Learn Chocolate Culinary Secrets in Glorious Italy

Cooking Vacations, a Boston-based travel company that arranges specialty cooking classes in picturesque Italian locations, has created a workshop for chocolate lovers.

The Cooking Chocolate program takes participants through three hands-on classes focusing on chocolate desserts. Classes and accommodations are at the Villa Azzura in the seaside town of Positano. The classes are led by Maria Rosa Scuncio and Executive Chef Tonina, who learned the secrets of Italian cooking from their great-grandmother and worked their way up to the professional kitchen. Cooking Chocolate includes such recipes as Melanzane al Cioccolato (click here for this recipe for chocolate eggplant), Palline al Cocco, Capri Cake, torrone (nougat), chocolate biscotti and double chocolate gelato.

During the eight-day, seven-night program participants will learn the history of cooking with chocolate. Besides the three hands-on cooking lessons featuring chocolate, there will be excursions to Capri, Ravello and Amafli (to taste eggplant and chocolate ice cream made by a famous artisan). There will also be a wine-tasting visit, featuring Italy’s best wines with desserts, and an outside dinner. Daily breakfast, transfers to and from the airport or train station will be provided.

Positano
Situated on the Tyrrhenian Sea, Positano first attracted artists including the famous writer John Steinbeck. Its small winding streets are filled with tiny cafés, terraces and artisan shops selling ceramics, limoncello and lace. Visitors walk the one pedestrian street that leads to the beach and stop at the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta in Piazza Flavio Gioia, a Romanesque structure that was rebuilt in 1700. The residents of Positano celebrate the feast day of Santa Maria Assunta every August 15. Her statue is carried along the beach at the head of a parade of musicians. A beautiful fire-work display follows the parade.

Villa Azzura
Villa Azzura, an elegant residence built in 1700, overlooks Positano. Its unmatched setting of sea and sun make it one of the most desirable luxury properties on the Amalfi coast. High vaulted white ceilings give each room a lofty feel, and floor-to-ceiling windows showcase a panoramic sea view. Cool, pastel ceramic tiles cover the floors and rare artifacts and paintings deck the walls. Each room has modern amenities including over-sized bathrooms with marble tubs. Central air and heating is also available.

The villa’s spacious country-style kitchen is the perfect setting for intimate cooking classes. Following each lesson, participants eat the fruits of their labor on the terrace under a bougainvillea-covered arbor overlooking the sea.

Cooking Vacations is owned by Lauren Scuncio Birmingham, whose great-grandfather immigrated from Italy. The company specializes in vacations packages that offer authentic Italian culinary and dining experiences, individual attention and a relaxed atmosphere. For more information about the Cooking Chocolate program or other cooking tours in Italy, visit www.cooking-vacations.com.

Edited by Patricia D. Sherman
Photos courtesy of Cooking Vacations.

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