A Kitchen Among Olive Trees

This half-day cooking class in Istria begins at Pula’s green market, where you source fresh, seasonal ingredients from local vendors and step into the region’s everyday food culture. From there, a short 15–20 minute drive takes you to a cooking studio in the countryside near Medulin, surrounded by olive groves. In this intimate setting, you prepare a three-course meal that blends tradition with modern cuisine, and then sit down to lunch. The menu is shaped around your preferences, with options based on meat, fish, or vegetables, and one course dedicated to Istria’s famed truffles. Whether the day is sunny or chilly, the studio offers a cozy and welcoming space for cooking and tasting. The experience also includes tastings of four top-quality Istrian wines and three distinctive olive oils, offering a fuller sense of the region’s terroir.

The cooking class is distinctive for its intimate olive grove setting in the countryside and the personal approach provided by Nicola. Rather than following a fixed menu, you take part in preparing a three-course meal tailored to your tastes, including dietary preferences and restrictions. These can be shared after booking with Nicola or on the spot when you meet at the green market. The experience begins at the market, where the ingredients are chosen and you get to interact with vendors, then continues in the countryside, creating a direct link between local produce, rural surroundings, and the meal you prepare. The truffle course, together with the wine and olive oil tastings, makes this more than a cooking lesson. It becomes a sensory introduction to Istria’s gastronomic landscape, grounded in local ingredients and adapted to your interests and taste.

Nicola and his team are experts in Istrian cuisine, with a deep knowledge of both traditional recipes and contemporary interpretations. Their passion, skill, and local insight make the cooking experience both enriching and thoroughly enjoyable.

Comfortable clothing, a curious palate, and an appetite for discovering Istrian flavors. ** You will need to arrange travel between your accommodation and the meeting point.