A 7-Day Culinary Escape at Maria’s Residence, Syros

7-Day Culinary Escape

• Seven-Day Culinary Immersion: Spend seven days at Maria Residence in Ermoupolis, Syros, exploring every dimension of the island’s extraordinary food culture — cooking classes, producer visits, market tours, island excursions, and memorable meals in the Aegean Islands
• Ermoupolis Deep Dive: Take the time to truly understand Ermoupolis — its extraordinary architecture, its historic food traditions, its artisan producers, and the cultural sophistication of Greece’s most cosmopolitan island city
• Complete Syros Experience: From the famous halvadopites and loukoumades to the island’s exceptional olive oil, local cheeses, and wine — the seven-day programme covers the full breadth of Syros gastronomic culture

Day 1

Arrive by morning or evening ferry into the magical port of Ermoupolis. If you arrive early, take a stroll through marble-paved streets or swim at Vaporia, just minutes from the villa.

In the evening, gather in the villa’s shaded courtyard for welcome drinks and a generous buffet dinner of Cycladic specialties. Get to know your fellow guests and chat through the week’s delicious plan.

Day 2

Courtyard breakfast features fresh-baked wholemeal bread, fragrant carob and orange cakes, jams from our garden fruits, thyme honey, local yogurt, and homemade granola.

10:30 – Cooking Class 1: Grains, Pulses & Stuffed Vegetables

Discover the core of Greek home cooking — wholesome, seasonal, and rich in flavor.

Sample dishes:

• Fava (split peas purée) with caramelized onions & sun-dried tomatoes
• Parsley-garlic dip
• Chickpeas with rosemary
• Beetroot and yogurt salad with walnuts
• Stuffed tomatoes & peppers with herbs, bulgur, pine nuts, black currants
• Sweet milk pie

Enjoy lunch under the trees with what you’ve created. Evening free to explore.

Day 3

After breakfast, join a guided tour of Ermoupolis’ vibrant market. Visit the fish and produce stalls, sample Syros’ traditional sweets (loukoumia and halvadopites), and explore gourmet shops offering rare Cycladic ingredients like louza, local cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, and herbal liqueurs.

11:30 – Cooking Class 2: Aegean Seafood Specialties

You’ll prepare fresh seafood dishes inspired by island traditions:

Sample dishes:

• Fish roe dip
• Steamed skate with lemon-mustard dressing
• Anchovies wrapped in vine leaves with fennel
• Sardines stuffed with herbs
• Shrimp saganaki (with tomato and feta)
• Semolina halva

Take the afternoon to relax or swim before a leisurely evening.

Day 4

Choose how to spend your free day — guided by weather and your curiosity.

Option 1: Hidden Beach Picnic

Venture to a remote northern beach via short hike or boat. Swim, unwind, and enjoy a picnic with local finds from the market.

Option 2: Village & Sunset by the Sea

Visit Kini, a picturesque fishing village with a golden beach. Swim and enjoy a long, late lunch at a taverna by the sea — sunset here is unforgettable.

Option 3: Herbal Foraging & Cooking Class (€100 pp, pre-booking required)

Join a local herb expert to forage wild herbs and prepare a simple meal using your harvest. Learn about traditional uses of herbs in both cuisine and medicine.

Day 5

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before your next cooking session.

10:30 – Cooking Class 3: Doughs, Pies & Traditional Bakes

Learn to work with phyllo and other traditional Greek doughs to create savory pies and breads.

Sample dishes:

• Handmade olive bread
• Ladenia (a Cycladic vegan pizza)
• Zucchini, goat cheese & mint pie
• Signature cheese pie
• “Flour pie” with feta & eggs
• Enjoy your creations for lunch.

Evening: Visit Ano Syros

Explore this medieval hilltop village, with its narrow streets, Catholic cathedral, and panoramic views. End the day with casual dinner at a locals’ favorite spot, where you’ll sample Greek street food at its finest.

Day 6

A relaxed morning to enjoy the town, go for a swim, or browse local shops.

17:00 – Cooking Class 4: Mezedes, Wine & Cheese Tasting

On your final evening, prepare a table of traditional Greek small plates to accompany a guided wine and cheese tasting featuring rare varietals and artisan cheeses from across Greece.

Sample meze:

• Aubergine rolls with ricotta & tomato
• Figs with goat cheese & mint
• Smoked eggplant dip
• Zucchini ribbon salad with lemon & herbs
• Black lentil and barley salad
• Vine leaves stuffed with rice, herbs & tahini
• Almond figs poached in sweet wine with yogurt

Raise a glass to new friends, flavors, and the beauty of the Aegean.

Day 7

Your final courtyard breakfast is slow and sweet. Enjoy free time to revisit Ermoupolis’ charming corners or take one last swim at Vaporia.

Depart on the 4:00 p.m. ferry, filled with the tastes, smells, and warmth of Greece.