro’’, the Dimarcheio or Town Hall and the imposing Palace of St Michael and St George (viewed from the outside).

There will be time at leisure for shopping before we return to the port.

Tour Duration: 4 Hours
Tour can operate: Morning or Afternoon
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Physical Activity Level: Light to Moderate

Inclusions:

Licensed, English-speaking guide
Luxury vehicle
Applicable taxes
Pick-up/Drop off at Corfu port
Entrance fees

Not Included:

Meals, unless otherwise noted
Gratuities
Personal expenses

Paleokastritsa and Theotoky Estate - 4 hours

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

05/01/2019 - 12/31/2024

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* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

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Length

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Vacation Rating

Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.

Remarks

Pricing is per person. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and children 4 and under are free. Please note number and ages of children at time of booking. Please note that all experiences are private and fully customizable. If your travelers have particular preferences or dietary restrictions please note this at the time of booking. Additional terms and conditions apply.
Note: This is a DAY TOUR with no hotel accommodations included. Advertised rate is meal only; additional tour options are available and can be combined. Price may vary by date of travel, currency rate fluctuations and tour option; please inquire for the best prices for your preferred travel dates. 2-10 guests (1-30 guests for meal only).

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1315304

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Senae Travel

(520) 909-3739