Creative Arts Learning Vacations in Southern Spain

March 2010 Tasting Room Radio interview with Terry David Mulligen.
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May 2010 National Post Article: Read here

Painting Spain, Spanish Cuisine, Art, Culture and History, these are the ingredients we bring together in all of our painting holidays and cooking holidays which take place at El Molino, a beautifully restored old mill, situated in a valley of olive groves near pueblos blancos – white villages – midway between Granada and Malaga in AndalucÌa, Southern Spain.

After hosting 20 courses in Spain over the past 6 years, we continue to delight in bringing gifted teachers together with their creative students for 7–12 day Spanish experiences.

From the time our guests arrive at Malaga airport until they leave El Molino, we take care of every detail of their holiday. We are constantly amazed at the positive effects that relaxation, unique and personal happenings and delicious food have on promoting our guestsí talented endeavours.

You have designed really the perfect vacation. The typical European vacation is non–stop sight–seeing, sore feet, stress on trying–to–see–it–all before one leaves, coming home more frazzled than when one left. The stay at your idyllic El Molino, on the other hand, was the perfect mix of sight–seeing every third day to well thought–out and well–planned locations, followed by a few days of painting teachers who helped me connect so much better with my painting. The other guests were tremendous. I guess it’s hard to find a bad apple in a group of people that have traveled great distances to paint watercolors and acrylics. You both were such perfect hosts –gracious, witty, and helpful… And of course, the vacation was made perfect by your over–the–top cooking. I still can’t believe your creativity and culinary excellence. Still makes me smile thinking about it. A little Spanish wine to top off an exquisite dinner, leading into pleasant conversation under the grapevine canopy, just finished things so perfectly. I returned home relaxed and recharged.
   —G Dirkers June 2010

Become familiar with the joys of Spain in a small convivial group setting. Thereís lots to delight in Andalucian culture, history and cuisine. Enhance and nurture your artistic or culinary talents at a leisurely pace in the tranquil Spanish countryside. Whitewashed villages, Moorish architecture and flamenco music enrich and stimulate your creativity and give you warm memories to savour for years to come.

It is not all about the creative work, we have lots of fun too. Meals are based on healthy Mediterranean Diet recipes and prepared fresh daily by Chef Mike using local fresh ingredients. We welcome special dietary needs including gluten–free, vegetarian and diabetic. All the meals are based on Spanish traditional food, regional or local. Andalucia is the home of many well–known dishes such as Gazpacho, Iced Almond Soup, Seafood Paellas, and many creative fish dishes. Join the local tradition of taking an aperitif of cool Andalucian Sherry, Manzanilla or Montilla with your tapas, followed by some fine Spanish wines, or perhaps Sangria or Tinto de Verano (summer red a lighter version of Sangria) with the meal. With a dessert which adds a twist to the original recipe, hints of rosemary and lemon to crËme caramel, there is, perhaps, no better way to finish the whole experience than with a glass of sweet Malaga Pedro Ximenez wine. Not forgetting also that, in the heart of olive oil country, in all our cooking we only use the best olive oils ñ that golden nectar that is soooo good for our good cholesterol.

There are musical gatherings, and fascinating excursions that may include the ancient town of Ronda with its 330ft gorge that divides the new and old town; Cordoba with its Roman bridge and winding narrow flower laden streets or the university city of Granada with its magical Moorish palaces at the Alhambra; Zuheros, a small mountain village with stunning castle remains perched on a rocky outcrop; Spanish restaurants; flamenco dance performances, wineries, olive mills and village markets. See Excursions and Photo Albums.

All escorted tours on private bus are included in our vacations, as are your meals and wine at El Molino. It is our aim to make sure that you never go hungry or thirsty!

The days are centred around the painting or cooking class. On your breaks, enjoy the swing by the stream or the hammock under the pomegranate tree or a swim in the pool and watch the goats being herded on the hillside. There is always time for individual coaching, time to linger over lunch, and time to enjoy leisurely tapas and dinners –Spanish style. In the early evening during Tapas, you may perhaps join in a Spanish Boules tournament or play table tennis. Finish your days with an evening stroll on a quiet country lane that winds through the olive groves.

We are always looking to expand our courses offered and searching for art teachers who have their own following. If you are an art teacher and you want to bring a group for an art vacation or you have a wine or food group looking for a personalized Spanish culinary and cooking vacation, let us put a package together for you tailored to your needs. For art groups we provide the accommodation, food, hosting and our personal knowledge of Spanish culture, history and language to give a strong background and support for your workshop. If you are a food/wine group, Chef Mike would be happy to teach the course.

Time Magazine called Spain, ëthe New Food Mecca for Culinary Pilgrimsí and the San Francisco Chronicle stated, ëSpain now rivals Italy as a food lover’s destinationí