Join me in Venice on the Lagoon Workshop, 25-30 April 2027

Join me in Venice for my annual Lagoon Workshop, 25-30 April 2027

I started this very special culinary retreat in 2021 when, after researching Cinnamon & Salt, my cookbook on the origin of Venetian cicchetti, I wanted to share the wonderful people and places I had discovered in the lagoon of Venice (read more about that trip here if you missed it). It is here, that is also known as “Native Venice” that the real Venice lies. It is far from the crowds. Surrounded by the peaceful water, we island hop each day to explore the places and the ecosystem that make Venice, Venice. It all starts with the salt marshes and this lagoon.

We will stay in colourful Burano in beautifully restored fishermen’s houses, dine in some of the most wonderful restaurants on Burano (this Anthony Bourdain episode of No Reservations in Burano will get you in the mood), including a surprising meal by chef Chiara Pavan at her Michelin-starred restaurant at Venissa and charming Villa 600 on ancient Torcello island. We taste wine made on the lagoon, see Venice’s most ancient Basilica, visit artisans making lace and glass, explore the gardens of the island of Sant’Erasmo island by bike, learn from Venetian elders and spend a day with a crab fisherman cooking for us on his boat. You will be swept off your feet by this, I promise!

Note that we won’t be spending any time on Venice itself during this workshop because I just don’t want to disturb the magic of the lagoon that you’re going to experience so if you do want to plan some time there, visit before or after we meet and also take a look at this mini guide of a neighbourhood I’m particularly fond of.

The Program

Day 1: Welcome to the Lagoon

The meeting point is at the Venice train station in the afternoon, where a taxi boat will elegantly take us to Burano. After checking in, we’ll kick off the workshop with a visit to the walled garden of Venissa, where we visit one of the smallest wineries I have ever seen and where some parts of the grapes grow below sea level (!). We will have a wine tasting here, focusing on the very rare and ancient Venetian grape that they rediscovered after believing it was extinct for a century. Afterwards, we will enjoy dinner at the Michelin star restaurant where chefs Chiara Pavan and Francesco Brutto champion an innovative, sustainable cuisine using what that they have at their fingertips from their kitchen garden and the lagoon.

Day 2: Discovering Torcello

This morning, after our sumptuous breakfast in the garden at Venissa, we visit the ancient island of Torcello, what the Venetians call ‘Native Venice’. Here, we will explore the 7th century Basilica (climb the tower for a great view if you like) followed by a beautiful lunch at Villa 600. In the afternoon, we return to Burano for free afternoon, perhaps to wander, shop or rest before dinner at the iconic and my very favourite Gatto Nero for dinner.

Day 3: The Garden Island

Today after our breakfast at Venissa, we visit the island of Sant’Erasmo with Savino, the only organic farmer on the island. Not for nothing is this known as ‘the vegetable patch of Venice’! We will take a casual bike tour of the island (bikes are supplied by Savino, it is not strenuous, all flat, very enjoyable way to explore this very quiet agricultural island), followed by a farm fresh vegetarian lunch of Savino’s produce.

Afterwards, we will head back to Burano and explore Burano’s famous lace making traditions — this is a completely unique and mind boggling way of making lace and it must be seen to be believed, only a handful of women in the world still know how to do Burano’s traditional lace. You can take the rest of the afternoon off to explore or rest. We will meet for dinner at the vineyard restaurant, Venissa Osteria, to taste invasive species of the lagoon.

Day 4: Burano, the Fishermen’s island

After breakfast, we walk through Burano to meet the Barena Association for a tour of the northern salt marshes with Domenico Rossi, a crab fisherman for generations. Domenico will generously show us all about his work and tell us about the changes that the fishermen have had to make because of invasive species in the lagoon.

At home with Zanchi family, we will be learning how to make Burano’s famous risotto di gò, which we will have tasted at Gatto Nero. It is a very special dish to Burano, to the fishermen, a sumptuous seafood risotto that you will never taste again like this!

Later in the afternoon, Marco will lead us through a lesson on Venetian wines at Casa Burano with aperitivo and the evening is then free.

Day 5: Exploring the southern lagon by boat

This we will transfer to the island of Giudecca, south of Venice. Today we will spend all day aboard a bragozzo, a traditional Venetian crab fishing boat — although this one is fully renovated with a kitchen, a central dining table, there’s even a toilet and a shower on board! We will spend the day eating, floating and drinking with Manuel Bognolo, one of the last moecanti of Venice, enjoying the views of Venice and the islands of the southern lagoon, including one abandoned (and if you ask the locals, absolutely haunted!) island that was once used to quarantine the passengers of ships during the plague in the sixteenth century. Once we return to Burano, we will have our last aperitivo together at the local wine bar and have an early night to get ready for departure the next day.

Day 6: Time to say goodbye. After breakfast, we’ll have a taxi boat swiftly bring us back to the Venice train station for departures.

What others have said about this trip:

• “I can’t stop talking about how lovely everything was. I want to do it again! I loved Burano, Venissa, the boat trip, the Rialto tour, the food–all of it! You’ve created a very special curated experience for people. I hope you continue to share your joy about the lagoon with others. It’s truly special!” –Marcy
• “I’d like to say a huge thank you for the amazing and delicious lagoon workshop you planned.. You quickly put us at ease and made us feel like we had known you for a long time. You are a delightful person with a wealth of information on local food.” –Maya
• “This is an amazing and special adventure curated with loving kindness and attention to the natural resources of the Lagoon and its inhabitants. I also am missing the yummy delights the Lagoon served us. I can’t recommend this trip enough. Thank you, Emiko, for leading us on the adventure of a lifetime… and this is coming from someone who has been to Italy a few times. My mother wanted me to thank you again. We both shared some spectacular memories with each other and you all.” –Andres

Trip Notes: 

Note that our starting day, 25 April, is a public holiday in Italy so travel such as trains and buses will be on public holiday schedules.

We have scheduled in 2 free evenings (although we do meet for aperitivo, with nibbles) and you can choose to organise yourselves for dinner if you wish — I will share with you my guide to Burano at the start of the trip. I will warn you, though, that after the sumptuous day spent with Manuel cooking for us, no one is ever hungry enough for a full dinner! There is also a mini bar in your room and the local Coop supermarket is a short walk away if you would like to keep some snacks (or wine!) for yourself in the room. But I don’t think anyone will be going hungry!

We will be enjoying local seafood at practically every meal. Please let us know if you have any food allergies or preferences early on. The restaurants and chefs we visit are simply amazing at putting together meals for those with needs, they go above and beyond — can you believe I had one guest with a life threatening shellfish allergy come on this trip!?

We borrow second hand bikes to ride around the island — it is a wonderful way to see this large ‘garden’ island. If you are not confident riding a bike, you can sit this part out but it is a really great part of the day. A hat /sunglasses for the bike ride if it is sunny is always a good idea!

The boat trip on the second last day involves being on a boat all day, if you suffer from sea sickness there is a pharmacy on Burano island where you can get some medicine if needed (or bring your own). We will need to be barefoot on the boat for the day (shoes will be collected on the boat). And yes, there is a bathroom on the boat! Some years we have been blessed with warm waters and weather for swimming, so if you are game, we will be in a very beautiful part of the southern lagoon where the locals swim – so you may want to consider bringing a swimsuit.

Ready to join us?

Costs and bookings per person:

Superior Room single occupancy: €4,950
Superior Room double occupancy: €4,500

Junior single occupancy: €5,250
Junior double occupancy: €4,625

Suite single occupancy: €5,500
Suite double occupancy: €4,750

To confirm your place, we require a 30% deposit, the remainder to be paid before the workshop. The deposit is non-refundable, but we understand that plans can change, we can accept someone to take your place or honour it until the end of the following year. We reserve the right to cancel a workshop (with plenty of advance notice) and in this case deposits will be fully refunded.

To book or ask any questions, please email us at vino@enotecamarilu.com

A glimpse of what’s included:

All accommodation
Beautiful breakfast buffet at Venissa every morning
Lunch every day
2 aperitivi
Michelin star chef’s menu on our first night
Rare Dorona grape wine tasting at Venissa
Dinner at the famed Gatto Nero and the Osteria Contemporanea of Venissa
All transfers by water taxi
Entrance to Venice’s oldest basilica and Burano’s Lace Museum
Visits with producers, farmers and two fishermen
Venetian wine lesson with sommelier Marco Lami
Private risotto lesson with a family from Burano

Not included: Travel insurance and travel to/from Venice.

Hope to see you next year!

xx