Enjoy a week of Mediterranean cookery and wellness with Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi at the beautiful Yenice Vadi retreat in southern Turkey.

Prepare for a Life-Changing Experience

Join Katie and Giancarlo Caldesi, Dr. David and Judith Jehring and yoga instructor Asu Somer for an unforgettable week of Mediterranean cooking and wellness at Yenice Vadi, a serene retreat in southern Turkey. Leave with new skills, recipes, and a rejuvenated sense of well-being. Whether you seek a healthy reset or a taste of the Mediterranean lifestyle, this retreat offers a transformative journey for body and soul.

Discover Wellness in Paradise

Along with our daily cookery courses, there will be plenty of optional activities available onsite aimed at improving both your physical and psychological well-being. Each day, wake up with nature and enjoy an optional yoga lesson, walk in the cool morning air or simply go for a swim. We have designed our week so that after the morning’s cookery classes you can choose to be as active (or as inactive) as you like.

Highlights of the Retreat

• Cooking Classes: Harvest the farm’s produce, forage for herbs, and learn to create delicious Mediterranean dishes.
• Excursions: Visit a local market to explore fresh, seasonal ingredients and enjoy a scenic boat trip with barbecue lunch and swim stops.
• Wellness Talks: Gain insights into metabolic health, nutrition, and lifestyle with daily sessions led by Dr. David Jehring.
• Optional Activities: Join the morning yoga lesson, relax by the pool, enjoy a massage or hammam or go for a walk in the hills.

Cookery classes

Your cookery teachers for the week are acclaimed cookery writer and chef Katie Caldesi, Turkish chef and co-owner of Yenice Vadi, Çağlar Bozkurt. Between them they will teach you a wonderful mixture of healthy recipes from the East to the West of the Mediterranean.  On one of our days, chef Giancarlo Caldesi will show you how to make a delicious Italian lunch.  The cookery classes will be for a maximum of 14 people (non-cooking partners are welcome to join in for meals and other activities).          

Katie Caldesi, chef and cookery writer

Katie has been cooking professionally for 25 years, runs La Cucina Caldesi cookery school and is the author of 19 cookbooks.  Subjects have included Italian cookery, preserving, salads and pasta. As Katie’s last 9 books have been about using a low-carb lifestyle to combat obesity and her husband Giancarlo’s diabetes type 2, we too will follow a lowish-carb diet for the week but there will be rice, bread and pasta around for those that want it! 

Giancarlo Caldesi, chef and restaurateur

Giancarlo will be on hand to discuss his journey into remission from diabetes type 2 by following a low-carb lifestyle. He will also teach his favourite Italian dishes on one of the days. 

Çağlar Bozkurt, Turkish chef and co-owner

Çağlar owns a farm in the village as well as multiple properties, he has been in the hotel business for 25 years and is a great cook. He is passionate about his home-grown vegetables which we will pick and use each day. It has been his dream to run a cookery school to share his family’s delicious Turkish recipes.

Whether you’re a seasoned cook or new to the kitchen, this retreat offers the perfect blend of culinary exploration and health education. Indulge in Mediterranean flavours, connect with like-minded individuals, and return home rejuvenated, with new recipes and knowledge to inspire a healthier lifestyle.

Much research has highlighted the many benefits of a Mediterranean lifestyle. A diet of fresh vegetable-based meals including meat and fish, plenty of herbs, whole grains and olive oil seems to be the secret to long-term wellness. We’ll teach you how to avoid refined white grains, minimise sugar, say no to processed foods and help you bring the Mediterranean into your kitchen back home. We’ll cover a range of recipes including quick meals that can be made in under 30 minutes as well as slow-cooks for batch cooking. 

Simply watch or help Katie, Giancarlo and Çağlar put the finishing touches to the evening dinner as we gather around the outside fire and grill. Dinner will be served in the main restaurant of the hotel either inside or outside. A fully stocked bar is available for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. 

Wellness Workshops:

Dr David Jehring: 

We will be joined by Dr David Jehring, NHS family doctor and Chair of the Trustees of the Public Health Collaboration, a charity dedicated to helping people improve their metabolic health. In addition, Dr Jehring has trained with the British Society for Ecological Medicine which focusses on nutrition and environmental medicine. Parallel to his medical interests, Dr Jehring advocates for regenerative farming practices. He has actively sought knowledge from experts in the field to enhance soil quality at his farm in Worcestershire underlining the connection between soil and human health.

As Katie puts it “David is a fascinating man to be around, his knowledge of nutritional health is vast, and he will provide us with brief daily talks about wellness.” David will be joined by his wife Judith, a chartered physiotherapist, who champions a holistic approach to patient care and will join in our discussions on health. 

Here’s a sneak peek into David’s daily wellness talks:

• Mastering Macronutrients: Fueling Your Body with Proteins, Fats, and Carbohydrates – Understand the building blocks of your diet and how to use them for optimal energy and health.
• Micronutrient Magic: Harnessing the Power of Essential Vitamins and Minerals – Explore how these small but mighty nutrients shape your vitality.
• The Sweet Truth: Managing Fructose and Choosing Healthier Sweeteners – Learn the impact of sugar and sweeteners on your health and discover smarter alternatives.
• Microbiome Marvels: Building Gut Health with Soluble Fibre and Fermentation – Dive into the fascinating world of gut health and how to nourish your inner ecosystem.
• Sleep Science: Unlocking the Benefits of Rest for Mind and Body – Discover why sleep is essential and actionable tips to enhance your rest.

Asu Somer – Movement guide

Asu has been teaching yoga classes since 2010 and believes that the transformative nature of yoga is a perfect complement to the welcoming and nurturing environment of Yenice Vadi. Her classes are designed for individuals of all ages and abilities, offering a blend of traditional practices and modern techniques to support your unique journey. We’ll explore Hatha and Vinyasa yoga, incorporating somatic movements and a touch of Qigong, with a focus on mindful movement, breath, and relaxation to cultivate balance and inner peace. Whether your aim is to improve mobility, deepen your connection with yourself, or find stress relief, these sessions provide a peaceful space to rejuvenate, unwind, and start your day.

About Yenice Vadi

The hotel Yenice Vadi is a peaceful haven located in a quiet Turkish valley in Southern Turkey. It provides a perfect escape, offering simple, comfortable, pristine accommodation built using traditional local materials. There are 21 rooms in the main building and in the grounds. It is nestled amongst trees and mountains within 30 minutes of the coast. The valley gives guests the opportunity to experience nature in the surrounding hills and in the farm. Waking up to bird song, exploring the grounds and peaceful evenings on the veranda by the fire offer the perfect sanctuary to busy lives back home. The hotel is approximately one hour from Dalaman airport and one and a half hours from Bodrum airport. It has a 33m long swimming pool, Turkish bath, bar and restaurant.

A Typical Day

• 8:00 AM: Yoga, walk, swim or relax.
• 9:30 AM: Healthy breakfast demonstration by Katie.
• 10:00 AM: Cooking class preparing meals for lunch and dinner.
• 1:30 PM: Lunch.
• Afternoon: Free time to swim, relax, or enjoy a massage.
• 6:00 PM: Wellness workshop and final cooking preparations.
• 7:00 PM: Drinks and dinner by the fire.

Yenice Vadi: Your Tranquil Retreat

Nestled in a quiet Turkish valley, Yenice Vadi offers pristine, comfortable accommodation built with traditional materials. Enjoy a 33m swimming pool, Turkish bath, bar, and restaurant. Wake up to birdsong, explore the surrounding hills, and unwind by the fire. The retreat is located 1 hour from Dalaman Airport and 1.5 hours from Bodrum Airport.

Your Expert Hosts

• Katie Caldesi : Renowned chef, author of 19 cookbooks, and low-carb lifestyle advocate.
•  Giancarlo Caldesi : Acclaimed chef sharing his expertise in Italian cuisine and his personal journey into remission from type 2 diabetes through diet.
• Dr. David Jehring : NHS family doctor, expert in metabolic health, and Chair of Trustees at the Public Health Collaboration.
•  Judith Jehring : Chartered physiotherapist and holistic health advocate.
• Asu Somer : Yoga instructor blending Hatha, Vinyasa, and somatic movements for relaxation and balance.

Cookery classes

Your cookery teachers for the week are acclaimed cookery writer and chef Katie Caldesi, Turkish chef and co-owner of Yenice Vadi, Çağlar Bozkurt. Between them they will teach you a wonderful mixture of healthy recipes from the East to the West of the Mediterranean. On one of our days, chef Giancarlo Caldesi will show you how to make
a delicious Italian lunch. The cookery classes will be for a maximum of 14 people (non-cooking partners are welcome to join in for meals and other activities).

Massage/sauna/ Hammam

The hotel has a traditional Hamman where guests can book an authentic Turkish bath.  The whole experience lasts for just over an hour and starts with a relaxing sauna followed by a steam, a cleansing exfoliating scrub and a soapy massage. To really complete the experience, you can choose to have a full body oil massage or just relax with a glass of cay (Turkish tea).

Boat trip

We will enjoy a boat trip during the week from Akyaka which is around 30 minutes away. We will be taken and brought back by minibus. There are local shops in Akyaka which we will have plenty of time to visit after the boat trip. We will swim in a few different spots before enjoying a barbecue fish lunch.

Join Katie and Çağlar on a trip to a local market to pick out the vegetables, nuts, cheese, olives, tahini etc for our cookery lessons. There will be opportunities to buy goods to take home such as local tahini, honey, nuts and spices.

Come with an open mind and heart

You are going to be immersed in the Turkish flavour of Mediterranean culture and lifestyle so please come with an open mind ready to absorb the sights and delights of a countryside idyll.

Daily maid service
There will be a basic daily maid service to clean and tidy your room and make your bed each day. Sheets and towels will only be changed on request and there may be an extra cost for this.

What to wear
There is a relaxed and casual vibe at Yenice Vadi, generally guests are happy to forego make-up and heels for the week and comfy clothes are encouraged. However, if you feel like putting on the razz for dinner a couple of evenings that is entirely up to you and you will feel quite at home!

Massage/sauna/ Hammam
The hotel has a traditional Hamman where guests can book an authentic Turkish bath. The whole experience lasts for just over an hour and starts with a relaxing sauna followed by a steam, a cleansing exfoliating scrub and a soapy massage. To really complete the experience, you can choose to have a full body oil massage or just relax with a glass of cay (Turkish tea).

Glucose monitors:
Some of our guests choose to wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) which measures your blood glucose levels. The sensor is worn on your arm and is paired to a smart phone where you can visibly see how different foods affect your glucose levels. It’s very interesting to see and compare your findings with others plus you will gain insight into what foods to suit your individual needs. Continuous glucose monitors to track how foods affect your blood sugar (approx. £60 for 14 days).

TO BOOK

Prices start at £1900 per person and differ according to your room choice and whether you choose single or shared occupancy. Rates are also available for non-participating partners or companions please enquire when booking.  To book please email office@caldesi.com or call Laura or Roberto on + 44 (0)207 487 0758 during office hours.

What’s included by The Good Kitchen Table Ltd:

• Accommodation in the main hotel or in the cottages in the grounds
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Daily cooking classes

What’s included by Hotel Yenice Vadi:

• Daily yoga sessions
• Market trip including lunch and transport
• Boat tour including lunch and transport
• Drinking water (do bring refillable bottles)
• Daily maid service

 What’s not included:

• Flights
• Transfers
• Alcoholic beverages and bottled soft drinks
• Travel insurance
• Massages, hammam scrub

YENICE VADI ROOMS AND PRICES

Please select from the following room choices. Click on the different rooms to see photos and further descriptions on the Yenice Vadi site.

DELUXE TERRACE ROOM – in the main hotel on the ground floor 

SINGLE £2425

Orchid and Lilac and Lily have a queen-sized bed and shaded terrace.

OLIVE COTTAGE

SINGLE £2525 

DOUBLE £2200 

Olive is a small cottage near the farm in the grounds of the hotel. It has one large bed. 

DELUXE KING ROOM WITH BALCONY in the main hotel on the first floor

SINGLE £2525

DOUBLE £2125 per person

Tulip has 1 king size bed and 1 sofabed

DELUXE KING ROOM WITH JACUZZI AND BALCONY in the main hotel on the first floor

SINGLE £2525

DOUBLE £2125 per person

Lavender and Sunflower have luxurious beds, a jacuzzi in the room and a small balcony.

DELUXE KING ROOM with fireplace

Hyacinth has a queen-sized bed, sofabed and small balcony

SINGLE £2525

DOUBLE £2125 per person

DELUXE KING ROOM WITH JACUZZI AND FIREPLACE

Marigold has a king-sized round bed with a fireplace, sofa and jacuzzi. 

SINGLE £2525

DOUBLE £2125 per person

DELUXE TWIN ROOM WITH BALCONY in the main hotel on the first floor 

Hydrangea has two standard single beds, a sofabed and a small balcony. 

SINGLE £2525

DOUBLE £2125 per person

COTTAGES in the grounds of the hotel

SINGLE £2920

DOUBLE £2650 per person

Almond and Pine are two secluded stone cottages in the grounds of the hotel on a hillside. They have kind-sized beds, a fireplace, private terrace and outdoor, unheated jacuzzi.

SHEPHERD’S HUT  

SINGLE £2525

DOUBLE £2125 per person

Shepherd’s hut is in the grounds of the hotel and has either a king-sized bed or two single beds, a fireplace and terrace. 

OLEANDER COTTAGE in the grounds of the hotel

Oleander is a two-bedroom cottage with its own unheated private pool. It has a king sized bed, a sofabed and a twin bedroom with two single beds. There is a fireplace and small kitchen. 

SINGLE £3000

DOUBLE £2600 per person 

TRIPLE £2150 per person 

QUAD £1900 per person