Going back to the source...this is how Oldways does it best. Oldways is a non-profit "food issues think tank" that stresses healthy eating through consumption of Mediterranean food products. Oldways hosts many conferences, symposiums, and tours for health-conscious individuals, and for this particular tour, they partnered with Ana Sortun, the award-winning chef of Oleana Restaurant in Boston, and Chris Kurth of The Farm School of western Massachusetts. Ana and Chris shared their wisdom on overall Mediterranean cuisine and techniques with the 27 participants throughout their trip, and EIS organized everything from personal cooking sessions with world-famous chefs to hand-picking olives for oil making, and everything imaginable in between!

Who : Oldways; in cooperation with Chef Ana Sortun of Oleana Restaurant in Boston, Chris Kurth of Farm School, and Oldways Founder and President, Dun Gifford
What : 7 days of discovering the foundation of the Oldways ideas for healthy eating, through daily cooking lessons and hands-on tours. With the daily help of Ana Sortun, recent winner of the James Beard award, and other expert chefs, we guaranteed that our guests learned from the "cream of the crop" during their stay with us.
When : November 7-14, 2005
Where : Vineyards, wineries, olive and almond groves, cheese factories, chocolate-makers, outdoor markets, fancy hotels, exquisite dining rooms and restaurants, immaculate kitchens, and not to forget that all of these are located on the picturesque, southern Italian island of Sicily. Amongst these spots, there are some important names to be dropped. In addition to the daily guidance and expertise of Ana Sortun, we were very pleased to secure lessons and private tours with Sicily's top chefs. A few on this list were Chef Carmelo Chiaramonte of the Katane Palace Hotel; Maestro and Chef Corrado Assenza of Caffé Sicilia; Chef Vincenzo Conticello of the Antica Foccaceria San Francesco, and Chef Patrizia di Benedetto of Ristorante Bye Bye Blues.
How : From the earth to the delighted palate! We wanted our guests to not only see and taste examples of healthy Mediterranean cuisine, we let them jump right into the middle of it, hands first! We showed them the principle elements which make up the Oldways Mediterranean Diet Pyramid, and how these elements are grown, cultivated, harvested and prepared; and since the best part of following an effective diet is eating the proposed items without remorse, we were more than happy to give our guests many occasions to do just that! At the close of this educational Mediterranean trip, each participant left with a smile on their face, delicious food in their stomach, and a successful recipe for healthy eating in their happy hands.

Dun Gifford, Sara Sinnot, and EIS's Maria Laura Giorgi

Outdoor Winter Garden at Ristorante Bye Bye Blues

Cooking lessons: Act One!

EIS guaranteed expertise in the kitchen

Oleana's Chef Ana Sortun lends her advice

The tantalizing finished product

Vineyards we visited - Antica Tenuta del Nanfro

The Antica Focacceria San Francesco in its younger days