July the 21st, 2023 – PROMO: Something unique awaits those wanting to disconnect with the hustle and bustle and reconnect with themselves – an Istrian cooking experience.
After six years of working in the demanding advertising industry, this time last year, I decided that I wanted to slow my lifestyle down a bit, and so I did! I packed my bags and went travelling.
I spent lot of time in the nature, jogging, staring at the beautiful sunsets, spending time with my relatives and friends all around the globe, and what I’ve learned along the way was that putting my needs first determines so much in life. This is how decided that I was going to change my lifestyle from “always on the go” to something slower, the exact definition of which is yet to be discovered.
That trip I took mostly felt like my own personal retreat, to be honest, helping me feel more aligned with myself. And to make things even better – it was precisely on this journey that I received a request to organise something similar for a client from the gastronomy industry. That request got me thinking about how organising retreats could actually be a fantastic medium and platform to encourage others to slow down too – and this is how Purple Aura was born.
Purple Aura is a retreat and events agency encouraging people to do the complete opposite of what we are all so used to doing – slowing down in order to align.
I’m happy to announce there will be two retreats happening this year, both on the topic of cooking!
One of them is taking place in the Azores archipelago in September, and another one in October, in our beautiful region of Istria – Terra Magica, and I promise you that it will be nothing short of pure magic. So, let me get you better acquainted with it.
Why a cooking retreat, and why Croatia?
The premise is when we gather around food and dive into the art of cooking – something magical happens. We become fully present in the moment. We focus entirely on the flavours and techniques in front of us, and in that way, our concerns about the past and future anxieties fade away, leaving us present in the now.
Istria, Croatia’s gorgeous western region is a true culinary gem. Its vineyards and family-run wineries, olive groves and olive oil, forests laden with black and white truffles, fish, meat and pasta, as well as the region’s spectacular landscapes, forests and charming towns on top of hills, they all contribute to authentic culinary experience and invite you to get better acquainted with this part of Croatia through food.
It is precisely in the very heart of this mesmerising land where Cooking Retreat Croatia is taking place, from October the 8th to the 14th, 2023. It encompasses an inclusive seven days of learning, tasting and exploring the original flavours of this territory. From cooking classes in the morning, to farm to table experiences, restaurants, and wineries in the afternoon, I truly believe this cooking retreat will represent and justify why the region of Istria is known as “Terra Magica” (magical land) and will make you want to come back for more of it, as it definitely had that effect on me.
The concept of a Cooking retreat in Croatia combines rest, education, and hedonism, all of which can be seen within the scope of this event; from authentic luxury villas with rustic beams on the ceiling, walls made of original Istrian stone, and natural flooring materials, to cooking classes and visits to local farms and wineries.
Wisdom from talented Croatian chefs
During the cooking classes, participants will get to learn some important tips and tricks from top Croatian chefs on how to easily prepare delicious seafood and pasta dishes rich in flavour, authentic to Istria. Before the cooking workshops take place themselves, there will be yoga classes in the yard, where participants will get to prepare their senses for what is to come.
It’s not simply by chance that this retreat is taking place in October – because this is when the harvest season begins! During the “farm to table” experiences, participants will get to learn all about Croatian gastronomic heritage and enjoy the divine nature. Imagine you’re on a farm, and you become a shepherd for a day, you go for a walk with the goats that provide you with top quality cheese and you learn about the artisan cheese making process.
The next day, you go hunting for one of the most expensive ingredients in the world – white truffles, which are abundant in the Motovun forests from September to November. You make your own home made gnocchi in the traditional way, and serve them with white truffles – the ones you just hunted for. The very next day, you go olive harvesting and can proudly distinguish the different varieties of premium olive oils, all of which hail from the best olive oil region in the entire world. For me, this is a perfect way of decompressing and re-focusing in a meaningful way.
How do you sign up?
This authentic retreat is set to take place from the 8th to the 14th of October, 2023. It is intended for small groups only, with minimum of nine to a maximum of fifteen applicants, as the goal is to nurture the harmony of a small group. Bookings can be made by clicking here.
The price starts at 5.200 euros per person, and it includes:
- Six nights in a luxury villa in the heart of Istria, with a private room and a private bathroom
- Four cooking classes with top local chefs
- Two private yoga classes to prepare your senses for the upcoming experience of cooking
- Three private farm-to-table experiences: hunting for one of the most expensive worlds’ ingredients: white truffles, making a dish with them; walking with the goats and an introduction to the traditional cheese making process; olive harvesting
- Wine tasting
- Six dinners at highly-ranked restaurants, at local farms, and at our villas with some top Croatian chefs
- Six breakfasts and four lunches
- Transport during all of the aforementioned activities (including from the airport and back to it)
get better acquainted with Istria through your stomach and directly to your heart
Croatia has so much to offer and to be proud of when it comes to its gastronomic scene, and this event has gathered the best of the best to introduce to you: its best flavours, tastes, culture and traditions.
Further details about this special Istrian cooking retreat are available here.
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