Taste the
Mediterranean
The summer edition of our flagship retreat: five nights of fine food and beverages, wine, warm water, and long, unhurried days on the Costa Brava.
Summer in the Mediterranean. Long, warm days, blue skies, temperatures in the low 30s. Peaches and apricots are at their peak, the tomatoes couldn't be sweeter, courgettes are still small and tender, and the vines are heavy with fruit not yet picked. The sea is warm enough to swim in properly, not just paddle, and the days stretch out long into the evening.
Most of our workshops move to the morning for this retreat, before the day gets too hot to stand at a stove. It's also a chance to teach something we think is genuinely useful: the art of mise en place. Doing the prep well ahead of time, so that when your guests arrive, the finishing touches are quick and simple, and you're at the table with everyone else, not still stuck in the kitchen.
We'll be cooking together by hand with the season's finest produce, tasting wine at a family run winery in the hills above Calonge, exploring the market and the ceramics shops of La Bisbal d'Empordà, and heading out by boat, rather than on foot, to explore beaches along this stretch of coast you simply can't reach by road, finishing with a Middle Eastern picnic on the sand as the sun goes down.
Mornings start slow, with coffee and an artisanal breakfast buffet on the terrace. Each day leads us on a different gastronomic adventure, meeting local producers and learning about what they make and how they make it. Afternoons are usually spent relaxing by the pool. Evenings are for the farmhouse table, sitting together over dinner, telling stories, and working through crisp, cold local wines until someone finally suggests bed.
There will be many tables, many plates, many glasses of wine, and many, many of those special moments that one doesn't forget.
The Itinerary
Settle in & relax by the pool
Arrivals from 4pm. Find your room, get your bearings, and let the week start to slow down around you. Swim, read in the shade of the olive trees, or watch the light change over the Gavarres before the evening gets going.
Paella making workshop, al fresco
Our first cooking class of the week, and it's outdoors, over an open flame, as paella should be. Hands on with chef Stephen Wilson, building the base, getting the rice right, and waiting for the all important socarrat to form on the bottom of the pan. Eaten together at one long table.
Fontclara olive farm & tasting
An artisanal breakfast buffet, then a short drive to Fontclara, a family run olive farm nearby, for a wander through the groves and a tasting of their oils, some peppery, some mellow, each one telling you something about the soil it came from.
Lunch in the olive groves
A long lunch laid out beneath the olive trees, simple plates built around whatever the season and the morning's tasting have put in front of us.
Pasta making workshop, al fresco
Fresh pasta from scratch, made outdoors as the evening cools. Tomato and courgette ravioli, a proper focaccia, and something sweet to finish. Chef Stephen Wilson talks through the dough as we go, why it needs to rest, why the shape matters as much as the filling.
Middle Eastern cooking class
An artisanal breakfast buffet, then a morning of Middle Eastern cooking: homemade baklava, layered and syrup soaked, alongside an Ottolenghi inspired feast built around bright, herb heavy dishes. Chef Stephen Wilson talks through the techniques as we go, drawn from his own time working alongside chefs at Migrateful.
By boat to the beaches
An afternoon on the water, heading out by boat to explore a handful of beaches along this stretch of coast that you simply can't reach by road.
Middle Eastern picnic, sunset on the beach
Everything we cooked that morning, laid out on the sand as the sun goes down. It's one of the best evenings of the week, and it always ends later than planned.
The market at La Bisbal d'Empordà
An artisanal breakfast buffet, then a morning at the local market, wandering between stalls of cheese, cured meat, and whatever's in season, before losing an hour in La Bisbal's ceramics and antiques shops, the region's other great speciality.
Pincho making competition
Back at the masia, a friendly competition, small bites built from whatever we picked up at market, judged by nobody in particular and enjoyed by everybody.
Dinner, prepared by our chefs
An evening off from the kitchen. Dinner is cooked for you, so all that's left to do is sit down at the table.
French classics cookery class
An artisanal breakfast buffet, then a morning in the kitchen with a French accent: mastering the soufflé, amongst other French classics. Technique that makes everything else you cook a little better.
Relax by the pool
Time to yourselves before lunch, the pool, the shade, a slower pace.
Lunch, cooked by our Michelin trained chefs
A lunch we don't ask you to cook. Sit back and let our Michelin trained chefs take care of the table, so you can enjoy the fruits of a morning well spent.
Clos d'Agon winery
A visit to Clos d'Agon, a small winery tucked into the Gavarres hills above Calonge, on an estate that's been growing vines since the fifteenth century. The property sits like an amphitheatre facing the sea, and the wines, mostly Syrah, Cabernet Franc and Viognier, are grown just three kilometres from the water. We'll walk the vineyard, see the cellar, and taste our way through what they make.
Live demo: mise en place
A live demo finishing off the dishes we made that morning. It shows you exactly how to make dinner parties easy: the hard work already done, so all that's left is the final flourish.
One last artisanal breakfast buffet
Before we say our goodbyes.
Hasta la próxima
Check out from 11am. Transfers arranged to coincide with your onward travel.
Torre Ronsat
A traditional Catalan masia beside the village of La Bisbal d'Empordà, in the heart of the Costa Brava, an hour and a half north of Barcelona and forty minutes from medieval Girona.
The estate sits within a natural park, among olive groves, vineyards and arable farmland, with the silhouette of the Pyrenees on the horizon and some of the Mediterranean's most beautiful beaches close by. It means birdsong in the morning, cicadas in the evening, and the odd insect for company, all part of staying somewhere this wild and unspoiled. You have the run of the swimming pool, plunge pool, gardens and the communal areas of both the tower and the main farmhouse.
Accommodation: 5 nights, 6 days at Torre Ronsat estate, complete with heated pool, plunge pool, tennis court and landscaped gardens.
Workshops & tours: four cooking classes, a wine tasting, a visit and tasting at a local olive farm, a guided foraging walk, a flower arranging workshop, a visit to a local flower farm, and a guided tour of the local food market.
Meals & drinks: a locally sourced, artisanal breakfast buffet every day, lunches on location, dinner cooked by a private chef, and wine flight pairings, unlimited cocktails, house wines, soft drinks and hot drinks.
Transfers: to and from all tours, plus ground transfers from Girona airport or train station on arrival and departure day.
Flights and travel insurance are not included, so please arrange these yourself. Massage is available on request but isn't included in the price. Anything you'd like to buy while you're out, market finds, a piece of ceramics, an extra bottle of wine, is on you too.
All pricing is per person, with each room costed at a single or double occupancy rate. A double occupancy room is for two people travelling together, so you'd buy two places, one for you and one for the person you're sharing with.
Not at all. Classes are designed for everyone from complete beginners to confident cooks. We're there to keep things running smoothly and to help where it's needed, all we ask is that you bring some enthusiasm.
No. Double occupancy rooms are for friends or partners travelling together. We never place two strangers in a room. Common areas in the tower and farmhouse are shared with the other guests.
We keep each retreat to a maximum of 14 guests, on purpose. It changes how people talk to each other, and you'll share the farmhouse with a small group of like minded food lovers. Private group bookings are also available.
Girona is the nearest city. We usually run two pick ups from Girona train station on arrival day, at 1pm and 4pm, timed to trains from Barcelona and Paris, though times can vary depending on the group. From Barcelona airport, take the AVE fast train from Barcelona Sants to Girona, under 40 minutes. Girona also has its own airport, let us know your flights and we'll arrange a transfer.
We happily accommodate vegetarians and pescatarians, and will do our best with other requirements, intolerances and allergies, just let us know before booking. Nonalcoholic options are always available, though we can't offer an alternative to the wine tasting itself.
This is an adults only retreat, we're unable to accommodate children under 16.
The itinerary above is a sample. Occasionally we adjust things for reasons outside our control, foraging and the flower farm depend on what the season gives us, but we only ever make changes that improve the experience, never ones that take away from its magic.
"Amazing experience on one of Mediterranean Food Journeys' week long retreats! Stephen Wilson and Suki were amazing, taking care of every detail and providing us with the most delicious food and wine day after day. Would 100% recommend joining them if you love food and meeting like minded people! Once in a lifetime experience."
Sally Archer, England"A week of fantastic food, brilliantly paired wines, friendship and fun. Stephen Wilson and Suki have curated the perfect escape for anyone who wants to develop their culinary skills, try out a range of delicious Mediterranean recipes, all while enjoying the stunning landscapes and local food that Catalonia has to offer."
Izzy Morton, Oxford"I was lucky enough to go on a half week retreat in May this year. It was an amazing experience and much more luxurious than I was expecting. I particularly loved the olive oil tasting and making tortelloni and soufflé. Caramelising the crème catalane with a hot iron was exciting! The pool was lovely and warm. I would recommend this retreat to family and friends."
Julia Shaw, Guildford"Amazing experience. Beautiful surroundings, very welcoming and friendly team. Great itinerary, full enough but not overwhelming. Varied with walks, beaches, cooking, wine tasting, eating, swimming. Nice small group. Accommodation wonderful. Can't recommend this experience enough."
Mike Lewis, Scotland
Five nights. One table. Fourteen seats.
Rooms are limited, and the best go first. Secure yours with a 25% deposit.
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