Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries Seminar, The Magnificent West

Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries
Seminars:

The Magnificent West
Nature, Organic Food Production,
Cooking Demos and Hands-On Classes

Sample Program

Crete’s Culinary Sanctuaries Presents:

The Magnificent West: Wild Nature, Organic Food Production, Cooking Demos
and Hands-On Cooking Classes

Available Dates: September 27- October 2, 2010

Join us for an exciting seminar in Western Crete focusing on food from the ground up. Our base is in
a small village in the foothills of the magnificent White Mountains. We’ll spend a week exploring the
region and enjoying the superb fresh and local cuisine. Before we head to the kitchen to cook with
great local chefs, we’ll meet people that produce traditional and organic ingredients in the region,
which is the foundation for culinary delights to come.

We’ll travel to organic farms to discover how high-quality olive oil and wine is produced and taste the
results. Along the way, we’ll stop at traditional bakeries and artisan food shops. Throughout the
week, we’ll meet people involved in cultural-natural heritage preservation projects, enjoy the fresh air
during walks in the countryside and relax in peaceful villages. Accommodation is in beautifully
restored cottages or apartments in the village with private balconies or gardens.

Day 1: Arrive at our base anytime after 2:00 PM, check into your rooms and relax. Our base is a 30-
minute drive from Chania port or airport. At 5:00 pm, we’ll meet for a tour of the historic village
followed by a cooking class and dinner featuring a gorgeous array of fresh and local dishes.

Day 2: We’ll spend the day visiting historic sites, artisan food shops, and a beautiful boutique winery
for a tour and tastings with the vintners. Wonderful local cheeses, olives, fruit, vegetables, honey and
freshly baked whole-grain bread are usually on the seasonal menu. We’ll meet in the evening for
dinner and discussion about traditional Cretan cuisine.

Day 3: Today is reserved to relax or explore the countryside at your leisure. We’ll meet in the early
evening for a cooking class featuring the ingredients we collected during our adventures. Menu
theme: Modern interpretations of Cretan cuisine using ingredients readily available in other regions
of the world.

Day 4: We’ll head further west to visit an extraordinary organic farm-olive oil factory for a tour and
tastings of a variety liquid gold. Along the way, we’ll visit the fascinating city of Chania for free time to
explore or dine at one of the many tavernas in the ancient quarter or port.

Day 5: Today, we’ll take a botanical hike to the coast and enjoy a seafood lunch. Crete is home to
over 2,000 species of plants, 10% of which are endemic to the island. We’ll have some time to relax
on the shore or in a café. In the evening we’ll meet for our farewell dinner.

Day 6: Rest in the village until noon if you like. The local travel agency can provide advice or
arrangements for your transportation options.

This is a small-group seminar limited to 12 attendees. Seminar Fees: From 1,520 Euros per person
(double to quadruple occupancy for shared cottage or house with double or single beds); 1,560
Euros per person (single private cottage or apartment). Fees include 5-nights' accommodation, expert
guide fees, cooking demos, classes and tastings, scheduled meals, scheduled transportation to/from
the village and a welcome package of local products, reference materials and cookbooks. A 250 Euro
deposit is required to reserve your space. The balance is due 120 days before the seminar start date.
Contact us to confirm space is still available and make reservations now.

Crete's Culinary Sanctuaries is an award-winning program for best
practices in Responsible Travel. CCS focuses on much more than
culinary travel. The key to any great chef's masterpieces is the
ingredients they search for that are provided by dedicated producers.
CCS supports grassroots cultural and natural heritage preservation
projects, which is crucial if we expect sustainable living practices to
finally become common practice for generations to come.

For more information about our work: See the About Us and Articles
Sections of our website and National Geographic Center for
Sustainable Destinations, The World Tourism Forum for Peace and
Sustainable Development, the UN Convention on Biodiversity Success
Stories, and Sustainable Travel International