The Weekender

May 16-18th

Prices start from £600 per guest

Our shortest retreat, this 2 night / 3 day cookery retreat is jam packed full of gastronomic experiences, learning and exploration.

We take you on the highlights from our longer courses, including tasting some of the best regional wines, learning how to master a paella and our much loved Italian cookery workshop!

Accommodation is in the stunning Torre Ronsat Estate. We have a variety of different rooms available with pricing determined by the room type and single or double occupancy. Prices vary from £600pp-£1150pp.

This reatreat is in English

Stone wall with two potted cactus plants and a bare tree, street sign reading "Carrer Major."
Group of people sitting at a picnic table with a view of countryside and ocean in the background.
Person pointing at recipes in open cookbooks on a wooden table surrounded by ingredients, including tomatoes, a box of corn starch, canned goods, and bowls with various food items.
Apricot halves with cream and mint on decorative plates on a beach picnic setup.

Itinerary


Torre Ronsat Estate

Aerial view of a villa with a swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery and trees in a rural setting.

FAQs

Illustration of a cooked fish on a plate with lemon slices and parsley, accompanied by a bowl of olives.
  • The course takes place in a large traditional Catalan masia called Torre Ronsat. It sits next to the village La Bisbal d'Emporda, at the heart of the beautiful Costa Brava.

    1 hour and 30 minutes north of the buzzing cosmopolitan city of Barcelona and 40 minutes from magnificent medieval Girona.

    We will be staying close to some of the most beautiful beaches of the whole of the Mediterranean in an area of natural beauty surrounded by arable farmland, olive groves and vineyards, with the silhouette of the Pyrenees mountains on the horizon.

    More Info

    • Accommodation at Torre Ronsat, including the swimming pool, plunge pool, tennis court, gardens and communal areas.

    • All cooking classes for your chosen retreat. Approximately 3 hours of classes per day, 1.5 hours in the morning, and 1.5 hours in the early evening.

    • Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

    • Aperitivos, wine pairings & unlimited house wine, soft drinks, tea & coffee throughout your stay

    • All gastronomic tours

    • Private transfers to tours 

    • Ground transfers to and from Girona train station

  • All of the pricing is per person and each room is costed based on a single occupancy or double occupancy rate. If you purchase a room at a double occupancy rate you will need to purchase two. One for you and one for the person you will be sharing the room with.

  • Not at all! Our classes are designed to accommodate all levels of cooks from complete beginners to more experienced chefs.

    We make classes fun and accessible. Our teachers and assistants are there to make sure that everything runs smoothly and to give support where it is needed.

    All we ask is that you come with enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

  • No. The double occupancy rooms are for people that want to come with a friend or partner and share the room. We do not place two strangers in a room together.

  • Yes. The common areas in both the tower and the main farmhouse are shared with the other guests.

  • We have designed the retreat to showcase the local produce of the region and to take you to some of the most beautiful locations in the area. However, if you would rather relax at the farmhouse at any point and not take part in a tour you are more than welcome!

  • Girona is the closest big city to Torre Ronsat and a gem to visit in itself! We will be making one pick up from Girona train station at 1pm and one at 4pm on the first day to coincide with trains arriving from both Barcelona and Paris. If you are coming from Barcelona airport you will need to get to Barcelona Sants train station where you can take the fast train (AVE) to Girona. These leave frequently and take under 40 minutes but we would advise booking in advance to avoid disappointment. You can book your train travel here: https://www.renfe.com/es/en

    Girona also has its own airport with frequent flights through Ryanair. Should you decide to fly straight to Girona airport please let us know so we can organise an airport transfer for you. If you need any more help or guidance booking travel please reach out, we would be more than happy to help!

  • We do not want to overcrowd your experience and we have thus limited our capacity to a maximum of 14 guests. You will be sharing the farmhouse and experience with like minded individuals with the same interest as you. Sharing and learning about good food and wine in a beautiful setting. We also offer bespoke, private gastronomic retreats, if you would like to book with a private group of friends please get in touch. 

  • No! You are here to learn, experience and relax.

    Our team will take care of the washing up, we also organise the weighing of all ingredients and the preparation of all of the equipment for each class, so that the experience is smooth and efficient with maximum time for fun and learning.

  • We welcome those that do not drink alcohol and will always have non alcoholic options available. However we are unable to offer an alternative to the wine tasting. Please let us know in advance so we can best accommodate you. 

  • We can indeed accommodate vegetarians or pescatarians and should you have another dietary requirement we will endeavour to accommodate you! Please let us know in advance of booking your dietary requirements so we can best accommodate you. 

  • We call this a cookery retreat. We will be learning techniques, tips, tricks and recipes that will make you a more confident and skilled cook. You will learn about ingredients and where they come from, as well as about Mediterranean culture.

    You will not receive a formal qualification, but if you would like a reference or a certificate, that can be provided.

    This course will support you if you are interested in a career in the culinary arts, working as a private cook or chalet host, or are looking to start a food blog or to become a food writer.

    However, we do not guarantee that you will be a professional chef at the end of the week. Unfortunately that takes a lot more training.

    Our retreats are also designed to be fun, we will be visiting beautiful places and meeting interesting people, eating lots of food and drinking lots of wine.

  • This retreat is for adults only. Unfortunately we cannot accommodate children under the age of 16.

  • The itinerary provided is a sample itinerary. Unfortunately we sometimes have to make changes due to circumstances out of our control. We always endeavour to make sure that any changes are improvements, and will not take anything away from the magic of the experience.

  • “A week of fantastic food, brilliantly paired wines, friendship and fun. Steve 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.”

    Spring 2024 Retreat

  • “What a fabulous 6 days - a glorious way to immerse yourself in the joy of Mediterranean food and culture. A stunning location, delicious and generous food at every meal, Steve's expert teaching, Suki's cocktails, wine and hospitality, a wine tasting, olive oil tasting, a coastal walk with a picnic on the beach - the adventures came thick and fast. Not a week for a diet!”

    Spring 2024 Retreat

  • "A beautifully communal culinary experience, in a magical location. It was great to cook with other enthusiastic food lovers, and both Steve and Suki were such welcoming hosts with in-depth knowledge about food, drink and local producers and delicacies"

    2024 Spring retreat guest

  • "Mediterranean Food Journeys is the perfect food and travel experience. Combining adventures in cooking from around the Med with great company, in the unbeatable setting of Torre Romsa. Steve and Suki are warm and welcoming hosts and guides and have created a unique experience for cooks and food lovers."

    Spring 2024 retreat guest