SEMINARS

Mediterranean Gastronomy Academy Weekly Program

1st of July - 31th of August

Monday – Pottery & Cooking with Ceramics

• Introduction to the Pottery Wheel and its Tools
• Practical workshop on the Wheel and Ceramic Art
• Overview of the Pottery History of Lesbos and a brief presentation on Traditional Ceramics, their uses, and decorative patterns
• Revival of cooking in a Wood-fired Oven using Ceramic Vessels
• Preparation of a tasting Dinner featuring ouzo, olive oil, and rusks

Tuesday – Ouzo & Distillation of Plomari

• Visit to the Plomari Giannatsis Distillery (3 km distance)
• Introduction to the world of Lesbos Distillation
• Information on the operation of the Distillation Still and the production of ouzo
• Participation in the production and Bottling Process of ouzo
• Return to the Mediterranean Gastronomy Academy for an educational ouzo tasting with traditional appetizers

Wednesday – Aromatic Plants & Local Cuisine

• Visit the Sedounta River – Presentation and collection of the Wild Aromatic Plants (5 km distance)
• Highlighting the importance of Aromatic Plants for the quality of ouzo, olive oil, and bread
• Return to the Mediterranean Gastronomy Academy for the processing and packaging of aromatic plants
• Information on the use of aromatic seeds in the local cuisine
• Preparation of a traditional dinner with local aromatic appetizers

Thursday – Traditional Weaving & Dining

• Introduction to local Weaving Art – wool preparation – Use of the spindle and loom
• Information on plant-based wool dyes
• Weaving training on old looms and individual looms
• Presentation of traditional woven items and their uses
• Setting the table with traditional woven items and preparing dinner

Friday – The Olive Grove & Olive Oil Mill of "Eirini Plomari"

• Visit and tour of the Olive Grove and the Olive Oil Mill of "Eirini Plomari" (5 km distance)
• Information on olive harvesting and olive oil production at the Mill
• Olive oil tasting and packaging
• Return to the Mediterranean Gastronomy Academy for an in-depth discussion on the importance of olive oil for humanity
• Dinner with local appetizers based on olive oil

Saturday – Traditional Lesbian Painting on Ceramic Vessels

• Introduction to ancient painting on ceramic vessels
• Detailed presentation of traditional patterns on ceramics
• Training in folk painting on handmade ceramic pebbles
• Information on the use of ceramics for the storage and preservation of olives and olive oil
• Dinner and an educational tasting of local olive oil, ouzo, and rusks

Sunday – Review & Festive Dinner

• Review of the week’s activities
• Tasting of olive oil, rusks, and other local condiments
• Kneading bread with sourdough and Baking in the Wood-fired Oven
• Cooking with ceramic vessels in a wood oven
• Preparation of a festive dinner

Participation Information

• Group Size: Up to 6 participants
• Hours: 14:00 – 19:00
• Instructors: Local artisans & producers
• Daily participation cost: 100 € per person
• Weekly participation cost: 480 € per person
• Note: Transportation to destinations and Dinner costs are included in the price
• Gift: Souvenir gift + participant's handcrafted items

The Ouzo and the Local Anise

• Introducing the people behind the ouzo 
• Learning about the aromatic seeds used in ouzo
• Short fim screening on the cultivation of the special Lisvori anise
• Learning about the making of ouzo
• Introducing the Giannatsis products
• Reproducing and experiencing a traditional kafeneio in Lesvos
• Tasting traditional kafeneio appetizers
• Short film screening of traditional festivals in Lesvos
• Tasting local recipes in a Greek symposium style

The Cereal and the Lesbian Bakery

• Introducing the people behind the Agiasos Bakery Sousamli
  
• Learning about the bakery’s cereal seeds
  
• Short film screening on the cultivation of cereal in Lisvori
• Presentation on making the famous Agiasos vasilopita
• Handmade pasta workshop
  
• Short film screening on the secrets behind making great sourdough bread
  
• Reproducing an old bakery in the village of Agiasos, with references from Sousamli archives
  
• Tasting traditional bakery products
  
• Short film screening of Agiasos’ traditional festivals
  
• Tasting and combining rusk, olive oil and ouzo

The Lesbian Olive Grove

• Introducing the people behind the Irini Plomariou olive oil
  
• Learning about the olive fruit and leaves
  
• Short film screening about the maintenance of olive trees in Plomari
• Learning about the olive oil production 
  
• Introducing the therapeutic properties of the edible olive oil
• Presentation on the alternative uses of olives and olive oil
• Olive oil tasting
• Short film screening n traditional olive celebrations in Lesvos
• Greek symposium based on olive oil, rusk and ouzo