Tomato Paste

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When

August 24 – 28, 2026

Price

Single Room: € 4,100

Double Room: € 7,500

Example Program

3:00 to 5:00 pm | Check-in

7:30 pm | Welcome aperitivo and discussion followed by dinner

9:00 am | Breakfast and a morning of washing and prepping tomatoes for the making of Salsa Pronta and tomato juice to sun dry.

1:00 pm | Lunch at Case Vecchie followed by pool, rest and relax

4:00 pm | Visit the Tasca D’Almerita winery for a tour and wine tasting followed by dinner at Case Vecchie

9:00 am | Breakfast followed by the first stage of estratto making—spreading the tomato pulp onto boards to begin drying in the sun.

1:00 pm | Lunch at Case Vecchie

5:30 pm | Visit a local Tomato Cooperative

7:30 pm | Aperitivo and dinner at Case Vecchie

7:45 am | Visit a local shepherd and cheesemaker, Filippo Privitera, to see ricotta making. Picnic breakfast included. Return to Case Vecchie for a Sicilian cheese tasting followed by lunch

4:30 pm| Tending to the estratto, sundried tomatoes, figs and raisins

5:30 pm | Cooking lesson followed by aperitivo and dinner

9:00 am | Breakfast

10:00 am | Goodbyes and departure

Planned activities and schedules may change at short notice due to seasonal rhythms of life in Sicily.

Info

Included

Accommodation
5-night stay at Case Vecchie or in one of the nearby cottages.
Shuttle Transfer
Group shuttle service from/to Roccapalumba train station, upon request.
Meals
All meals are included. Lunch and dinner are served with wines from the Tasca d’Almerita estate. Typical menus and cooking lessons feature three or four courses.
Excursions
Guided visits and local experiences as indicated in the program.
Lessons
All cooking classes and other activities specified in the course schedule.

Not included

Transportation
Private transportation to and from Case Vecchie is not included. Take a look here to know what is the best way to reach us.
Flight
Airfare is not included.
Insurance
Travel insurance must be arranged independently by participants.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate guests with celiac disease or a vegan diet due to the limited availability of specific ingredients in our rural and isolated location.

The heat of August brings with it the sweet, tangy flavors of Sicilian tomatoes.

During this workshop, we will preserve the bounty of August, learning how to make the staple of Sicilian cuisine — estratto (tomato paste) along with other pantry products like salsa pronta, sun-dried tomatoes and raisins. The week is full of fun, sticky fingers and refreshing dips in the pool to cool off. If you’re interested in taking part of a traditional practice, here’s your chance.

Everything about the week was worth the effort to get there and the planning was well worth it. It was a week of gourmet eating. The participants were all enthusiastic about being there and that helped make the overall "experience".

S.M

That was such a great experience and it was so much fun to be with all of you during the week. Please extend my thanks to the entire team who made things so fantastic. I can't wait to get started in my own kitchen!

C.H.

My time at Case Vecchie was one of the best experiences I've ever had. The setting is gorgeous, the hospitality amazing, and all of the cooking events were exactly what I had hoped for. I've spent my career in the food business and although I had made a lot of the recipes before I still learned so many things. Emiko is a wonderful teacher-so easy to relate to and a wonderful instructor. I would love to return.

F.C.

The whole experience, from the accommodations (food, the beautiful location) to all the people we encountered was top notch. The kitchen crew was awesome in every way! I will definitely recommend to friends. David was great, enjoyed his casual style and expertise.

J.N.

The people I met: both the staff (kind, energetic, happy, informative) and the other folks in my group. Gathering around the table and laughing, learning and sharing stories is what stands out. And the fact that roosters crow all day which I didn't know. The setting is truly special as well - felt worlds away from the distractions of everyday life and instead in a rich, hands-on learning environment.

S.M

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