Flavors of Sicily
A Cooking Adventure with Mark Putnam
Salinara Art Farm
Marsala, Sicily
May 23 - 30, 2026
Benvenuti!
We’re thrilled to welcome you to a special culinary journey through the heart of Sicily — an island where tradition, culture, and bold Mediterranean flavors come together in every dish. You won’t just discover new recipes — you’ll learn the stories, techniques, and vibrant ingredients that define Sicilian cuisine.
From sun-drenched lemons to savory seafood, Sicilian cooking is a celebration of simplicity and freshness. Guided by time-honored methods and regional secrets, you’ll prepare classic dishes like arancini, caponata, pasta alla Norma, and cannoli — and gain skills you can take home to your own kitchen.
Mark will be your cooking instructor and guide as you visit local markets and wineries. We may have a special guest instructor (a Sicilian nonna) too!
This will be a celebration of La Cucina Siciliana, but we’ll also teach a few classic dishes from other regions of Italy. Most days we will learn in the kitchen of Salinara. Other days we will search the medieval town of Erice for the world’s best Genovese pastry, or enjoy a cocktail while watching the sunset over the salt pans near Mozia.
The workshop is flexible. You will be able to decide which activities you want to join. Maybe you are coming only for the food, wine, and recipes. Or, perhaps, you simply want to relax on a rooftop and soak in the Sicilian sun.
Once you arrive at Salinara, everything is taken care of for you. Each day starts with a bountiful breakfast. All transportion for day trips is provided. We will prepare lunch as a class. In the evenings you will enjoy a traditional Sicilian dinner at the Farm specially prepared for you by Mark and our chef with selected local wines, or dinner at a typical pizzeria chosen by us.
Whether you’re a passionate home cook or just curious to explore something new, this workshop invites you to roll up your sleeves, ask questions, taste freely, and most of all — enjoy the experience. Because in Sicily, food is never just food — it’s an adventure!
Let’s get cooking — Mangiamo!
Price
Single: € 2650
Or sharing [per person]: € 2400
The price includes pickup and return to the Palermo Airport, lodging in the beautifully-renovated 18th-century villa, all instruction, day transportation, all meals and wine (except for one lunch in Erice), and many special activities throughout the week.
Visit Salinara.com and select the “Flavors of Sicily” cooking adventure to register.
What to expect…
You will arrive at Salinara on Saturday May 23.
If you are flying into Palermo Airport (PMO, Aeroporto di Palermo Falcone e Borsellino at Punta Raisi) someone from Salinara will pick you (and other workshop participants) up in an air-conditioned van. Pickup times are 12:00PM and 4:00PM. It is about an hour’s drive to the Villa at Salinara Art Farm.
You will settle into your apartment at the Villa. Almost all of the rooms have a private garden, terrace, or balcony. The atmosphere is enhanced by natural lime-washed walls, hand-made majolica tiling, and of course all modern comforts such as air conditioning, high-speed internet, and a private kitchen or kitchenette.
We will meet before dinner for an antipasto and glass of wine, and to discuss the week’s events.
All dinners and breakfasts will be prepared by Salinara chefs using typical, local, and seasonal products. Each meal is a celebration of the cuisine from western Sicily.
For the next week, we will meet for a few hours each morning to learn how to prepare foods in the “Trapanese” style; fresh, healthy, delicious!
We will enjoy lunch together, and Mark will introduce some of his favorite Sicilian wines. After lunch, we will take a few hours to relax and enjoy the perfect weather May brings to the region.
We will meet in the afternoon for more hands-on instruction, and will help prepare some of the dishes for the evening’s meal.
One day we will travel north to a medieval city called Erice perched high on a mountain overlooking the sea to the north and west. There we will roam the streets, explore ancient churches, nap in a shady park, sample pastries from a famous bakery, and have lunch on the terrace of a lovely trattoria.
One evening we will have a cocktail at the Mamma Caura bar and watch the sun set over the Saline dello Stagnone salt pans where sea salt has been harvested for millennia.
One night we will dine at a local pizzaria; one of the oldest in Sicily is just down the road in Trapani.
We will make a trip into Marsala to visit the ancient fish market, taste the famous Marsala wines at Cantine Florio, and let you shop a bit.
This is a “flexible” workshop. That is, you can opt in or out of any activity. We simply ask that you let us know in advance.
On Saturday May 30, the van will return participants to the Palermo airport. After breakfast, we will leave the villa at 9:00AM.
About Salinara…
We are located near the ancient city of Marsala, a crossroad of ancient history and culture, looking out across spectacular natural scenery. Here you will discover one of the largest Natural Marine Reserves in Europe. You will stay in the 18th century typical Sicilian villa, surrounded by vineyards and the blue mediterranean sea. The area is known for its olive groves, salt pans and local producers of DOC Marsala wine and many other amazing wines both red and white.
Full of extraordinary charm and natural beauty, Salinara allows guests to relax, unwind, and let body and soul regenerate through contact with the surrounding landscapes. We serve home-made Sicilian cuisine, prepared with fresh seasonal vegetables that come from our organic vegetable garden, seasonal fruits, fresh eggs, and freshly baked breads and cakes. Our mission is to offer the best traditional Sicilian cuisine together with fine wines selected by a master sommelier.
Visit Salinara.com for a closer look.
Mark Putnam has taught cooking for three decades. He has a special affection for Sicilian cuisine, and has cooked with all of the Salinara chefs for the last eight years.
Mark feels there is no such thing as “Italian cooking.” Rather, it is a special mosaic of styles and flavors; each piece defined by regional diversity, deeply rooted in history, geography, local traditions, and shaped by the landscape. He is a lover of good wines, he knows the best cellars in the province of Trapani.
Working for many years with the chefs of Salinara, Mark has written a dual-language cookbook [English and Italian] called “The Flavors of Salinara.” Each participant will get a first-edition copy of the cookbook as a special gift!
Frequently-Asked Questions
Q) Where is Salinara?
A) Salinara Art Farm is located on the western-most tip of the island of Sicily. It is in the rural countryside in the Province of Trapani. The city of Marsala is about 3 miles south. Trapani is 20 miles north. If you want to find Salinara on a map, go to coordinates 37° 50′ 46” N 12° 28′ 30” E. The address is Via Vaiarassa 135, Contrada Spagnola, 91025 Marsala TP, Italy. The last time I checked, the photos on Google Maps are quite old; from before renovation on the villa began, so don’t judge by the “street view” images. DO use “street view” to virtually explore the area. Salinara is truly beautiful; an oasis of flowers, grape vines, olives, and citrus trees. Their phone number is +393397757062, but only call if you need immediate assistance.
Q) What airports are nearby?
A) Most Americans would fly into Palermo Airport (PMO). Salinara Art Farm is about one hour west of PMO by car. Catania–Fontanarossa Airport (CTA, Vincenzo Bellini Airport) is the other large international airport, but it is on the opposite side of the island; a 4-5 hour drive (on a good day). If you are arriving from a European city, you might look into the airport at Trapani (TPS, Aeroporto Vincenzo Florio di Trapani-Birgi). Transport to/from Salinara is only provided for the Palermo Airport. You would need to make special arrangements if you are arriving at TPS.
Q) What will the weather be like?
A) Our workshop is at the end of May which is the most-perfect time to visit Sicily. If there is a little rain, the sun soon breaks through again. Wildflowers will be blooming. Grape buds will be breaking. Mornings might be cool. Afternoons may get quite warm. Occasionally there are winds blowing across the Sahara, but most days the sea is as smooth as glass and the sky is clear blue. One day we will drive to Erice which is atop a mountain. You will want a light jacket. Also, bring a swim suit, as we may want to spend a day by the seaside.
Q) What if I have special dietary concerns?
A) The kitchen at Salinara is very careful to prepare meals with regard for special requirements. Just let us know, and you will be able to enjoy the wonderful cuisine too.
Q) Are there amenities for people with physical restrictions?
A) Salinara can arrange for people who cannot climb stairs to have an apartment on the ground floor. Otherwise, walking around the grounds or along the road to the sea is very flat and well-maintained. We will be walking in Marsala and Erice, and like many European cities the streets and alleyways can be uneven. Everyone should use care. If you become tired, there are many places to sit, enjoy a coffee, and people watch.
Q) Do I need to speak Italian?
A) The workshop will be taught in English. When we have a guest chef or visit a winery, I will translate for you. The staff at Salinara speaks perfect English and many other languages. Mark believes the language is important for understanding the food. By the end of the week you will be speaking some Italian!
Q) What should I bring for the workshop?
A) An apron, a notebook, and pen… also your appetite! If you have one or two favorite knifes you can bring them, but please pack them carefully and only in checked luggage.
Q) What else is there to do if I don’t want to cook today?
A) A short walk from Salinara is the boat embarkation for the Island of Mozia; the oldest Phoenician settlement in the Mediterranean. Mozia (also Mothia or San Panteleo) is in the middle of a lagoon formed by the Stagnone Islands. On the island is the Whitaker Museum and many ancient ruins well worth exploring. There are bicycles available at Salinara, and you can ride into Marsala, or to beaches at San Theodoro (about 20 minutes by bike). Please be very careful on the narrow roads. If you have a car, you might want to explore the archaeological park at Selinunte about an hour south, where the ruins of massive Greek temples are scattered along the cliffs overlooking the sea. Of course, the sea is 200 meters away from Salinara, and you can kite surf or enjoy a swim anytime you like.
Q) Should I extend my visit to Sicily before or after the workshop?
A) Absolutely! There are many wonderful places to visit, towns to explore, foods to sample, and ways to relax. Also consider spending a few days in Rome, Milan, or Paris; wherever your flight connects. Feel free to call Mark to discuss things like renting a car, finding a hotel, or other travel details. Mark’s phone number is +1 (615) 512-1038.
Please visit Salinara.com to read about the Art Farm and Villa, and to Register.
Feel free to contact Mark if you have any questions:
E-mail: mark@markandlori.com
Phone: +1 (615) 512-1038
