|
Hi Mark , It may have seemed a bit expensive for a week but it was actually great value and really well organised, I have some great memories from our Italian cooking week in Sabina, which was fabulous, great weather and good food and it was quite amazing the way everyone on the trip was so friendly and we bonded very quickly over the pasta board. The day in Rome was wonderful we were really lucky with the weather and Kathleen was a great tour guide. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, picked up loads of useful ideas and have continued with the cooking since I've been home, unfortunately the scenery just isn't the same.
Thanks again for a great week and all your efforts to ensure we were all kept entertained.
Annick Savrimoothoo ~ London
Dear Mark,
It was a wonderful Italian cooking holiday & good to meet so many kind and interesting people - Johnny, Paula, Jenny, Roberto, Susanna, Maureen, Kathleen and of course you and Siobhan.
Fabulous cooks and instruction. Really magical - agree with one of your other visitors who said that they were torn between telling everybody and wanting to keep Sabina an untouched secret. Please keep on doing what you do - you do it very well!
Sue Bailey ~ Hampshire
Hi Mark , it’s been a little hectic since I got back so haven’t had much time to reflect. Rest assured I had a great Italian cooking holiday and enjoyed both the cooking and the company, not to mention the surroundings. Maureen even managed to arrange an Italian lesson for me so of course, I’m fluent now!
I’ve been cooking in earnest since I got back trying to perfect the recipes – not doing too badly so far! I have most certainly developed a real palate for good olive oil , so please do feel free to drop them by anytime!
Wishing you continued success with your enterprise
All the best
Caroline Heywood ~ Dublin
Dear Mark,
I wanted to say thank you for my amazing Italian cookery holiday in the Sabine Hills. I had a wonderful time. The week was extraordinary value for money - you should charge three times as much at least!
I loved everything about it including meeting your charming Italian friends and the opportunity to visit their homes and glorious gardens. I have cooked my first Italian meal back home, and can't believe I did it (neither can my family!).
Thank you for being such a gentleman, and taking such great care of everybody. I will be recommending A Taste of Rome to everyone I know! Thanks again,
Lisa Senior ~ London
Hi Mark,
Its Henry & Sue here. Just to say that we had a lovely time in Italy, you made us feel very welcome throughout the trip and we'd definately come back again. Kim and Ian are very much looking forward to their trip to Casperia in October, they've heard very good things. They've been particularly impressed by the token gifts of wine and olive oil we brought home, courtesy of Jonny's expert advice!
Rome was amazing too, we spent just enough time in both places to get the most out of our time in Italy.
Thankyou again Mark, we hope to see you in the future.
Henry and Sue ~ Coventry
Hi Mark,
Terry Kerins here, just giving you a bit of feedback on my A Taste of Rome Italian cookery experience. I really enjoyed the weekend, the set up of the whole course was very well organised, with just enough free time and just enough emphasis on the cookery aspect of it. The food was fab, and everyone we came across great fun and very friendly. I especially enjoyed the wine tasting evening, even though I thought I wouldn't be able to face another bite after our five course lunch in Gusto al Borgo. I have loads of photos if you fancy having a look at any of them for your website etc, just let me know and I can send you on the slightly less dodgy ones!!! Terry.
Terry Kerrins ~ Cork
Hi Mark,
Just a quick email to say thank you so much for a wonderful Italian cooking holiday , it truly met with all our expectations and much more. How do you do it ? Your sense of what people need from the holiday is amazing, I felt I was in another world. I was able to let my hair down and just laugh all week. I will never forget it, yours and everyone else's kindness and the fun we all had. Tizzy and Helen were so lovely hope they did'nt think the two Irish woman were to mad.
We made it back in one piece with no delays.
If I hav'nt said thank you enough well I'll say it again....thank you Mark for a truly memorable week.
Best Wishes
Sally McQuirk ~ Dublin
Hi Mark
I just wanted to say thank-you so much for being such a wonderful “host” and looking after us all so well during our stay in Sabina.
It really is a magical place – Susanna, Roberto, Johnny, Paolo, Jenny – and of course Giacomo ! – all made us so welcome, and it really did feel like we were there as friends rather than paying guests/students! I can’t believe how wonderful the countryside/scenery is – and how unspoilt considering how close it is to Rome! A hidden gem!
It has made me do some quite serious thinking over the weekend, and I will certainly be coming back, hopefully to do some walking – my first step is to learn Italian I think, as it is pretty obvious that is needed in Sabina!!
All the best, thanks again – and let me know if you ever run any walking breaks!!!
Tizzy x
Elizabeth Burnell Oxfordshire
Dear Mark , sorry about not emailing but honestly I am torn between telling the whole world or just a chosen few as for your idea - A Taste of Rome - would loose it's magic by becoming too successful
However - I am telling everyone I meet about it all and saying that no words can describe it with justice - it just simply has to be experienced.
My photo's came out super - hard copy is so much nicer for spreading the word. We of course have bleated out Bella Ciao at the drop of a hat.
There is nothing I would change about the week. The restaurant we went to on the Wednesday night in Fara Sabina - the new one was excellent - you have to try it.
The food in Rome was awful after the culinary delights of Sabina - it wasn't that bad - but our Tirimisu was better.
My children had a go at a few things and were impressed with the results.
Thank you for all you did for us while we were there especially with making Ber feel welcome.
Keep in touch and a red alert when you are coming to Cork again with the team - we would love to return some of the Italian hospitality .
The website is great by the way!!!
Jacqui Feely ~ Ireland
Hi Mark . Thanks Thanks Thanks!!!!! What a week we had!!!! Cooking Italian with Jenny, Angelina, Lina, Roberta, wine tasting, olive oil tasting and making a bags of “Galway Girl” ….Fantastic!!!
It ranks as one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. We loved Sabina…what a beautiful place it is, a little piece of heaven. I still look at my photos and laugh out loud each time.
Thanks to Tris for an unforgettable tour of Rome, Susanna, Roberto and everyone who took us from one place to the next, taught us “Bella Ciao” (the look on Johnny Madge’s face was worth it!) but most of all, everyone made us feel so welcome, that’s what made the week so special.
Mark….what can I say, you above all went to the ends of the earth to make sure everyone was enjoying their time in Sabina, driving us from one place to the next, day and night. You seem to be one step ahead all the time making sure everything ran smoothly and you went above and beyond the call of duty. Thanks.
Marie Murphy (Cork)
Hi Mark, I just wanted to drop you a line to say that we made it back in one piece and our fabulous Italian cooking weekend seems like a dream. We seriously all had the most glorious time with you all , Susanna, Roberto, Johnny, Jennifer and of course yourself.
I have to admit that words would never describe the weekend, it was PERFECT in every way, my only sadness is that it could never be repeated as it could never match up to it again.Say a big hello to all our friends,
Missing you all
Kind regards
H Margetts & co ~ Surrey
Hi Mark , just a quick email back from Italy and we both adored it , it really was very special , great fun and Casperia is a little gem , magnificent !. Already we have so many people
asking us about it , but it was so special I feel I should keep it that way. Susanna was such a great person and made sure we were pampered to our every need, she was really really good. Anyway , just to say 'top marks' , loved it and we will be back! THANKS AGAIN JAN
Jan Derham ~ Ireland
Mark , Just a short note to say what a fantastic Italian cookery holiday we had with you last week. The combination of the cooking lessons and the people we met was very special, particularly as we enjoyed hospitality in their homes. We appreciate all the time you have spent in setting up the schedule and, of course, all of the driving you did to get us to places and show us the beautiful countryside and villages. Our few days in Rome was rather a contrast to our time in Sabina but we certainly walked off some of the wonderful food we had eaten!
Sue and John Woodcock ~ Eavesham
Mark ,Well what can I say....... Altogether a truely fantastic cooking holiday!!! It certainly satisfied my healthy appetite for delicious food, fine wine, social gatherings and enough parmesan to sink a ship!! Thanks to everyone, including my other cooking companions for making it a memorable experience.........
My friends back at home (a group which not surprisingly has increased in number following my cookery holiday) would also like to extend their thanks to "A Taste of Rome" for giving them the chance to be waited on Italian style each night this week :0)
I will definately be coming back for second helpings!!
Thanks again
Kim Whitehouse ~ London
Hi Mark , I think so fondly about my time in Italy and enjoyed it so much. Thank you too for all your kindness and it was a pleasure meeting you. I am sure all who participate in A Taste of Rome write glowingly to you because it is well managed, and delivers exactly what you promise. I must admit I like countless others, including yourself, understand the love of Sabina. Please do keep in touch, and I hope all subsequent 'groups' have as good atime as we had!
Roz Sly - Sussex England
Dear Mark – a short note to say a big thank you for an unforgettable week in lovely Sabina –I enjoyed every minute of it – you looked after us so well –the cooking sessions and tastings were great –so much lovely food and wine –staying in San Pietro was another great experience such a lovely location –really enjoyed our visits to Rome and all the other place Farfa –Casperia and meeting all the wonderful people Susanna ,Jenny ,Maurizio,Lina,Angelina ,Paula,Franco and Johnny and not forgetting (how could you !!!) Geraint Tris and Giacamo and the last surprise –man and dog –thanks so much again to you all and to you Mark-look forward to seeing you in Dublin and also to a return trip to Casperia sometime
Patricia Hogan ~ Dublin
Dear Mark,
Just to reiterate how much I enjoyed my cooking holiday and to thank both Susanna and you for the superb care and attention you gave to me and all your guests during the week. I looked forward so much to coming on the trip and it was everything I had hoped for and definitely much more!
Sabina is a wonderful place and it was marvelous that we had the opportunity not only to spend time in Santo Pietro but also Casperia, Farfa and Fara Sabina. The trip to Rome was very enjoyable and Tris provided a very quirky view of Roman History.
What was particularly striking about the holiday for me is that Sabina is away from the usual tourist trail and guests have the chance to meet with local inhabitants not just those UK citizens who are lucky enough to live in the area but also "the natives". The Welcome Dinner on the first night when we all came together as a group along with Geraint, Bruno, and Yolanda was a great taste of what the week was to offer. The wine tasting evening was lovely.
The variety of cooking classes was great and I am looking forward to tackling La Cucina Italiana one evening shortly for friends who are calling on me to prove my worth!
I enjoyed staying at Santo Pietro, It is a wonderful location and I enjoyed its ambiance very much.
The level of care and attention you both put into the holiday for us all was incredible and I have never experienced that high level of personal commitment before. I cannot thank you enough. I have returned so relaxed and energised after the week and I will be back for more!
It was great to make new friends and I hope to keep in touch with all the group.
Catherine Griffin- Cork
Dear Mark , I feel that I have one foot back in Dublin and the other in Sabina. It really was one of the best holidays that I have ever been on. I loved everything about it - except coming home!
Every day surpassed the previous one and each day individually was so unique: the location, the locals, the sunshine, the food, the wine. We didn't have a dull moment - of course, with Pauline (Delisha!) that would have been impossible!!
We were also so fortunate in the company we had - a motley crew - that gelled from the first night over our Welcome Dinner.
So thank you for such brilliant organisation and for ferrying us - without complaint - here, there and everywhere. We were very well looked after.
Finally, please thank Tris for the invaluable lesson he gave me - I shall try to remember it for future embraces!!! I loved the tour of the Roman Forum too: it was very amusing and educative.
We hope to see you all in Dublin soon.
Bernie Parte - Dublin
Hi Mark, I've been talking A Taste of Rome since I came home and a thank you to you for making it possible is long overdue. I'm very wary of boring people about holidays but I've been quizzed endlessly by everyone on this one and there has been real enthusiasm to examine the photographs !! Truly it was a fantastic cooking holiday. So many holidays follow the format of showing you the public face of a country but ATOR peels off layers to show the authentic Italy. I still cannot fathom why Sabina is not a major tourist destination but feel smug to know about it before the hoards - inevitably - descend. The whole programme, the people involved and your own commitment to such astonishing level of personal service was amazing.
Colette Murphy - Cork
Where do I start to describe a cookery holiday which is more like coming home? Reminds us city dwellers what real warmth and friendship should be. The pleasure of simple fresh food , but cooked with "love" . Everything about Toffia, the accommodation, food and people are truly wonderful. Mark - you are a proper Northern guy - a connsumate host and a true professional at what you do. Susanna, you are fab, so full of life and fun. I feel like I have so many new friends - Bruno, Rosetta, Johnny, Paula and Franco to name but a few. Cannot recommend Federico's skills highly enough, he would make a fortune in England. A hug and "arriverdice" but not goodbye as I am sure I will return . I have already driven all who will listen, truly mad, raving about my fantastic holiday. Missing you all tremendously.
Liz Brown - Leeds
Dear Mark , a thousand apologies for the delay in sending this e-mail to you. I just wanted to say how much I enjoyed my week in Sabina. It was a fantastic cooking holiday and provided the perfect mix of cooking classes, eating, wine/olive tasting and culture! I think however it was the personal touch, attention to detail and excellent organisation on your part that really made the holiday special.The Sabina region is high on my list of places to return to.
Ruth O'Flaherty - Dublin
In praise of A Taste of Rome
You've never been to Sabina ?
Let me tell you about this place
for everyone who visits
wears a smile upon their face
You'll meet a man from Bolton
most quiet and refined
for when he came to Italy
he abandoned beer and started on the sparkling wine
Because he'd met Susanna
a gal I know you'll like
she's a wild Italian smile
and rides a motor bike
In the house of Bruno
besides a voice to make to make you die
you'll find a gallant Roman
with a twinkle in his eye
And finally the handsome Tris
he'll guide you around town
you'll walk for miles and miles
he'll not let you sit you down
So if you go to Sabina
go with A Taste of Rome
I'll guarantee that at the end
you won't want to go home
Freda Bryant ~ Southampton
The holiday was wonderful. It's impossible to describe to anyone here because every bit of it was wonderful. The warmth and friendliness of everyone in Caperia was incredible and you know we miss all of you so much.
- Pauline Heuston Dublin
Can't thankyou enough for your hospitality on our Italian cooking holiday . Marilyn and I had such a good time, thank all your friends who accepted us so quickly into the social life of Sabina.
- Pat Morin NYC NY USA
I must thank you heartily for such a wonderful week spent with you and Susanna, Bruno and all the characters who made our stay in Sabina and our A Taste of Rome experience such fun.
- Michael Collins & Yvette Dolan, Ireland
Mark - we had a really super time and I still laugh about it. Our friends are getting sick of hearing what fun it all was. I woke at about 4am the night after our party and thought we could write a book about this! everyone was so friendly, but all had their individual characters, thanks so much for looking after us so well
- Liz East , Edinburgh
Back in steamy HK where the rain is pouring, and a typhoon is apparently bearing down - no wonder Sabina seems like a dream!
I have bored all our friends silly with Sabina Tales, but it's only now that I realise how unique and peaceful it is - I can't remember when I last felt so relaxed, sitting in that beautiful garden , dreaming the afternoon away.
Please give my regards to Susanna and of course Bruno, Simonetta and Livio, such lovely people all of them.
- Marianne Taylor . Hong Kong
Just a quick note to say thanks for a wonderful holiday, I really enjoyed the time there very much and it was just what I needed and better than I could have planned it to be. I certainly enjoyed the great food, have not had any chance to put my learning in to practice, but I talk a good meal these days.
- Stephen Monaghan . Dublin
Thanks for the superb hospitality , we have great memories of you all and Sabina
- David & Christine Last . Sydney Australia
In Casperia the world spins slow
The people there they have a glow
The cobbled streets, the stunning views
The largest bedrooms ever seen
My bathroom Wow! was fit for a queen
The banquet on our very first day
Was a taster to our week of play
At the fabulous food presented to us
(My dress size up at least one plus)
Our day in Rome with charismatic Tris
Told us there’s no city can compare to this
It was as if he had lived through it all
And filled our heads with tales to thrall
(Oh! Can I remember which emperor did fall)
Dear Susanna and Bruno were part of the Team
And Livio did paint just like a dream
We loved the old farm where we kneaded the dough
And met the two sisters whose skills we enjoyed
I wish that in London to have them employed
But Mark takes the biscuit for sorting us out
For driving and driving us round and about
For keeping us posted about the next thing
And finding a way to engage and amuse
Without any fuss or troublesome bling
So thank you good team for making our stay
So friendly and funny and pleasant and gay (dare I use this word)
I’ve been spreading the word and chuckling aloud
At memories of dancing the highland fling
What a wonderful week and a wonderful crowd.
- Sandie Clarke . London
Back home in UK with temperatures still plummeting – good flight back but with the worst airline food ever – or maybe it was the contrast to the wonderful food we had last week
I had a quiet smile to myself as I shopped in Sainsbury’s on the way home – I thought of the lifestyle of the people of Sabina and what they would make of our supermarkets with all the over processed food and super clean shiny vegetables. I am very good about not using processed food but the food on our holiday was fabulous.
Hope this finds you all well – thanks again for a fantastic holiday - love to everyone
– Linda Scott . Dorset
Dear Mark , we arrived home safely with the olive oil intact. We had a wonderful time. I won't call it a holiday as that does not do justice to the experience. We really appreciated all your kindness and feel that we have made real friends in Sabina.
- Freya Haslett , Glasgow
 |
|
