Icona Cookery School - Course Details

Here at Icona, we have created a Cookery Course, that is more of a Food Experience, which taps into the Alpine way of life. By visiting local artisans and vineyards across the Savoie area, and into the Italian Aosta valley, you will gain hands on experience, and knowledge of both French & Italian cuisine.

There's no shortage of fascinating topics to explore, from the cuisines of  these Alpine regions. You'll enjoy personalized attention, lectures, hands-on cooking, and a wine tasting, and come away with a better understanding of the flavors of both France and Italy.

We will visit the Italian Fontina cheese caves, and taste the finest wines the region has to offer. Where they will take you for a stroll through terraced vineyards, and you will learn about the production process from vine to glass.  Visiting local markets and meeting stall owners, who will infect you with their passion for all things fresh and seasonal.

The afternoons will be spent at our Chalet, drawing upon inspiration from the produce we have gathered and sights you have seen during that day. Whilst then learning how to prepare, and organise food for healthy and seasonal alfresco meals, barbeques, and formal dining, which will take place, over long relaxed meals, sharing ideas and stories, with lots of eating and drinking.

 This together with your enthusiasm and my twenty years experience, You will learn to develop your own dishes, and create beautiful settings.

During the courses we also try to incoporate some foraging, for foods such as morels, wild strawberrys, wild sorrel, wild garlic etc etc,  however this is dependant on the season, as to what is available for us to find.

Courses are available over 3 and 5 days, course dates and availability.

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3 DAY COURSE: £575

Day 1

Arrive to the Chalet in the Afternoon, where you will be welcomed with Afternoon Tea.

Relax

Evening Meal

Day 2

Breakfast on the terrace with your choice of fresh fruit, freshly baked crossiants, and pan au chocolat, cereals, and a choice of hot breakfasts.  All with a fantastic views of the Aiguille du Midi, and the other spectacular mountains in the Chamonix Valley

Day trip to the Aosta Valley in Italy, where we will visit the Fontina cheese caves, and 2 award winning vineyards.   A visit to  Courmayeur for a relaxing stroll around one the Italy's most picturesque alpine villages. The mountain culture in the  Aosta valley is very much alive, as you can often see the villagers playing mountain cricket or the spectuacular batailles des reines, and of course we will stop for a traditional lunch along the way.

Afternoon:Tuition

Dinner

Day 3

Breakfast

Trip to the local market

Tuition

Evening Meal

Day 4

Breakfast

Trip to our local smokery, where they smoke and cure all their own meats, in an 16th century traditional farmhouse, that has been lovingly restored to its former glory, with its chimney being used for smoking meats for the last 400 years.  Following this you will a visit to a local honey producer, snail farmer, and cheese maker.

Lunch

Depart

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5 DAY COURSE: £950

Day 1

Arrive in the afternoon or early evening, where you will be welcomed with Afternoon Tea, with freshly baked cakes, and cookies.

Relax

Evening meal prepared and cooked by Neil

Day 2

Breakfast on the terrace, with your choice of fresh fruit, freshly baked crossiants, and pan au chocolat, cereals, and a choice of hot breakfasts.   All  with a fantastic views of the Aiguille du Midi, and the other spectacular mountains in the Chamonix Valley


Trip to local market

Traditional lunch in a local mountain restaurant

Tuition -

Evening meal

Day 3


Breakfast

Day trip to the Aosta Valley in Italy, where we will visit the Fontina cheese caves, and 2 award winning vineyards.   A visit to  Courmayeur for a relaxing stroll around one the Italy's most picturesque alpine villages. The mountain culture in the  Aosta valley is very much alive, as you can often see the villagers playing mountain cricket or the spectuacular batailles des reines playing batailles des reines. And of course we will stop for a traditional lunch along the way.

Late afternoon - Tuition

Evening meal

Day 4

Breakfast

This day will be a free day, for you to choose your choice of activity, Hiking, trip to the Ancient Roman Spa of Pre Saint Didier in Italy, for a bit of pampering and wellbeing, Massage/treatments in the comfort of your room in the chalet. Fishing in a privately owned glacial river in Aosta, Golf, Parapenting, Mountain Biking, shopping in Annecy, or just relax in the beautiful surroundings of the chalet.  Just let us know in advance what takes your fancy, and we will organise this for you.

Evening Meal

Day 5

Breakfast

Trip to local market

Lunch

Relax

Tuition

Evening Meal

Day 6

Breakfast

Trip to our local smokery, where they smoke and cure all their own meats, along with a visit to a local honey producer, snail farmer, cheese maker.

Lunch

Depart

Guests who are wishing to join partners & friends for their stay at Chalet Anchorge, and enjoy all the good food & wine, but not participate in the lessons, the following prices apply:

3 Day Course/Stay £375

5 Day Course/Stay £750

Dates and Availability of courses

Please note, that prices include all your accomodation at Chalet Anchorage, food, drinks (house wine), transport on all the trips, entrance fee for trips, wine tastings, & culinary instruction.  However does not include your transfers to and from Chalet Anchorage, Flights, Travel Insurance, and the cost of your choice of trip for the rest day.

Courses may differ from time to time, due to seasons and availability of produce.

* For details on transfers or transportation to Chalet Anchorage, please dont hesitate to contact us, and we can recommend either transfer companies, or details how to locate us.