Carla and Livia are two of our wonderful staff members who hosted the New Year’s cooking holiday in Sicily last year. We decided to get some insights into what to expect from a New Year’s holiday in Italy with Flavours, and to hear some of their memories.
Where did you celebrate New Years in Italy last year?
Carla: I was the chef on the cooking holiday in Sicily.
Livia: I was the host in Sicily last year and enjoyed it a lot!
Can you tell us a little bit more about New Years in Italy?
Carla: New Year in Italy is a chance to spend time and have fun with friends and family. One of the most important things of New Year’s Eve is the Big New Year’s dinner. We take the guests to a beautiful, local market to get all the ingredients and then back at the villa, we all help make it together.
Livia: It is exciting to be on a cooking holiday over New Years as everyone puts extra effort into getting to know each other and having a great time.
What can a guest expect when celebrating New Years with Flavours?
Livia: Guests can expect to be part of a real celebration. They will be able to prepare and organise the event. Of course, we will have a couple of glasses of Prosecco in the afternoon. But the best part is that you will be able to prepare traditional Italian dishes – and not just eat them.
Carla: A warm and friendly atmosphere – all together we are one big family! Also, to help prepare some very special dishes that are traditional at this time of year. At New Year you can’t miss at least one fish dish, and if you’re in Sicily the dessert must be the Cassata!
What did you enjoy most about your holiday?
Carla: The company, the opportunity of laughing and having fun all together, and above all, having dinner together.
Livia: It’s a group activity and as soon as the food is done, we get ready, eat and then start playing the tombola – an Italian game similar to bingo. We also have great prizes to win such as kitchen tools or anything else you will need for cooking. At midnight, we have some aperitivi such as more Prosecco and Spritz.
What was your culinary highlight of the celebrations?
Carla: The filled raviolini with broth.
Livia: The pannatone!
And finally, what advice would you give to someone who’s considering coming to Italy this New Year?
Livia: Be prepared to have an authentic Italian good time with great company and lots of wine and make friends in a relaxed environment!
Carla: I would suggest that if you come to Sicily to go to Cava D’Ispica, where there’s an archaeological site with some caves where you can find the “live presepe”: the presepe is the nativity scene and this one is done by real people (actors).
Our New Year holidays also run in Tuscany, Venice and Sicily. As well as a New Year celebration, our 5 day holidays also include a visit to a vineyard for a private tasting, and three cookery lessons! To find out more about our New Year destinations, and what else is included, get in touch today.
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