How to be Vegan Course October 12th 2024 for 7 Nights

Day 1 Orientation - and just a little bit of cooking !

From the airport we'll drive through olive country to Gialova. After lunch at the villa we can relax, siesta or explore, before donning our aprons to make - you guessed it ! Homous - the Greek way, the Turkish way, the Moroccan and Lebanese way. A delicious journey. Valued across cultures, Homous punches above it's weight nutritionally and is worth knowing inside out. After discussing the merits of each, we'll head to a nearby taverna which offers a marvellous selection of vegan food and wine.

Day 2 The 5 Euro challenge

Off to Kalamata with a budget of 5 euros each to make dishes of our choice tomorrow. Let the fabulous produce speak to you. We'll be on hand to translate.

After coffee there'll be time to visit the Archaeological museum or explore the old town. We'll meet at ' The Cantina ', where innovative Vegan dishes are cooked fresh to order by a talented pair of chefs.

From there we continue to Ancient Messini - a true gem of an archaeological site with incredible views.

Day 3 First we'll have coffee and a discussion prior to preparing our 5 euro challenge dishes

 ( don't worry there will be plenty of expert help at hand !) We'll also explore the world of Lathera with Raluca. Lathera are traditional Greek dishes cooked in extra virgin olive oil.

After a lunchtime feast there will be a foraging excursion. Alternatively you can relax or take a guided hike to Shinolakka waterfall. Evening at the Villa or to explore the Tavernas, Cafes and Bars of Gialova.

Day 4 Think outside the ( cooler ) box.

Try mazepso couscous, Orzo Melanzanne, beetroot and walnuts in lemon-tahini mayo, Greek potato salad, Cretan wild greens pies, colourful dips, squash & pumpkin seed muffins, flower salads. Be creative!

We'll take our mega-picnic to Voidokilia Beach - voted one of the world's top 10 beaches by The New York Times. The lagoon/bird sanctuary behind Voidokilia is great for photography and foraging coastal plants such as rock samphire.

Tonight we'll have a special farewell dinner and prizegiving.

Day 5 Breakfast and transport to Kalamata airport. 

Farewell to our new Vegan Chefs.

NB. On the 6 day course, the '5 Euro Challenge' dishes and 'Think Outside The ( Cooler) Box' will be spread over 2 days with more time for excursions / wild food foraging and relaxation.

Prices and Notes 

Price includes travel from and to Kalamata airport, accommodation and meals in the Villa and are based on one person per room.

Accommodation, tuition, transport to and from Kalamata airport, tastings, ingredients and meals served at the villa are all included. Not included are flights, museum entrance fees and restaurant meals. We split the bills and it generally works out at around 10 - 15 euros per head for dinner including wine.

There are direct flights Gatwick - Kalamata with Easyjet and from Heathrow - Kalamata with Aegean and British Airways. These flights are seasonal.

Flying into and/or out from Athens is also a viable option. It is motorway direct from Athens airport to Kalamata. A shared Mercedes taxi is 60 euros each way and the journey takes 2 hours.