Travel and food are already a match made in heaven. Now COMO Hotels and Resorts are looking to blur the lines between the two with a series of retreats that will use culinary experiences as a lens to explore the heritage and culture of a destination.
This February, the first COMO Culinary Journeys will launch in Perth with a five-day retreat at COMO The Treasury. During the retreat, 10 guests will participate in hands-on cooking classes and be immersed in the flavours, cultures and cooking techniques of Western Australia.
Wildflower Restaurant 
Matthew Sartori
Guiding the classes will be Wildflower’s head chef Matthew Sartori. As well as, renowned chef Giovanni Luca Di Pirro, who heads the Michelin-starred restaurant at COMO Castello del Nero in Tuscany, Italy.
Luca Di Pirro intends to bring his ‘estate-to-table philosophy’ and Italian cuisine to the classes saying, “[At La Torre] we source the highest quality seasonal produce to create contemporary dishes that exploit the flavours of the raw ingredients through modern cooking techniques, and I look forward to sharing this approach to cooking with our guests.”
Other experiences set to get tastebuds tingling include a trip to the local fish market, sustainable garden experience and a wine tasting with Australia’s Sommelier of the Year, Emma Farrelly. The tasting will focus on picking out the nuanced differences between Margaret River and Tuscan wines.
The details
Accomodation will be for four nights at COMO The Treasury in either a Heritage Room or Heritage Balcony Room. There will be breakfast daily and dinners with the chefs on set nights. Guests will also receive a complementary 60-minute COMO Shambhala wellness treatment. The perfect way to wind down after a day in the kitchen.
The retreat runs from February 28 to March 3 2020. A portion of proceeds will go towards the rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife affected by the Australian bushfire crisis. Specifically, COMO will donate to WIRES and the Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service.
Rates for the Heritage Room start at AU $2,995 per person if you are sharing your room with a partner, or AU $4,065 per person for single occupancy.
For stays in a Heritage Balcony Room, the experience is priced at AU $3,195 per person for double rooms, or AU $4,465 for single occupancy.
