Janet, Just back from Marrakech. What a fantastic hotel. We couldn't have had better service and the cookery course was really good too. Kind regards Roy & Sue Thomas, Marrakech La Maison

Dear On The Menu   I returned on Wednesday night from the 4-day cooking trip to Marrakech with On The Menu.   I just wanted to let you know how amazing the trip was. All the staff at Riad Magi were wonderful and totally helpful. They were polite and and friendly and always happy to make requests for mint tea at any time! The owner, Magi, was over herself for a few days and was a mine of information about the city. The cookery sessions were simple and very enjoyable and our tutor was lovely - the food we made tasted far better than any of the restaurants we went to! Hadija*, the chef, even made us a pastilla on the last day so we could have a quick meal before our flight. Everything was included in the price and we didn't have to worry about a thing - fabulous for three working mums wanting an exciting break!   Marrakech itself was an incredible experience - dusty, dirty, exotic, and beautiful.   * Not sure of the spelling!   I have never written to a holiday company before, but we really did have such a wonderful time and packed so much into our 4 days as well as the cooking.   Thank you - and I'll definitely try another course in the future!   Please feel free to use the above if you wish. I am editor of a local magazine in Richmond and would have written a glowing review if I'd written in the magazine!   Best wishes Pippa Duncan, Marrakech Madina

Hello Janet I just wanted to let you know that our holiday in Arezzo with On the Menu was probably the best holiday we have ever had. My husband is not a cook but had such a wonderful time and is even going to cook the Christmas lunch for us! It just remains for me to wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. Sue Winward, Arezzo Tuscany

Dear Ramon The pleasure was ours.....! The Gods have certainly gifted La Rioja with perfection in all things - the sun, the gloriously fire-coloured vines covering such a dramatic landscape, the amazing buildings so fearlessly set into the very best that nature can offer, the gorgeous wines we tasted which were so plentifully offered and the wonderful food .... and here I am running out of superlatives to describe what was for us one of the most pleasurable trips we have ever taken. Our thanks to you for the excellent organisation and I have already been recommending this tour to friends and colleagues who were interested in hearing about the trip. Ramon, La Rioja

Dear Janet I would like to say a BIG thank you for an absolutely wonderful time cooking and being looked after in Goa.  Goa is such a relaxing and spiritual place - which I intend to return to. The cooking package was well thought out, and the timetable of events, excursions to the market and spice plantation all making the experience very enjoyable. I would like to make a special mention of Judy.  She truly makes the cookery experience GREAT. She has a wonderful engaging personality, a high level of knowledge, adaptability to the various levels of experiences and energy (especially when we felt worn out!).  She was aware of all travel details ensuring everyone's needs were always taken care of.  With managing events myself, I know how important it is to be professional and constantly on call. I would like to send Judy a thank you letter and present and wonder if you can provide me with an address for the School. My friend and I will be reviewing your website for a course in another country. Kind regards and thanks again Dawn, Goa

Clive and Maki made our trip so much more than what we had expected. The cooking lessons were fun filled and informative with Clive allowing one to take on as much or as little as one wants in terms of an interactive cooking experience. The food spoilt me for later local cuisine in Granada as I felt that I had experienced the best already in Iznaja and even better I had made it, with a little, ok may more than a little, help. During the day Maki made sure our cultural appetites were sated with visits to surrounding villages with beautiful churches, Moorish forts and ruins and olive oil and fino tasting. Clive and Maki made every effort to ensure that we were enjoying ourselves and were flexible enough to adapt the schedule to include other interests. Due to their flexibility in the schedule my mother was able to fulfil her dream of riding an Andalusian horse. I cannot say enough good things about the trip, the hospitality or the accommodation. I thoroughly recommend this trip! Lihsia, UK, September 08, Andalusia

The ingredients were great and it was nice to see that the chef cooked what was fresh/looked good i.e. not sticking religiously to recipes but being flexible........The palace was lovely and it was great to have the opportunity to go round it. Really one of the highlights of the trip. The wine they produce is excellent and very interesting to actually go to the vineyards and talk to the people there. It was so much more than just a tasting...... The atmosphere was great..... It was a wonderful trip and we both had a fantastic time. Thank you very much for organising and arranging it. Tom, Portugal Alentejo

Wine tasting and the olive oil tour were both great! I enjoyed the cooking demonstrations at the restaurant in a 'real' restaurant environment. The people were enthusiastic and welcoming. The food was interesting and delicious. The chef was very charismatic! Overall it was a great, great weekend - thank you for a wonderful time.  Beth, Portugal Ribatejo

"One of the best courses I've done and cleverly structured so that your confidence really increases as the week progresses. It's great fun too."  Jenny Muir Purdy, author of 'A Place to Cook' and 'Cooking School Holidays' and ex-chairman of the British Guild of Food Writers Association, France, Loire

I wanted to write and say how much I enjoyed the advanced course. I thought it was excellent and I learnt so much. For someone like me who cooks all day long in my job, it was great to work with two such knowledgeable and creative people who were so good at teaching us skills and passing on information. I really wanted a 'hands-on' course, rather than one that was mostly demonstration and this course was definitely that. Kate Purdy, Caribbean Islands France, Loire