Teaching a workshop in Sicily — October 2017

Sicilian countryside

I am so excited to announce that I will co-jointly teach a food styling and photography workshop combined with Sicilian cooking classes with my friend Fabrizia Lanza for the third time. We have such fonds memories of our times together with previous students that we wanted to do it again.

Fabizia Lanza at Case Vecchie

Our 4 day 5 night workshop will be held at Case Vecchie, Fabrizia’s beautiful cooking school located on the Tasca D’Almerita Regaleali Winery and Estate in central Sicily (Italy) between October 24 to October 29, 2017.

Registration is now open and you can find a lot more information about the contents of the workshop on Anna Tasca’s website following this link.

Here are a few things you need to know.

The area is located in a scenic and rural part of Sicily, on a large wine estate–imagine open fields with rolling hills and vines.

You will enjoy amazing local Sicilian cooking made with the traditional scrumptious local produce–Fabrizia has an amazing vegetable garden–and by the way, every year, she hosts a 10-week Cook the Farm program which just finished. I hear it was amazing.

Accommodation is in charming rooms that are part of the 19th century Case Vecchie country home and cooking school. Beds have embroidered linen, old framed prints line the walls of the bedrooms, which are full of Sicilian rustic charm. Several rooms have sweeping views of the vineyard and gardens from the shuttered windows. For more details, see pictures here.

You will learn about how to use your camera to become a better food photographer, how to style food with hands on assignments, and how to create pictures that tell a story. At Case Vecchie and Sicily, opportunities for strong pictures abound. We will also make excursions to learn about how to best utilize light and camera settings on location too.

Sicilians are really friendly and I don’t tire of going back. If you are looking for a serene spot, this is one.

About the practical information:

The cost of the workshop is € 2.700 per person for single-occupancy, and € 4.800 for 2 people in a double occupancy if you’d like to travel as a couple or with a friend.

These two options include accommodation, all lessons, all meals, and all trips to local producers, with Wi-Fi service, and tea/coffee furniture into your room, and free access to the swimming pool at Case Vecchie (hopefully it will be nice enough to utilize it).

The price excludes airfare to Sicily, transportation to/from the airport.

Upon request, we can also organize a cab for you from both Palermo or Catania airport (€ 150 each way).

Here’s a sample of the schedule, subject to change.

Day 1 — Tuesday, October 24
Introductory discussion over Sicilian aperitifs and a welcome dinner.
Day 2 — Wednesday, October 25
Visit of local shepherd and cheesemaker Filippo Privitera. Introductory course discussing basics and advanced camera features and food styling tips with our first food styling and photography session. After collecting mixed greens and herbs in the garden. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the school.
Day 3 — Thursday, October 26
Leave for Agrigento to visit the Valleys of Temples. We will bring a picnic and chilled wine for lunch, with a lesson on styling. Learn to make gnocchi and a fresh garden salad with Fabrizia before dinner. Breakfast and dinner at the school.
Day 4 — Friday, October 27
Fruit harvesting in the orchards. Cooking and styling (and photography) session with Béa and Fabrizia, making tarts with our harvested fruits. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the school.
Day 5 — Saturday, October 28
Cooking lesson with Fabrizia with a photography session, with a walk around the estate before meeting for our farewell dinner together. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the school.
Day 6 — Sunday, October 29
Breakfast followed by goodbyes.

Fabrizia and I hope that we will be able to host you. To book, follow this link.

Any questions, let us know. Many thanks

24 comments

  1. Pingback: Teaching a workshop in Sicily — October 2017 | French Cooking

  2. Please advise of maximum number participants.
    Do you have any reviews from past participants?
    Thank you

  3. Hi. I’m not a photographer but my grandma was Sicilian and I’ve always wanted to go to this after reading bout it on your blog. I AM gluten free. Is it possible to go if not a good photographer but to be there mostly to learn to cook and I’m assuming it will be gluten free? Gracie!

  4. Hello Julie, the maximum participants is 12 (we’ve had 10 in the past and it was a good size too). As to reviews, Kat Tancock from the first workshop we ran just mentioned the workshop on Twitter. Here is what she wrote: “Have done this, and recommend” @kattancock. Thank you!

  5. Kass, yes that would work well too, as long as you are happy to be with more advanced photographers. There’s always room to learn a ton. And you’d be enjoying amazing cooking classes with great Sicilian food!

  6. Uhh, looks and sounds so nice!
    But… I going to attend another workshop in Spain in october this year…
    Hope you´ll have the Paris workshop again next year – and I´ll be there! 🙂

  7. Pingback: Modish Taste | Teaching a workshop in Sicily — October 2017

  8. i would like to join but my main objective is food styling…….is it enough information and learning tips about food styling? is there a certificate at the end of the course?

  9. i want a food styling workshop + certificate? do you provide?

  10. Hello Dina, I don’t have a certificate per an organization if that’s what you are asking, but I can certainly give you a document proving your attendance to this food styling and photography workshop. Let me know whether you have more questions.

    Thanks. Béa

  11. I once had the pleasure of savoring Sicilian food at Oggi Trattoria of Grand Avenue Chicago. I would love to attend such a workshop if you ever happen to do this anywhere around the midwest of the USA. The chances may be slim, but if you ever come anywhere near, please give me a buzz. Thank you!

  12. its seems really interesting kind of workshop. pictures just make me amazed. i wish i could join it.but lot of stuff is already going.