HANDS-ON COOKING IN THE HEART OF CHIANTI - NEAR SIENA
These wonderful hands-on cooking lessons are held in a charming countryside villa in Chianti - just 20 minutes outside of Siena.
Choose from one of several delicious customizable menus - including cooking with truffles (truffle hunt available upon request), special occasions, vegetarian, seafood only menus, cooking with families, newlywed programs and the ever-poplar sensational menu. (Menus are based on availability in the day of the lesson)
Introduction to the day's lesson
The chef enjoying the beautiful countryside in Tuscany
About your cooking lesson - This internationally renowned chef who has lived in Tuscany will teach you how to create a complete menu in less time than usual and with results that impress the eye and the palate.
You will learn hands-on recipes that rely on well chosen ingredients and blend Italian traditions with a touch of international creativity. After the cooking course you will enjoy a superb meal accompanied by superb Italian wines.
The cooking lesson is approximately 3 - 4 hours long and includes lunch or dinner following your lesson. Classes begin
at either 9:30 am or 3 pm daily.
About the chef instructor - Before founding this school the chef accumulated rich international experiences. Descendant of a noble Irish family, he was born and raised in South Africa. After completing his studies, he interned in the Ritz Hotel in Paris, and spends the following years managing hotels and restaurants in South Africa and Britain.
In 1984 the chef moved to France where he worked with the world famous patissier and chocolatier Bernachon and then the renowned restaurateur Paul Bocuse. A year later, he moved to Italy and fellin love with Tuscany. He purchased and restored a beautiful castle in Gaiole. During this period, he became a Master Chef of the Discovery Channel. Having sold the castle, the chef moved his based to Chianti where he began teaching cooking lessons and in 2006, he finally turned his dream project into reality : a cooking school in Tuscany!
CLICK HERE FOR MENU AND COURSE OPTIONS
MINIMUM OF 2 - MAXIMUM 20 PER DAY
All courses include the following:
PRICE PER PERSON
125 EURO PER ADULT
55 EURO PER CHILD*
(*Children must be accompanied by at least one adult)
BOOKING AND CANCELLATION POLICY:
A non-refundable booking deposit is 75 euro per person with the remaining balance due no more than 30 days prior to the date of your lesson. Cancellation within 30 days of the date of the lesson will result in forfeit of all funds paid.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS:
We highly advise you to purchase travel insurance in the event of emergency, illness, change in your itinerary, accident or act of God, which we are not responsible for covering.
No refunds will be provided for any non-refundable amounts paid unless the class or course is canceled by the school due to unforeseeable reasons and in this instance, we are not held responsible for anything other than refunding the monies paid, less wiring and credit card fees. Under no circumstances shall we be held responsible for any additional refunds of purchases made by the students for travel related expenses, or otherwise.
Wine & Food Pairing Sessions: In terms of wine related experiences we recommend combining a Wine Estate Visit with a Wine & Food Pairing Session (including a delicious Tuscan meal).
We begin with a vineyard visit where a winemaker explains the lifecycle of the vines and the harvest. Then you will join your hosts on a visit to the cellar to discover the specific aging techniques and barrel selections. Finally, the best part: wine tasting. The winemakers you will visit are distinguished by exceptional quality of their products, limited number of bottles produced and beauty of their estates.
After the estate visit, the wine experience will continue back at the villa where the expert English speaking sommelier will guide you through a tasting of 3 to 4 wines from the finest boutique wine makers accompanied by a special lunch or dinner. The wines will include Chianti Classico and Super Tuscans.
As you enjoy the gorgeous view of the Chianti countryside from the country villa, you'll taste some of the chef's specialties based on Tuscan cooking and fresh ingredients.
The lunch or dinner designed for wine pairings includes: appetizer of stuffed sage leaves, assorted crostini & bruschetta; 1 entrée; 2 first courses (pasta and risotto); 1 main course with vegetables; 1 dessert. The dishes are paired with an Italian Spumante, a Chianti Classico, a Super Tuscan and a dessert wine (a total of 4 different top quality wines). Water and coffee are also included. Price is 145 euro per person.
WEEKLY PROGRAMS: The wine and food pairing session, hands-on cooking lessons can be included in a lovely weekly program for our clients, including accommodations in glorious Tuscan villas near Siena.
Truffle Hunting Adventure: Guided by Mario, one of the most seasoned hunters of our area, you will discover not only the excitement of truffle hunting but also some useful kitchen tips: how to take care of them to maintain freshness, and some simple ways to use them in your cooking.
The journey will continue back at this Tuscan cooking school with either a Wine & Food session or with the a cooking course.
Please inquire for pricing of the Truffle Hunt at truffles@ciaolaura.com
