Cooking or culinary holidays, vacations, tours in Italy:

Good Tastes of Tuscany
. . . learn to enjoy la dolce vita

That easygoing Italian way of life that visitors find so alluring and desirable, la dolce vita, is indisputably linked to the Italians' instinctive knowledge of how to drink and eat well. In today's society, many ancient culinary traditions and characteristics of Italy's distinct regional cuisines are still commonplace, even more so here than other parts of Europe. Traditional recipes passed down through the family are worth their weight in gold. The dinner table is the scene of many conversations, debates and decisions; favourite foods evoke happy memories, good health and comfort. The saying that Italians live to eat while the rest of the world eats to live still rings true today.

The Good Tastes of Tuscany cooking and wine classes have been designed to expose you to an intimate side of the Italian lifestyle that is so appealing to all. Their tours expose you to the best that Tuscany has to offer.

Spend a fruitful day in an original gallery kitchen of the Thirteenth century Villa Pandolfini with hands-on instruction by one of the professional Italian chefs. The menus vary according to the seasonal cuisine and are universally appealing. The goal is to expose you to all of the Good Tastes of Tuscany. You are guaranteed an unforgettable experience. Learn great recipes and techniques to add to your own collection. Share the memory of your holiday with your friends and family. The classes allow you to take home a little bit of Italy with you.

The Philosophy of Good Tastes of Tuscany

They believe that Tuscan cuisine is one of the most universal and best loved because of its fresh ingredients and rich historical context. Tuscan cooking courses in a rustic, authentic atmosphere should be widely available to any and all interested parties at affordable prices, regardless of cooking experience, knowledge of the region or proficiency in the Italian language.

Cooking Tours

Good Tastes of Tuscany offer a number of different itineraries to suit participants of all cooking levels, from the novice to the advanced. Whether your question is "I just want to know how to keep my spaghetti from sticking together" or "I want to know the proper time to grate the white truffles", Good Tastes of Tuscany has a course to suit your taste. They have created an intimate setting to provide the ultimate learning environment and thier class sizes reflect this. All cooking classes are hands-on, use the freshest of ingredients and sample the olive oil and wine produced directly on the grounds of the Villa Pandolfini in abundance!

Italy, a country of great diversity, is made up of twenty provinces. Each has a very unique personality, with dialect, customs, traditions, architecture and of course food and wine that vary greatly from region to region. From the hot, dry south to the cool alpine foothills, the regional cuisines are as varied as the climates. The golden hills of saffron in the Abruzzi lend a zesty spice to local risotto, while the bay of Naples is renowned for its frutti di mare and mozzarella di bufala. Visitors to Tuscany can sample rustic delicacies like truffles and porcini mushrooms in the autumn, hearty soups in the winter and lemony colomba cakes or asparagus risotto in the spring around Easter. The Good Tastes of Tuscany can be found in any season.

Good Tastes of Tuscany wants you to experience the best that living in Tuscany provides. They offer a well versed program of culinary delights with three different cooking courses:

• A First Taste of Tuscany which is our most popular class, an introduction class to authentic Tuscan cuisine.
• For the gourmand looking to expand their repertoire there is An Italian Immersion, the advanced Tuscan cooking class.
• For those looking for the entire culinary experience there is the Bella Toscana which is customised two and three day programs.

Whether it is a single day experience or a week long cooking holiday Good Tastes of Tuscany seeks to provide you with an unforgettable experience that you will cherish for years to come.

• A First Taste of Tuscany - introduction to Tuscan Cuisine

  Enjoy a full day, hands-on cooking lesson with chefs Lisa and Maurizio for an introduction to authentic Tuscan recipes. Discover step-by-step how to make a satisfying, full Italian meal from appetizers to dessert, including the art of making pasta fresca. Learn to create such pastas as ravioli, tagliettli, and gnocchi in this fun, hands-on pasta-making adventure. After you prepare your pasta, Lisa and Maurizo will prepare tantalizing sauces such as fresh basil pesto, Carbonara, Ragout of wild mushrooms and sweet onions and an array of other sauces to use with it. Recipes vary according to the season, utilizing only the freshest ingredients available and providing you with a deeply individual Tuscan experience. The best part is the conclusion, indulging in the success of your creations.

• Bella Toscana! - two and three day advanced courses in Tuscan cuisine

  This class is dedicated to those who desire a more detailed kitchen experience. Spend two full days learning to prepare specialty dishes from the Tuscany region in Italy. Learn to distinguish the varieties of breads, cheeses and meats from different areas of this well known region. Each day you will explore a complete menu that addresses the ingredients, techniques and traditions of Tuscan Italian kitchens and what makes this region so special. Three day classes include a shopping excursion with one of our chefs to learn all the secrets of finding the best produce and meats available.

  Each class is uniquely designed to meet the needs of the participants. If you are interested in a specific menu, shopping excursion or private cooking tour then you only need to ask and Good Tastes of Tuscany will be happy to accommodate your needs.

• Villa Pandolfini Gastronomical Adventure - seven day culinary and cultural programme

  This culinary program has been designed for lovers of Tuscany and all that it represents - the charming medieval towns, the centuries old traditions, the people and their culture, the art and of course, the great food and wine!

  Good Tastes of Tuscany have spent time with their chefs to create a week dedicated to the secrets and traditions of Tuscan cookery and participants will spend many hands on hours perfecting the skills of Tuscan cooking in the original kitchen of the Fourteenth century Villa Pandolfini.
  
  Villa Pandolfini
  This estate comprises a private forest, vineyards and olive groves. This magnificent and spacious apartment, just ten minutes from the centre of Florence, sleeps five. There are wondeful antiques and frescoes, as well as a beautiful loggia looking out onto a breathtaking renaissance garden. Enjoy outdoor dining, walks and the quiet and privacy of the place. This is the perfect place to discover Florence and enjoy the real Tuscan country living in an elegant castle that has accommodated guests such as Napoleon Bonaparte and King Charles VIII of France.
  
  This is an incredible vacation experience. The property, which has foundations dating back to the Thirteenth century, was totally restored five years ago. The rooms have high ceilings with breathtaking frescoes, gold gilded mirrors and terracotta floors. From the living room two sets of double doors open onto the loggia and the Italian style gardens with lemon trees, hedges and fountain. Each room is a pleasure in itself. The main bedroom opens onto the front terrace with views of the hills and Florence. The second bedroom has a small en suite, a queen sized bed and a single bed. The kitchen has a vaulted ceiling and fireplace with a dining table seating six. This is a wonderful location only ten minutes from Florence and the owners speak English, French, German and Italian. The property also produces its own fantastic extra virgin olive oil and wine.
  
  Whilst staying at the Villa you have the opportunity to enjoy wonderful dining experiences at the many local restaurants, some noted as being the best in Italy. You can relax at the villa and enjoy its grounds, wine and forest or discover the many local attractions such as horse riding, trekking, antique markets, Caruso’s villa and gardens, medieval villages and Etruscan ruins.

Your guides to Tuscan cooking

Your teachers and mentors in Tuscany are Lisa and Maurizio, both natives of Florence. Their culinary collaboration dates back to 1990 and the renowned Florence restaurant Du Monde, which they co-directed until 2000. It was this experience that inspired the master chef and wine connoisseur to take their combined knowledge and love of Tuscan food from the kitchen to the classroom.

Lisa’s lifelong passion was ignited with a children’s cookbook of easy sweets. She developed her familiarity and creativity with the secrets of Tuscan cuisine in the kitchen of her maternal grandmother, who was herself the longstanding chef of a noted restaurant in the coastal region of Versilia. She also worked alongside expert chefs in some of Florence’s top restaurants before coming to direct Du Monde in the past few years. Both Maurizo and Lisa have studied at the L’Isituto Etoile di Chioggia in Tuscany.

Lisa’s culinary sensibility and Maurizio’s expertise in Italian viticulture bring a many layered love of food and life into our kitchen. Join this culinary duo in enjoying the Good Tastes of Tuscany.

A C C O M M O D A T I O N

Villa Lunetta Apartment Villa Lunetta is located on a magnificent estate comprising a private forest, vineyards and olive groves. The spacious property accommodates five people. Leonora Leonora is a sunny, very peaceful and private house located on an estate that has a private forest, vineyards and olive groves. The property accommodates four people. It is a magnificent and spacious single dwelling. Valentina's Cottage Valentina Cottage accommodates two to four people. This is an intimate and peaceful cottage that has been fully restored to its original charm. It is enclosed by a stonewalled garden that offers complete privacy. Villa Agnola 1 Villa Agnola 1 is part of a very typical Tuscan farmhouse from the Sixteenth century. The property proudly displays the architecture of the time with wooden beams, terracotta floors, original wooden doors and stonework. Villa Agnola 2 Villa Agnola 2 is part of a very typical Tuscan farmhouse from the Sixteenth century. The property proudly displays the architecture of the time with wooden beams, terracotta floors, original wooden doors and stonework. Casa Camilla This charming and beautifully restored farmhouse overlooks the Arno Valley. It offers the perfect solution for those who wish to experience the joy of Tuscan living, explore the region of the Florence and its many wonders.

For further information email cooking.holidays@hub-uk.com