Description
Farm-to-Table Cooking Retreat
Reconnect with the earth, the kitchen, and each other! Experience 4 unforgettable days of hands-on gardening, cooking, and relaxation on our beautiful regenerative farm in central Portugal and Villa Maneio, a restored old water mill turned holiday villa, submersed in nature by the river with private pool and tennis court.
Farm-to-Table Cooking Retreat Program
Day 1: Arrival & Connection
14:00 – Check-in at the hotel
Guests arrive and are warmly welcomed by Sophie. Settle into your room, stretch your legs, or sip something refreshing.
16:00 – Unwind & relax
Take a stroll, read a book, enjoy the swimming pool, or have a coffee in the garden.
19:00 – Bonfire Welcome Dinner
A tasting menu prepared by The Farming Chefs using fresh farm ingredients.
Includes an introduction to the retreat schedule and a relaxed talk on regenerative farming and how it connects to the meals we’ll create.
21:30 – Wind Down
Return to your room to rest and recharge.
Day 2: From Soil to Harvest
08:30 – Breakfast with local ingredients
09:00 – Depart for the farm
A scenic 25-minute drive.
09:30 – Farm Experience: Soil, Seeds & Stories
Tour the garden and explore composting, soil health, and companion planting. Get a short lecture on the benefits of regenerative farming and how it relates to flavour.
13:00 – Long Table Lunch on the Farm
A fresh and simple meal with just-harvested ingredients, eaten outdoors in the shade.
Savor the flavors and chat about how the land shapes the food.
14:30 – Return to the hotel
Rest, swim, journal, or explore the local area at your own pace.
19:30 – Dinner at the hotel
Family style dinner at the vila under the stars.
Day 3: Harvest & Cook
08:30 – Breakfast with local ingredients
09:00 – Depart for the farm
A scenic 25-minute drive.
09:30 – Cooking Workshop: Garden to Plate
Begin with a harvest walk, then prepare seasonal dishes together using what you’ve picked. Learn techniques like vegetable butchery, natural flavor building, and plating with flair.
14:00 – 4- Course Farm to Table Lunch made by the group
Sit down together to enjoy the vibrant dishes you’ve created.
Local wines, and relaxed conversation complete the afternoon.
rest of the afternoon free to rest and enjoy the vila
20:00 – Simple salad and soup at the Vila
Day 4: Fermentation & Flavour
08:30 – Breakfast with local ingredients
10:00 – Fermentation & Condiment Making
Learn how to craft gut-friendly ferments and additive-free condiments. Everyone takes home jars of their own creations.
14:00 – BBQ with own made condiments
19:30 – Final Feast with Live Music
Flavour pairing session with an array of local and home made ingredients. The group creates their own festive bites to enjoy during out last evening feast.
Day 5: Reflection & Farewell
10:00 – Slow Breakfast
Farm-made jams, herbal teas, and fresh bread served in a relaxed setting.
11:30 – Sharing Circle & Goodbye Gifts
Reflect together on your journey. You’ll receive a small recipe book with dishes from the retreat and access to an online community to stay in touch.
12:30 Departure
