I'd been to Puglia for a week once before (as well as Lecce) and loved the cuisine. I'm half Italian and cook a lot, and eating with the seasons is very natural for me. On this trip, I wanted to heighten my knowledge of the food of the region and have a group activity (traveling solo). I'd been eyeing this... more

Forever, my dream had been to travel to Provence, France and take a week of cooking classes. But, as I searched and researched for over two years, The Awaiting Table in the region of Puglia, Italy kept hitting me in the face, until it finally grabbed me by the heart, and wouldn't let go! So, I booked a week in... more

A week at the Awaiting Table was the final leg of a 5 week self-guided tour of Italy with an emphasis on food. This last part was definitely the best. I happened to be there during the School's 5th anniversary celebration at a castle in Spangano, about an hour south of Lecce. The castle is actually a huge compound that... more

This is one of those experiences that you will never forget in your lifetime. After a stressful few months at work I decided to book myself on a break to The Awaiting Table because of my interest in food. Everything about the course and the setting far exceeded my expectations. Silvestro is a fabulous host - incredibly warm and entertaining... more

When I told Italian friends from home I was going to a cooking school in Puglia, they all commented that I was lucky because Pugliese cuisine is the best in Italy. The cuisine was plentiful and delicious during my visit in late winter taking classes at The Awaiting Table in Lecce. But the cuisine was only part of the experience;... more

Silvestro invited us to share his kitchen, share his insight into cooking in the Salento, and experience the food, the wines, the location and his friends. Other than the bone-chiling dampness of mid-February, the week will be among the best memories of the past few years. Cooking is clearly the heart of the week, but learning opportunities about the culture,... more

I escorted a group of six of my clients/friends to The Awaiting Table Cookery School in Lecce in September of 2008 and could not have been more pleased with the experience. In this remote area of Italy, instead of feeling isolated, we felt connected, thanks in no small part to director Silvestro Silvestori who introduces his guests to locals, invites... more

Spending week at The Awaiting Table in Lecce, Italy is like spending a week visiting your old Italian grandmother - even if you don't have one. Before arriving we were informed of what to expect, and though we were initially scheduled to spend our week at the castle, and that was modified to spending the week in Lecce, we found... more

Highlights: - Great cooking class in a relaxed and fun atmosphere - Emersion in the local food and history - Friendly and knowledgable staff - Plenty of food and drink in a family-style atmosphere - Beautiful old city - Fabulous shopping A Waiting Table is essentaily an all-inclusive vacation with benefits! Check cooking snobbery at the door - this is... more