Bold Fork Travels: The Food & Wine of Eastern Sicily

Bold Fork Books and Clare Louise Frost host an unforgettable 10 day culinary journey across Eastern Sicily.

Join us for a 10-day trip across Eastern Sicily that blends history, landscape, and everything we love about gathering around the table. From the vibrant markets of Catania to the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, the fishing villages of the Mediterranean coast, and the vineyard-studded hills of Vittoria, we’ll explore the region one meal and glass of wine at a time.

We’ll cook together, visit some of Sicily’s most compelling winemakers, walk through ancient ruins, and spend time with people carrying forward the island’s food traditions. There’ll be hands-on workshops, relaxed dinners under the stars, and plenty of room for wandering, tasting, and slowing down.

If you’re hungry for an experience that’s rooted in place, full of flavor, and shared with good company then this trip is for you. Join us! 

Itinerary Highlights:

Mt. Etna

We begin in Catania, where ancient ruins, vibrant markets, and coastal energy set the stage for our journey. In nearby Taormina, we’ll take in stunning views from the ancient Greek theater and enjoy a long lunch overlooking the sea. Then it’s off to the slopes of Mount Etna, where we’ll spend a few days exploring the region’s remarkable volcanic wines. Visits to producers like Frank Cornelissen and Girolamo Russo reveal how altitude, lava, and tradition shape each bottle. Between tastings, we’ll hike through otherworldly landscapes and roll up our sleeves for a hands-on pasta workshop featuring regional recipes. Evenings offer time to unwind and explore the quiet charm of Etna’s hillside villages.

Itinerary Highlights:

In & Around Vittoria

From Etna, we head south to Vittoria, with a stop in the historic city of Siracusa along the way. Our home base is a peaceful vineyard estate surrounded by olive trees and kitchen gardens. Here, the pace slows: we’ll enjoy a seafood feast in the fishing village of Scoglitti, visit iconic natural wineries COS and Occhipinti, and learn the art of making ricotta from a local expert. Afternoons might be spent lounging by the pool or harvesting ingredients for a cooking class in the farmhouse kitchen. We’ll wrap up the trip with a visit to Noto—famous for its golden baroque architecture and perfect cannoli—before returning to Catania for a final market visit and celebratory dinner.

The Details

Dates: 

October 16th - October 26th, 2025

Price: 

Single Occupancy: $8,200 per person

Double Occupancy: $7,400 per person

What’s included: 

  • Lodging
  • All group meals indicated in the itinerary
  • All guided touring, activities, and admissions indicated in the itinerary
  • Van transport within Sicily

Questions? Email us at travel@boldforkbooks.com

I'm In!
  • Clare Louise Frost

    Clare Louise Frost is a textile designer and an antique rug specialist, an actor and a filmmaker who lived in Istanbul, Turkey for nine years, eating her way across this most delicious country.

    Clare first arrived in Istanbul in 2006 as an assistant to Josephine Powell, an American expat and noted Anatolian textile and kilim expert. Her own line of textiles and pillows are handmade, using the time-honored techniques Clare learned from her time with antique textiles and rugs.

    Clare acts in television and movies in the States and in Turkey, and speaks Turkish even when you don’t give her lines. She also has an independent film company based in New York, where she dedicates her time to making great story-based narrative film.

    Clare loves food and is an avid home cook. Clare worked seasonally over years on a vineyard in Tuscany, and has a deep appreciation for the fruits of the earth, and the people who coax and perfect them. Cooks much included. Her favorite part of cooking is learning the home cooking techniques that let her cook at home, using whatever seasonal ingredients are at hand. She loves traveling, eating, and meeting wonderful people as she travels and eats.

    www.clarelouisefrost.com

  • Clementine Thomas & Sam Vasfi

    Clementine and Sam are the co-owners of Bold Fork Books, Washington DC's only culinary bookshop. Both born and raised in the DC area, Clementine and Sam have worked in the District's restaurant industry for many years and they're partners at Chez Billy Sud. The culinary books they've collected over the years have changed the way they cook, eat, and think about the world around them.

    Now they're committed to sharing this passion by growing a deeply connected and dedicated shop community of home cooks, restaurant professionals, and curious eaters through books and a diverse slate of events.

  • Thursday, October 16 – Benvenuti!

    We begin our tour in Catania, a city shaped by volcanic eruptions and the legacy of the many cultures that once ruled here—including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, Normans, and Spanish. Each left their mark not only on the architecture but also on the island’s rich culinary traditions. After settling into our hotel, we’ll gather for dinner at a lively trattoria to enjoy our first taste of the food and wine that make Sicily such a vibrant and intriguing culinary destination.

  • Friday, October 17 – Mamma Etna

    After breakfast, we’ll travel by van to the breathtaking hilltop town of Taormina, perched above the Ionian Sea. There, we’ll enjoy a leisurely lunch that celebrates the region’s culinary bounty, shaped by Taormina’s unique location between sea and volcano. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Teatro Antico di Taormina, a remarkably preserved ancient Greek theater offering panoramic views of the coastline and Mount Etna. From Taormina, we head inland toward the slopes of Mount Etna—affectionately known by locals as Mamma Etna. At our hotel in Linguaglossa, nestled near the volcano, we’ll toast our arrival with a glass of local wine. Dinner is free to explore, with charming options tucked into the cobbled village streets.

  • Saturday, October 18 – Vineyards of Fire and Stone

    After breakfast, we’ll set out to explore the volcanic landscapes of Mount Etna, where rich, ash-laden soil has nurtured a vibrant winemaking tradition. We’ll spend the day visiting a curated selection of influential vineyards including Frank Cornelissen and Girolamo Russo - learning how altitude, lava, and tradition shape the region’s distinct wines. In Randazzo, we’ll stop for a casual lunch at the legendary wine shop and enoteca Il Buongustaio. Our day ends with a final vineyard visit before returning to Linguaglossa for a relaxed evening. Dinner is free to enjoy at your own pace.

  • Sunday, October 19 – A Culinary Workshop

    The morning is yours to explore. Options include a guided hike on Mount Etna—a 3-hour walk through otherworldly terrain shaped by ancient lava flows—or additional vineyard visits on your own. In the afternoon, our hotel becomes a culinary workshop, where we’ll roll up our sleeves to prepare one of the region’s quintessential stuffed pastas. For dinner, we’ll sit down together to enjoy the fruits of our labor and toast our time on the mountain.

  • Monday, October 20 – Southbound to Siracusa and Vittoria

    Departing Etna by van, we head south to Siracusa, where free time allows for wandering ancient ruins, seaside promenades, and open-air markets. After lunch on your own, we continue inland to Vittoria, arriving in the early evening at Baglio Occhipinti—a beautifully restored 18th-century farmhouse nestled among vineyards. This serene estate will be our home for the next three days. Dinner together under the stars welcomes us to a slower, sun-soaked rhythm.

  • Tuesday, October 21 – Seafood Heaven

    We’ll enjoy a leisurely morning at the Baglio—reading over espressos, lounging poolside, or exploring the kitchen gardens. Then it's off to Scoglitti, a small fishing village on the Mediterranean coast, known for its daily fish market and sandy beaches. Our destination is Sakalleo, a temple of seafood and Sicilian hospitality, where we’ll indulge in a long, luxurious lunch celebrating the day’s catch. The evening is yours, with dinner at your own pace—perhaps with a bottle from the estate’s cellar.

  • Wednesday, October 22 – Legendary Vines

    Our day begins with visits to two of Vittoria’s most iconic vineyards: COS and Occhipinti, both known for their organic farming practices and minimal-intervention winemaking. Their expressive wines showcase the unique terroir of the region. After lunch, we’ll explore the world of olive oil, Sicily’s culinary cornerstone, with a visit to local groves and an introduction to the production process. Dinner is on your own at the Baglio.

  • Thursday, October 23 – Curd is the Word

    This morning, we’ll get hands-on with a ricotta cheese-making workshop, guided by an expert ricottaro. Lunch is on your own, followed by an afternoon cooking class at the Baglio where we’ll use ingredients from the kitchen garden to inspire our menu. As always, the results—paired with thoughtful local wines—will become our shared evening meal.

  • Friday, October 24 – Baroque Beauty

    After breakfast, we bid farewell to the Baglio and head east to Noto, the baroque jewel of southeastern Sicily. You’ll have free time to explore the city’s golden-hued architecture and enjoy lunch at one of its many charming cafés—with a mandatory stop at Caffè Sicilia to sample their world-famous cannoli. Later, we continue to Catania, check in to our hotel, and unwind before our final day. Dinner is on your own.

  • Saturday, October 25 – Market Day

    Our last full day begins at the heart of Catania’s culinary culture—its lively fish market. We’ll wander through the stalls and learn the rhythms of this local institution. The afternoon is free for further exploration—suggestions abound, from Baroque landmarks to street food gems. In the evening, we’ll gather one last time for a farewell dinner, raising our glasses to new friends, Sicilian sunshine, and unforgettable meals.

The Fine Print

EXCLUSIONS

  • International airfare to/from Catania
  • Any airport taxes, tourist visa fees, etc. 
  • Travel insurance/travel medical insurance (highly recommended) 
  • Any vaccines/medical testing required for travel.
  • Additional meals not indicated in the group’s itinerary 
  • Alcoholic beverages not included in the itinerary. A first glass of wine or beer is included in group meals and will be ordered for the table by the group leaders. Additional and alternative alcoholic drinks will be billed individually.
  • Items and services of personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, room service, etc. 

** TIPS and gratuity are not included. We highly recommend  tipping room service, housekeeping, taxi drivers, bellhops, guides, waiters, et al, as you would in the United States.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

1) An initial deposit payment of $1,000.00 is required to reserve your spot and is due no later than July 1st, 2025.

The deposit payment is non-refundable.

Zelle/wire payments are preferred.

Please send deposit to clementine@boldforkbooks.com

2) The first half of the remaining balance payment is due by July 30th, 2025  and is non-refundable.

Zelle/wire payments are preferred: 

Please send balance payment to clementine@boldforkbooks.com

Single occupancy deposit: $3,600 per person

Double occupancy deposit: $3,200 per person

3) The second half of the remaining balance payment is due by August 30th, 2025  and is non-refundable.

Zelle/wire payments are preferred: 

Please send balance payment to clementine@boldforkbooks.com

Single occupancy deposit: $3,600 per person

Double occupancy deposit: $3,200 per person

CANCELLATION POLICY

BOLD FORK BOOKS must strictly adhere to its cancellation and refund policy to offset costs incurred prior to the commencement of the Tour, which may include but are not limited to: advance payments to land operators; hotel and meal arrangement; communication expenses; development and the loss of time that might have permitted resale of the reserved space.

NOTE: BOLD FORK BOOKS shall not be liable for any airline cancellation penalties or fees incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable or non-changeable ticket.

We reserve the right to vary the specifics of the itinerary. We may switch days, add/change activities, or substitute locations. We send out an updated itinerary within 30 days prior to the start date.

This tour is limited to 9 people