2025 marks our seventh year of bringing small groups of travelers to Tuscany to experience the iconic food and wine of this region of Italy with our Cook Like a Tuscan tours. This year, we are thrilled to add a second Italian destination for a new culinary adventure to Sicily!
Tasting Sicily will have the same curated experiences our travelers have come to know and love from our travel partners at Onward Travel. There will be hands-on cooking classes (a total of three!), visits to local markets, cheese, chocolate, and olive oil tastings by local award-winning producers, meals at favorite local restaurants including a Michelin-starred restaurant and plenty of local delicious wine!
Explore the largest and most diverse island in the Mediterranean with our own Executive Chef/Owner Lisa Counts experiencing it with you all! Lisa is proud of her Sicilian heritage as her father was born in Sicily. She is excited to host this tour along with local Onward Travel guide, Barbara Bandinelli. Together, they will lead you on a trip of a lifetime as you experience Sicily's fascinating cuisine, culture, and scenery.
For the first five nights, our group will be based in Siracusa's ancient quarter: Ortigia, which is full of atmosphere and timeless beauty. Then, three nights will be spent at an agriturismo on the slopes of Mount Etna. You'll ascend Mount Etna (by minibus) and experience peering over the edge of a crater of an active volcano. Folklore and legend surround the volcano, and it is now a national park full of otherworldly vistas.
Mount Etna is also a popular wine region because at high altitudes, winemakers can produce excellent wines from the mineral-rich volcanic soils. The primary grapes grown are Carricante (white), Nerello Mascalese (red), and native grape Nerello Cappuccio (red, for blending). You will taste them all!
You'll experience Sicily by foot, minibus and even by boat. You will see old towns rebuilt from earthquakes in meticulous Baroque style. In Ragusa Ibla, you'll see the beautiful blue dome of Santa-Maria dell'Otria as well as stunning piazzas.
Our culinary tours focus heavily on unique food experiences, and this one is no different. We will visit Sicily's oldest chocolate factory (you know how much Chef Lisa loves chocolate!), and you can taste local cheeses such as Ragusano, a cow's milk cheese and fresh ricotta. You'll shop with a local chef in a sensory-pleasing market to procure ingredients for a hands-on cooking class. A second hands-on cooking class focuses on Slow Food as you make ravioli from freshly milled wheat flour. A final cooking class on our last night features traditional recipes that you will want to recreate at home again and again.
You will visit a pistachio farm in Bronte, as you see pistachio as garnish for cannoli throughout your travels in Sicily. These iconic pastries are more than just a dessert; they represent Sicily’s unique blend of cultural influences and its ability to turn simple ingredients into something extraordinary.
Did you know ice cream is also rumored to have been invented in Sicily? Sicily's historical methods of using snow, sugar, and flavorings were a critical foundation. The island remains famous for its frozen desserts, such as gelato and granita, which are beloved worldwide. As we always say when we are in Italy - just eat the gelato!
You will learn about the history of this area as you visit one of the most compelling archeological sites in Sicily, Parco Archelogico which has a 5th-century Greek theater carved out of rock and a Roman amphitheater originally used for gladiatorial combats and horse races. This area is a testament to Sicily's rich history, blending the influences of ancient Greek, Roman, and other civilizations that once thrived on the island.
Our trip wraps up in tantalizing Taormina, a seaside resort town popular since the 19th century. The town is spectacularly perched on the side of a mountain, with beautiful views of Mount Etna and class and sophistication for days. You'll have plenty of time to explore the medieval streets.
For millennia, Sicily has inspired storytellers and dreamers alike - whether through the epic tales of Homer, the myths of ancient Greece, or the cinematic allure of The Godfather. Now it’s your turn. Join our vibrant community of travelers and food enthusiasts to discover the magic of The Island in the Sun.
See the itinerary of this 8-night tour for even more reasons why you should join us on this new culinary adventure.
I have no doubt this tour is going to sell out quickly just like our Cook Like a Tuscan tours do, so if you are ready to commit to checking Sicily off your bucket list, go ahead and register today to secure your spot. Chef Lisa will be waiting for you!
And if you want to join me in Tuscany in October, we have just three spots left in the first Cook Like a Tuscan tour. There's more availability for the second week, so pair up with a friend and let's have a glass of Chianti together at our private villa on a vineyard. Cin cin!