Crete harbor

Join Oldways, James Beard award-winning chef Ana Sortun, and award-winning cookbook author and cooking teacher Aglaia Kremezi in Crete! Experience firsthand why Crete is known for its rich history and heritage, its splendid cuisine that is the foundation of the Mediterranean Diet, and its strikingly beautiful landscape.

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We’ll be based in the two major cities of Crete—Heraklion and Chania—both wonderful and very different. We’ll venture into the mountains and visit small villages, monasteries, organic farms, wineries, and pottery workshops, as well as producers of cheese, honey, and olive oil. We’ll have a guided tour of the world-class archaeological site of Knossos, which was the capital of the powerful Minoan civilization almost 4,000 years ago. And, of course, we’ll have wonderful cooking demonstrations by Ana, Aglaia, and a few of Aglaia’s favorite Cretan chefs.

The cost for the trip is $4700 per person for a double-occupancy room. (Regardless of when you book, there is an additional $500 for a single room.) Cost includes hotel, all trip activities, transport to/from activities, and most meals. Cost does not include airfare to Greece or transportation to/from the airport.

For more information or to register, please click here to fill out our webform.


PROGRAM
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Sunday, 21 October 2018 

Check in at Megaron Hotel in Heraklion. Welcome Session at 6:30 with Sara Baer-Sinnott, Ana Sortun & Aglaia Kremezi. Traditional Cretan Dinner at Peskesi Restaurant.

 

Monday, 22 October 2018 
 
Morning visit to the Archaeοlogical Museum, then to Knossos Palace and Archanes village for a tour of the village and lunch at Kritamon.  Wine tasting at the hotel with a light dinner on the rooftop.  

 

Tuesday, 23 October 2018 
 
Free time in the morning to shop or revisit the Museum or Knossos.  Visit to a traditional bakery with Aglaia.  Noontime cooking demonstration at Arolithos by Chef Ana, followed by lunch of the dishes from Ana’s demo.  Free night in Heraklion.

 

Wednesday, 24 October 2018 
 
Depart for the west and Chania.  En route, we will visit the village of Margarites with the pottery workshops and Arkadi Monastery before arriving in Rethymnon for a city walk, a visit to the last workshop that makes hand-rolled phyllo, and then lunch in Restaurant Avli’s Venetian garden.  Early evening check in at Minoa Palace Resort in Chania.  Light dinner at the hotel.
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Thursday, 25 October 2018 
 
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A morning exploration of the old town of Chania, including visits to the Market and the Synagogue, with time and lunch on your own before returning to the hotel for the afternoon cooking class with Chef Yiannis Tsivourakis, Ana Sortun and Aglaia Kremezi.  Dinner from the class. 

 

Friday, 26 October 2018 
 
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A day planned around Dounias, a traditional taverna in the mountains south of Chania, with visits to the farm, the gardens, a local honey producer and a local cheese maker before lunch.  Free night on your own.

 

Saturday, 27 October 2018 
 
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We will head west to visit the organic olive oil producer, Biolea, and then visit Manousakis winery for a tour, wine tasting and lunch.  Final dinner in Chania’s Old Town.

 

Sunday, 28 October 2018

Departure from Chania or Heraklion.

 

For more information or to register, please click here to fill out our webform

We hope you’ll join us for this unforgettable culinary and cultural journey!