• Join the Tuscan Chef on a 6 day residential cooking course at a luxury 17th century Lucchese villa (groups of between 8-12) during the Spring and Autumn each year.

• For small, unique and individually designed courses of one day or a weekend, wine and dine with the Tuscan Chef "at home"; an olive press dating back to the 16th century. 

• Take the Tuscan Chef home with you to your rental villa where he can prepare lunch and/or dinner as well as offer hands-on cooking lessons

• Tour with the Tuscan Chef on a sensory journey exploring hidden towns and villages, Chianti and Bolgheri vineyards, markets and specialist food suppliers.

Courses are hands-on under the guidance of professional Italian chef, Valter Roman, and also feature guest chefs from around the world including Alvaro Maccioni of La Famiglia restaurant in London.

Alvaro is a passionate advocate of using fresh, seasonal produce and traditional methods of cooking.  He believes that 'if a chef cooks like his mother, he is a great chef.  If he cooks like his grandmother, he is even greater!' 

Valter believes cooking is not just a matter of weights and measures and following a recipe but of feeling and instinct and hands-on experience. 

Sample Cooking School Itinerary

Kitchen studies are enhanced and complimented by a special touring programme to some of the most enchanting and personally selected towns, markets, vineyards and other hidden treasures of Tuscany. 

SUNDAY

• Transfers from Pisa or Florence airports/train stations for arrival at the villa around midday for a welcome buffet lunch

• Buffet lunch - meet your hosts & cooking colleagues with time to settle in and relax before the first hands-on cooking lesson

• Hands-on cooking lesson with preparation of dinner

• Welcome aperitivi and orientation before dinner

**

MONDAY

• After breakfast a specially themed cooking lesson - Pasta and its Sauces.

• Lunch alfresco followed by a chef’s tour of Lucca visiting  gourmet suppliers and producers for tastings

• Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner

• Aperitivi and dinner

**

TUESDAY

• Breakfast available

• Depart for a Chianti adventure stopping off at an enchanting market town as well as renowned vineyard for wine-tasting and lunch.

• Leave Chianti and return home for an informal pizza supper in the lively village trattoria, just a short walk from the villa.

**

WEDNESDAY

• Breakfast available

• Chef’s tour of the bustling market town of Pistoia to choose fresh produce for a kitchen challenge where students and chefs work together to prepare a buffet lunch with items found at the market

• Lunch followed by free time to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the villa

• Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner

• Aperitivi and dinner

**

THURSDAY

• Breakfast available

• 
  Gourmet adventure in the Garfagnana visiting a cheese producer and a salami/cured meat specialist with a Tuscan tasting lunch at an old mill

• Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner

• Aperitivi and dinner

**

FRIDAY

• Breakfast available

• Pastry – a specially themed hands on cooking lesson

• Tiramisù –  A little “pick me up”, Florentines & Petits Fours, Bignè - Profiteroles

• Lunch followed by a short visit to see the Leaning Tower in Pisa.

• Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner

• Farewell drinks, graduation ceremony and celebration dinner

**

SATURDAY

• Breakfast available and transfers to your next onward destination.