Castle testimonials

' Silvestro would invite guests for most every dinner, so it became something like a show we were putting on. The castle has a Baron and he and his family came on the final night. It was a great chance to meet some local people in a relaxed astmosphere.

Silvestro keeps it all going and one's experience of the School will be colored by how you find him. To me, he is a conservative in the best sense of the word: standing athwart the road of "progress" and shouting, "Stop!" He is passionate about preserving the peasant food traditions of the region from southern ragu to chicory and pureed fava beans, to the local negromaro and primitivo wines.

The other aspect worth mentioning is the region of Puglia itself. If you think you have seen all of Italy but you haven't been to Puglia, think again. Some travel mags have called it the "new Tuscany" but fortunately it hasn't happened yet. This is the place for the healthiest food in all of Italy in a region that is still largely unspoiled, with a strong Greek tradition. Only northern Italian tourists have discovered it and they are only there in July-August.

All in all, a great experience and I hope to get back there soon.'
Thomas Godwyn, London, England

'While I adore Lecce for all its charms- I’ve been to The Awaiting Table Cookery School in Lecce three times now, their castle course was really a pleasant surprise.

With a kitchen larger my own back in my restaurant there was plenty of room for preparing our outrageous dinners. I was a bit jealous. But also beautiful out door spaces for dining too. An outdoor wood-fired oven (of that I was very jealous).
Plus, it’s in the town, you know, for a coffee, or people watching.
And how many people can say they have stayed in a castle?
I can. And will probably do it again, if they don't get tired of me!'

Shelly Hunsucker Steinhaus, Colorado, USA

'We choose to go during the cooking school's birthday week which takes place at the castle, south of Lecce about 45min. The castle was absolutely beautiful , the rooms were very spacious with high ceilings and with air conditioning which is very important even in September.
Staying at the castle is like being at home, you can go to the kitchen in the morning for coffee in your rob and chat with the other students. Shopping for our food for the day was a pleasure in such an authentic Italian town, not a lot of English spoken. The castle has at least three kitchens one of which is brand new and large enough for all the cooking classes with plenty of room. If you go in the warmer weather you eat most of your meals al fresco in the lovely spaces of the castle, which are amazing. We had a BBQ one night and Silvestro invited his friends from around the area what a fun night that was!!!! If you have a chance to go to the castle go!
You will love it, I know I will be going back again someday to get my fix.'
Linda , Portland, Oregon, USA

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