Cooking In Tuscany Florence daily & weekly classes

Activity/Tour

SINGLE DAY / MULTI DAY CLASSES
We have classes nearly every weekday and then weekends upon request. The classes are held in one of the two kitchens on the estate, there is a kitchen in the villa and the other in the medieval castle of the estate in the Torre.

We have two levels for our single day classes – Introductory & Full Immersion. Both the classes include a HUGE lunch and wine all day.

The Introductory Class is an introduction to Italian foods with a focus on Tuscan cuisine. You will make antipasto, first course (usually fresh pasta with a sauce), second course with side, and dessert.


The cost is 140 euro's per person and it is a 4 hour class.

The Full Immersion Class takes this a step further, it is a 5 course class and focuses on stuffed pastas such as ravioli, colouring pasta, more sauces, how to make a perfect risotto beginning with making the broth, second courses of meat/game and of course dessert. This course is 190 euro's pp and 5 hours long.

We also include a 150 page cookbook and for the full immersion class a 'Good Tastes of Tuscany' apron .

**You dont have to be an advanced cook to take this class*** You will spend more time learning how to prepare more complex dishes but the chefs will guide you through the entire program.

If you wanted to participate in a multiple day class we can also offer those and really customise the menu to suit the groups likes and dislikes. These are always Advanced classes, so we can cover much more in the extra time. We can customise the program to really suit what you would like to learn and each days menu is completely different. We do offer a discount to 175 Euro, per person, per day for any booking of 3 days or more.

MENU EXAMPLES
Crostini Toscani
Parmesan baskets filled with a seasonal salad
Risotto with Zucchini and Fresh Zucchini Flowers
Veal broth
Potato gnocchi drizzled with truffle oil
Etruscan Chicken
Individual tiramisù

Stuffed & Fried Zucchini Flowers & Sage
Panzanella Summer Salad
Ravioli filled with grilled eggplant & walnuts garnished with butter and fresh parsley
Cinghiale in Umido – Wild Boar Stew
Tuscan White Beans
Crostata Autunalle- Autumn tart

Pizzetine
Pear & Gorgonzola Risotto
Spinach and Ricotta Gnudi with truffles
Chicken Breast rolled in pancetta and sage, stuffed with artichokes & cheese
Panna Cotta with Berry Sauce

7 DAY GASTRONOMICAL COOKING ADVENTURE
Note the classes will not exceed more than 12 participants however there is ample accommodation for the partners or friends not taking part in the cooking program.

Though we limit the classes to 12 people the original galley kitchen is spacious enough to accommodate more people, the participants appreciate more time with the chefs and the intimate setting of the smaller classes. We will also have the classes for as little as 4 participants, just depending on the bookings.

We have designed the program so that partners that do not have an interest in cooking don't have to join in, we can organise lots of interesting and fun days trips for the non participants or they can amuse themselves in the morning then when the class is finished you can all go off in the afternoon exploring. Some afternoons we already have activities or a tour built into the program, other things are optional and then of course we can arrange different things based on your requests. If a partner would like to join for a day of cooking that is also not a problem. Also the estate is lovely to walk around, there are lots of woods ,a pool and it is very tranquil here, so easy to relax with a book or one can go to the local shops and bars or take a train to Florence or Pisa .
You could fly into either Florence or Pisa ( both in Tuscany) though Florence is the closest ( about a 15 min drive) and we could arrange a pick up for you. If you did find flights only into Rome, we could also arrange a transfer or you could catch the train to Florence ( 1.5 hrs on the fast 'Eurostar' train) and we could arrange to have a driver pick you up from there.
You won't need a car while here, though of course if you want the freedom of getting around then we could also arrange a rental car for you, and honestly you can get to see many more things when you have the flexibility of having a car though it isn't essential. We have lots of groups that come to stay on the estate and they get around just fine!

Typical Day

For all wine & cultural excursions please note that we can customise anything you are wanting, there are so many things to do in Tuscany and we would love to give you a 'taste' of what you can enjoy.

If you are interested in learning more about wine tasting, why not take an intensive course with our wine professor who will escort you on an informative tour through the vineyards and the estates cellar before tasting at least 5 well known Tuscan wines

Age range, type of group

The cooking classes are suitable for all ages, from children to great grandparents. The classe are relaxed, fun yet very informative and are suitable for people of all skill levels. We have chefs attend along with those that can't boil an egg!

Sleeping and meals

We can also provide charming accommodation here on the Villa Pandolfini estate if you are needing it. There is a minimum stay of 3 nights and you do not have to do 3 days classes to stay on the estate, and we accommodate even non-participants. In addition, we can also arrange B&B accommodation or apartments in the city of Florence.

Restrictions

We do not have any restrictions and can normally cater to most types of dietary requirements, obviously taking into acocunt that we cannot completely change menus as we have other participants. Most classes are either 4,5 or 6 courses so there is plenty to eat, even for vegetarians, people with lactose and gluten intolerances.

Rates

4 hour 'Introduction to Tuscan Cuisine Cooking Class' - The cost is 140 euro's per person and it is a 4 hour class. It includes our 150 page Tuscan recipe book.

5 hour 'Immersion' cooking class - This course is 190 euro's pp and 5 hours long and includes our signature apron and the 150 page Tuscan recipe book.

Any multi day classes of 3 days or more , the per person daily rate will be discounted to 175 euros per person.

Our 7 Day Gastronomical Program costs €2200 per person plus a €300 single room suppliment & € 1800 for a non participant.

Other Information

The Villa Pandolfini estate is just 12 kms outside of Florence so very handy to get both into Florence & then around to the lovely little villages that are scattered through the countryside. The estate produces its own wine and fantastic olive oil and can accommodate groups up to about 40 people. Note the classes will not exceed more than 12 participants however there is ample accommodation for the partners or friends not taking part in the cooking program.

Discounts Offered

For groups of 6 people or more we will consider a discount based on availability of accommodation and space in the kitchens. We can cater to large groups and can organise special prices for schools and other institutions.