Bud, Bill & Jim’s Italian Cooking School Adventure

This story was sent into us by Bud, Bill, and Jim who just came back from an Italian Vacation and a visit to the La Tavola Marche Cooking School. This is a perfect example of how you can always find time for a guys weekend or mini mancation - even exploring a part of the world with other couples.

While the guys had a great time, I am sure their wives enjoyed their improved skills too. Remember, while a mancation is a great opportunity to get away from the world for a bit and relax, you shouldn't forget about the special women in our lives too!

Our 4th trip to Italy found my wife and I in the Le Marche area with two other California couples in a rented villa in the hills above Urbania. Think Tuscany before the crowds. We prefer to rent a farmhouse or villa because the three guys like to hack around the kitchen with local meats and produce instead of going out to dinner every night. Our wives are better shoppers than we are cooks.

My friends Bill and Jim and I had planned to spend a day at the La Tavola Marche Cooking School up a long dirt road from our villa. Chef Jason was expecting us and hurried out to give us a tour of the beautiful grounds and charming old buildings that make up their compound. He introduced us to the effervescent other half of the partnership, lovely Ashley. Ashley & Jason are younger than we expected, and full of energy and charm. Just hanging around them at their villa would have been enough. But, let’s get cooking.

Jason has laid out three workstations in the big stone kitchen equipped with knives and chopping boards and rattles off the six dishes we are going to prepare for lunch. Rabbit? None of us has ever cooked rabbit before! We are Jason’s only students this day.

After foraging in the garden for tomatoes, peppers and herbs, we picked up some onions and potatoes from the root cellar and headed back to the kitchen. Jason is a terrific cook and teacher. He likes to keep things simple and he clearly loves what he does.

His instruction includes just the right amount of technique, philosophy and passion. Ashley appears every few minutes with her warm smile, words of encouragement and, importantly, more jug wine for our glasses. Soon, we’re really into this thing.

Slicing, dicing, chopping, grilling sausages, making sauce, sipping more wine.  Jason has sized us up well. He knows we’re not serious chefs but three guys who like to eat, drink and have fun. The food is flying as fast as the good natured insults. Bill cuts his finger with a cleaver. Jim, spills his wine (Ashley is there in a nanosecond to refill). Food and laughter fill the place, which is the way it’s supposed to be in an Italian kitchen, I’m sure.

(Peperonata Recipe)

By early afternoon all is ready. We transport the dishes to a lovely table Ashley has prepared on the patio. Baked lemons, pasta, potatoes with zucchini, sausage & peppers, Hunter style rabbit, loaves of crusty bread and, of course, those bottomless jugs of fruity red wine. It is all just too delicious for words and we stuff ourselves.

We then eat more and then linger at the table, kibitzing with Jason and Ashley until mid-afternoon, getting to know them a little. We envy their storybook lifestyle and admire their grit. After hugs and promises to return soon we head off down the long dirt road toward our villa to share our stories (and leftovers) with the girls. All three of us agree that this has been the best day of our trip.

Author Articles

More from this author:

Nick's Great Adventure - Mexican Mancation (2003 Hits)
Mancation Blog > Misc Thoughts
There is more to taking a mancation than just going to some awesome place with your guy friends, it is also about doing it in a manly way. No I don't...

Adventures in Travel Expo Chicago (1295 Hits)
Mancation Blog > Expos and Events
This past weekend I had the chance to visit the Adventures in Travel Expo in Rosemont. Browsing fun and exciting opportunities from African Safari's...

How to Pack a Bag Like a Man (904 Hits)
Mancation Blog > Mancation Advice
Saw this post about How to Pack a Bag for Travel over at Art of Manliness and thought it was a very appropriate before your next mancation. While...

Combos Ultimate Mancation Contest (568 Hits)
Mancation Blog > Travel Deals
The guys at Combos have prepared a cool video to help get people excited about their Win a Mancation Contest. For those of you who might not have...

The Currency Commision - or How to Pay for Your Next European Mancation (2295 Hits)
Mancation Blog > Ways to Save Money
Recently I was contacted by The Currency Commission, a firm based Washington, DC and London. This company buys old money from European countries that...

Related Articles

Related Articles:

Nick's Great Adventure - Mexican Mancation (2003 Hits)

Mancation Blog > Misc Thoughts

There is more to taking a mancation than just going to some awesome place with your guy friends, it is also about doing it in a manly way. No I don't...

Shark Diving Adventure Under the Sea (1878 Hits)

Things to Do > Adventure Mancations

Scuba diving in the warm tropical waters off the coast of Baja California or the Carribean could be a great mancation adventure, but when you add...

Skydive Chicago an Illinois Skydiving Adventure (1689 Hits)

Things to Do > Adventure Mancations

Visiting Skydive Chicago was absolutly one of the best Mancations I have ever taken. If you are looking for a high adrenaline trip skydiving with...

Latest Articles

Latest Articles:

Grand Ole Opry - College Basketball Night (31 Hits)

Man Tripping Newswire > Events

We had the chance to stay at the Grand Ole Opry last fall and let me tell you, Nashville is a blast! If you are looking for an excuse to get out of...

Bike the Drive 2010 and Fairmont Chicago (92 Hits)

Mancation Blog > Travel Deals

There are a few opportunities around the country to do good, visit a great city, and do something out of the ordinary. Chicago's Bike the Drive and...

Help Welcome the River City Casino in St. Louis (83 Hits)

Man Tripping Newswire > Casinos

A casino opening is almost always a big event (after all they want to do whatever they can to attract you and your money!). Today's opening at the...

Finalists for Don't be a Tool Promotion (538 Hits)

Mancation Blog > Travel Products

We have picked the top five entries for our Don't be a Tool! contest and the entries include relationship breakers, farting dinner guests, and...

Three-O Vodka: Olympic Rings Cocktails (126 Hits)

Mancation Blog > Travel Products

Planning a party to celebrate the Olympics? Three-O has a cool set of recipes to get in the Olympic Spirit. This is one of the fun things that I...

Most Read Articles

Most Read Articles:

Searching for Bigfoot With Bigfoot Safari (32161 Hits)

Things to Do > Hiking and Camping

With all the news recently about the guys down in Georgia that claim to have discovered Bigfoot, and the relevation that those guys indeed run a...

404 (19658 Hits)

404: Not Found Sorry, but the content you requested could not be found You may be interested in looking for your article in one of the following...

Windsor Red Bull Air Race (12439 Hits)

Things to Do > Festivals and Events

Last year the Red Bull Air Race was split between Detroit and Windsor but this year apparently the host is just Windsor, though of course you should...

Back to the Future Chicago Cast Reunion (11214 Hits)

Things to Do > Festivals and Events

TV and movie cast reunion parties are always a great excuse to plan a mancation around, whether it is Dukesfest down in Atlanta, a Star Trek...

La Tomatina Festival - a Tomato Party In Spain (4532 Hits)

Mancation Stories > Fathers and Sons

While I like to focus most of our articles on the great guys weekends and mancation ideas right here at home, there are of course plenty of super...