Cooking with Michele in Italy

Food, Wine & Cycling in Puglia – September 23 to October 3, 2026

Please click here to contact me about joining the trip or here for frequently asked questions.

Have you always dreamed of a glorious trip to Italy, learning to cook like the locals do, while enjoying some of the greatest food, wine, and sights? For 15 years I have taken groups of guests on a special food and wine adventure to Italy, and I’m excited to launch a new itinerary for 2026, focused on Southern Italy. I’d love for you to join us!Traveling to Italy to attend a cooking school is an incredible experience, and this next trip promises to be extra special. I do all the planning and preparation for these trips, and help you organize everything from how to pack and what to wear to how to book your flights and how to manage jet lag. Every month leading up to our trip you’ll receive a monthly newsletter from me full of information to help you learn about the trip and to whet your appetite, both literally and figuratively!The focus of our trip will be the region of Puglia, starting in Bari to the north before making our way to Lecce further south. If you have never visited Bari, you are in for a treat! This small city sits right on the Adriatic, and has both a charming historic center (ever hear of the ladies making pasta in the alleys here?) as well as a lovely more modern area of the city which might remind you of Paris or New Orleans.We will stay in a lovely B&B set right on the edge of the center storico and we’ll visit all of the significant sights on a guided walking tour. And we’ll definitely take advantage of the location to try the incredible seafood!On our second day in Puglia we’ll take a short train ride to Trani to see both the Basilica (a UNESCO world heritage site) and the well preserved Castello Svevo, a medieval fortress with a rich history. You will have time to explore both of these gems at your leisure.We will meet up again to enjoy lunch on the water in Trani and have some time for wandering and shopping before taking the train back to Bari. That evening, you will be on your own for dinner in Bari (I will provide some recommendations) and you will need to pack up for departure the next morning.On Saturday morning we will depart in a private coach and will head to Ostuni, often called “The White City”. You will have time to shop and wander, and we’ll have a large group lunch at a fantastic restaurant in the historic center.After lunch we will travel further south in Puglia to the beautifully preserved Baroque town of Lecce. This part of Puglia – the Salento Peninsula – is special, and I find it intoxicating.Puglia is the home of burrata cheese, and my favorite way to enjoy it is in a caprese salad atop le frise, a special dried, then rehydrated bread from this region.When we arrive in Lecce, those staying in a double room will check in to the historic Palazzo Zimara, dating to 1557, that has only recently been transformed, while those requesting a single room will check into the equally lovely Il Refugio right next door. These two very special boutique hotels right in the center of town that will be our home base for the week so you can unpack once and settle in.

On Sunday afternoon you will learn about the history of the region through a short guided tour of Lecce and you’ll have some free time for relaxing and shopping before the start of the cooking school on Monday.

On Monday morning, our week with The Awaiting Table cooking school begins, and we’ll meet our host Silvestro to begin the adventure. After 22 years, the school moved into a brand new historic building in the heart of Lecce in 2024, which Silvestro lovingly outfitted just for the purpose of teaching the food and wine of Southern Italy.

After breakfast each day at your hotel, we will meet Silvestro at 9:30am to prepare for the day’s biking adventure, and we’ll then depart around 10am. We will ride at a moderate pace of about 10 mph, reaching a different winery each day in about 1 to 1 1/2 hours. At the winery we’ll enjoy lunch, a small tasting of their wines, and a tour. Don’t worry if you’re craving more of the wine, as we’ll be bringing it back with us to enjoy with the evening meal! After our time at the winery, we’ll cycle back to Lecce where you will have a couple of hours to rest or explore the town before meeting up with the group for the evening lesson and dinner.Each evening, you’ll learn about the history, culture, food, wine, and language of the region, then we’ll move into the kitchen and cook together. Whether it’s making fresh pasta from scratch nearly every meal, grilling sea bass, or covering impossibly ripe fruit with fresh ricotta, it’s always hands on learning.On Saturday morning, we’ll say our goodbyes in Lecce. You can extend your stay in Puglia if you wish, take the high speed train back to Rome, or a taxi to the airport in Brindisi to fly out, and I’ll help you plan your departure according to your personal plans.

2026 Itinerary
(10 Days and Nights in Italy plus 2 Travel Days)

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 Depart for Italy to arrive the next day

Note if you are interested in spending time in Rome in advance of the trip to Puglia I can help arrange hotel, guides, and more. Please ask for help!

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 Arrive in Bari and check into your B&B; group pizza dinner in Bari

Thursday, September 24, 2026 Guided tour of Bari to include the Church of St. Nicholas, Cathedral, Castle, Mercantile and Ferrarese squares, and the famous pasta street; enjoy the Bari street food for lunch with our guide; spend the afternoon shopping and sightseeing in the Murat; group seafood dinner near the hotel

Friday, September 25, 2026 Train to Trani; visit Castello di Trani and Cattedrale di Trani before enjoying lunch on the waterfront; free time to shop before taking the train back to Bari; dinner on your own in Bari and packing to depart

Saturday, September 26, 2026 Private transfer from Bari to Ostuni for sightseeing and special lunch, then on to Lecce; check into Palazzo Zimara or Il Rifugio; free late afternoon and evening in Lecce (dinner on your own)

Sunday, September 27, 2026 Free morning in Lecce for resting, shopping, touring, photographing; late afternoon group tour of Lecce; group dinner

Monday, September 28, 2026 to Friday October 2, 2026  Biking and Cooking at The Awaiting Table Cookery School* – cycle to a different winery each morning for lunch and to learn about Southern Italian wine; cycle back to Lecce in the early afternoon; free time to rest or explore; cooking lesson and dinner at the school each evening

Saturday, October 3, 2026 Farewells at the hotel and departures on your own.

*The schedule could be altered if rain affects our ability ride on any day.

Per Person Trip Cost*
$6,750 double occupancy/$6,300 single occupancy

Included:

• All hotel accommodations – 3 nights at Al Pescatore Bed & Breakfast (doubles) or Dimora Cavallerizza (singles) in the historic center of Bari, 7 nights at Palazzo Zimara (doubles) or Dimora Storica – Il Rifugio del Kaponik (singles) in the historic center of Lecce
• Breakfast daily
• Three lunches – Bari, Trani and Ostuni
• Three dinners – two in Bari, one in Lecce
• Wine at all lunches and dinners
• Guided tours in Bari and Lecce
• Day trip to Trani by train
• Transfer from Bari to Ostuni for sightseeing and lunch
• Transfer to Lecce
• Five days at The Awaiting Table Cookery School (including all food, wine, lessons, transfers, and excursions)
• Bike rental (e-bike with helmet) and bike guides*

*Your cost will be reduced by $300 if you choose not to bike.

Not included:

• Airfare (I am happy to provide assistance booking flights with miles or money)
• Transfer from airport to hotel in Bari and from Lecce to the train or airport (although I can help you arrange your departure)
• Incidentals billed to your hotel rooms
• Dinner in Bari on Friday night
• Dinner in Lecce on Saturday night
• Lunch in Lecce Sunday

Click here to reserve your spot today!