Cooking Class: a cooking class to learn the art of making pasta, pitte and fried foods typical of the Ionian area of Cosenza

The experience

When it comes to gastronomic masterpieces, the villages of Calabria act as a real treasure chest, from one of these, that of Terravecchia, we bring out the ancient recipes of macaroni a ferretto, “cullurelli” and pitte with pilchard, to the delight of the participants in our cooking classes!

In a workshop led by experienced and willing ladies, the travelers of the roots can learn how to make fresh dough by rolling it out with an underwire, delighting in the creation of the roses of pizza dough sprinkled with pilchard which, placed next to each other, look like real artistic creations to be admired as well as tasted; finally, they can practice,  Not without a good dose of fun, quickly kneading balls of soft dough which, once pierced in the center, are immersed and fried in oil to give life to the “cullurellu”. And it is precisely by repeating the gestures of their ancestors and tasting the flavors until then only enunciated and told that our travelers in search of their roots conclude this activity of taste and goodness but also of emotions and echoes of the past.

The “cullurelli” and the “pitte” in particular are not only food to offer to travelers, they are rather an authentic expression of this territory, they are hardworking hands that dedicate themselves with passion and pride, they are the business card of a territory that is still authentic.

Terravecchia, where this unforgettable workshop experience takes place, is all this: it is culinary tradition, but it is also hills that precede the Sila plateau; it is above all the majestic beauty of the surrounding nature; it is the iridescent colors of the Gulf of Taranto, whose evening lights take the gaze up to the lighthouse of Gallipoli overlooking Punta Alice, where the gulf ends; It is welcome for those who return, in a single concept it is a warm and welcoming home!

At 475 meters above sea level, Terravecchia is a panoramic terrace overlooking the Ionian Sea and the fortified citadel of Cariati. Walking along the roads of this area means encountering verdant pastures and olive groves that are lost on the horizon, which tell of a population dedicated to agriculture and breeding. A place of yesteryear, rich in charm and history, where the peasant culture of the Brettii still survives.

The experience we offer to visitors to the roots is unique precisely because it is immersive, because it is made up of authentic encounters that touch deep chords and become an opportunity for both cultural and emotional exchange. Our Cooking Class becomes engaging because it is directly experienced and practiced and because it is felt and elaborated by the community, welcoming and warm. The atmosphere that is created is pleasant and harmonious and the moment of  tasting turns into a moment of real pleasure.

The raw material of this activity is the water that comes from the Sila and the flour that is scrupulously chosen from among the best in the area, involving the producer partners.

This workshop in Terravecchia presents itself not only as a practical activity, but also as a celebration of the local gastronomic culture, to preserve and pass on traditions that make this territory unique.