EDITORIAL LISTING: This listing was prepared by the AtelierBound editorial team using publicly available information. Dates, availability, final pricing, and any options such as occupancy or materials should be confirmed directly with the host before making any plans. If you run this retreat, contact us at hosts@atelierbound.com to claim your listing and take full control of your page, add your own photographs, and respond to guest enquiries. 23 -30 June 2026, at Velani Country Hotel in Crete, Greece. Immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of this legendary island where the Mediterranean diet was born, joining MasterChef UK winner Irini Tzortzoglou for a week of hands-on cooking, olive oil tasting and authentic cultural exploration. Each day begins with outdoor cooking sessions where you prepare mezze and seafood dishes using seasonal ingredients, followed by excursions to local markets, organic farms and family-run olive groves where you learn to identify top-quality extra virgin olive oil. The retreat also includes food photography workshops and visits to archaeological sites, all held within the warmth of a small group where strangers become friends over shared meals and the joy of cooking together. Pricing shown is an approximate USD equivalent converted from EUR. Please confirm the final price, currency, and options for single or double occupancy with the host directly before booking.

Website Link

https://irinicooks.com/retreats/?utm_source=atelierbound&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=listing

What's Included

Accommodation at Velani Country Hotel, all meals including welcome dinner and daily cooking workshops, olive oil tasting, bread-making session, visits to local markets and organic farms, food photography or culinary psychology session, excursions to cultural sites, all ingredients and cooking equipment

What to Bring

Comfortable clothing for cooking and walking, camera for food photography session, appetite for learning

Leader Bio

Irini Tzortzoglou is a Greek-born chef, MasterChef UK 2019 winner, author of Under the Olive Tree, and olive oil and honey sommelier who leads culinary retreats celebrating food, culture and human connection.