The Food Maven Diary
[Archives]

[Previous Entry] [Diary Home] [Next Entry]

11/17/2006 Archived Entry: "Special Birthday Edition of Cook at Seliano"

It’s my birthday and I get to do what I want to, to paraphrase the Leslie Gore song of my youth. It’s my 60th birthday on March 24, 2007, to be exact. (Oy vey is meer!) And what I want to do is have a special edition of “Cook at Seliano” during which we not only eat, drink, cook, and laugh, as usual, but also visit some antique houses, which is the activity I most love to do after eating, drinking, cooking, and laughing.

Aside from a special program, my dear friend Cecilia, Baronessa Bellelli, is going to make a big party, to which you are all invited, along with our families and friends.

Here’s exactly what we have in mind:

You all arrive on Sunday, as usual. We will have our welcome reception and dinner, as usual. On Monday, also as usual, we will cook all morning. After we eat our own lunch, however, we will drive down the road to Cecilia’s cousin Cecilia (the most popular female name in her large family) for gelato and pastry at her villa, built in 1770 by the king of Naples as a country house/hunting lodge.

On Tuesday, we will visit two truly antique houses, the Villa San Marco and Villa Arianna, both in Stabiae, a community of the ultra-ultra rich dating to ancient Roman times. Both villas were buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD, at the same time as Pompeii. After taking in that bit of culture, we’ll take the short ride to a noble 17th century house in Vico Equense, near Sorrento. I haven’t been here yet, but I have been dying to go. That’s my treat. We will tour the house, owned by a Duchess-Princess (apparently, this family holds many titles), then eat our lunch in the grand (I hear it is very grand) old kitchen.

After a big lunch, we usually need a walk. The weather in March is generally excellent. Vico Equense is a picturesque town. Maybe we will stroll through the center. Maybe not. We will, however, certainly stroll around nearby city of Salerno, which has a medieval center, a stunning cathedral dedicated to Saint Matthew, and wonderful shopping. After some free time for all that we’ll regroup at Pizzeria Vicolo della Neve, a very old, and very, very good pizzeria, where we will eat more than just pizza – if we have the room.

On Wednesday, we’ll take it easy in the morning and go to the ancient Greek temples of Paestum, down the road from Cecilia’s farm-inn, where we all stay. We’ll also visit the tiny, but world-class museum, to see one of the only examples of ancient Greek painting in the world, and certainly the most exquisite. We will watch the mozzarella di bufala being made, then we’ll have a lunch of local products. After a little rest, we’ll cook just a little, including a pasta demonstration.

On Thursday, we’ll start the morning with a visit to the weekly outdoor market in Battipaglia, then travel to Calitri, a small town in the hills of Avellino. On our way there, we’ll stop at a friend’s olive oil mill to see how great extra virgin olive oil is pressed, and to have a formal olive oil tasting. I bet you’ve never done that before.

This is really a pit stop on our way to visit the home of the Barone Zampoglione, Antonio to us. He has just restored his house, where he lives with his wife and teenage daughter. It is filled with museum level paintings, porcelain, etc., etc., with an antique but working kitchen that I covet. There are caves under the three-story house, which has sensational views of the countryside on the upper floors. In one of the caves, now white-washed, Antonio has opened a very chic restaurant where we will have an elegant lunch. After lunch, we’ll tour the house and have coffee and sweets in the living room.

Calitri is also know for its pottery, so after coffee, and a stroll around this picturesque town, we’ll stop at the De Maio pottery workroom, which produces very fine (meaning not rustic) dinnerware and gift items, both important pieces and small, in the traditional Calitri rose patterns and other patterns. (I have my eye on something to buy myself as a birthday present.)

On Friday, after cooking in the morning – it’s our pizza class -- we’ll give you some rest time to get ready for my birthday party, complete with a Neapolitan singer.

The cost of the week is $3,150 a person, double occupancy, excluding air fare and land transfers, but including every other thing. You never have to put your hand in your pocket. If you think that’s expensive, take a look on the internet at what others with similar programs are charging. We are at the low end. We have very limited availability – we already have some bookings and our groups are limited to 12. Take a look at the Cook at Seliano section of my website (www.thefoodmaven.com, in case you forgot.) for some pictures, and also other dates in 2007.

As always, we cook according to the season and March brings the famous artichokes of Paestum, among other delectables. During the week, I give you my full attention -- from breakfast to buona notte -- good night.

Here’s what some of our previous guests have said about Cook at Seliano:

"Seliano is beautiful. The Baroness and her sons welcomed us like family. Arthur's energy is contagious. I never learned so much about food nor had so much fun creating it. I can't wait to go back."
-Myra Binstock, Montclair, NJ

“Time is precious. Don't allow another day to go by without going to Paestum with Arthur Schwartz. Breathtaking, fragrant, romantic, soul altering and an experience only few can imagine. Let your dreams come true as ours did.”
-Shelley and Ken Obletz, Dix Hills, NY

"Cook at Seliano over-delivered on my expectations of what I thought cooking school would be. I walked in loving to eat and walked out loving to cook."
-Tony Vastola, West Orange, NJ

“I am amazed at how several weeks later our experiences at Seliano are such a part of our references and conversations…it was truly a life enriching experience…powerful and wonderful.
-Ruth & (teenage daughter) Whitney Mitchell, Jersey City, NJ

If you have any interest in joining me for my 60th birthday celebration in March, please email me at cookatseliano@aol.com. If you would like to discuss Cook at Seliano on the phone, give me your phone number and I will call you. However, I am going back to Italy for a quick week in Puglia this Sunday, Nov. 19. I return on Nov. 26, when, in fact, Cecilia will be staying with me.