FARM TO FORK™

HANDS-ON COOKING & IN CHIANTI (NEAR FLORENCE) TUSCANY

A Ciao Laura Exclusive!

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HANDS-ON COOKING IN THE HEART OF CHIANTI (NEAR FLORENCE)

AVAILABLE YEAR-ROUND

SPECIAL FAMILY & CHILDREN'S CLASSES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Classes held at 10 am or 5 pm - Seven days per week

If you are looking for a truly DELICIOUS day of Tuscan culture, cuisine, wine and hands-on cooking instruction by a lovely native Tuscan - look no further than this lesson! We are the sole provider of this cooking lesson and it's truly unique and the BEST OF THE BEST!

Picture yourself immersed in a renovated 17th century stone cottage in the rolling hills of Chianti with views of olive trees, grapes vines and pristine organic rose and vegetable gardens while sipping delicious wine and enjoying time in the kitchen on the family estate of your native Tuscan cooking instructor whose passion for her culture exudes in everything she does and you've arrived at this world-class cooking lesson!

Your FABULOUS cooking instructor is a native Tuscan whose passion for cooking started at a very young age in the home of her Nonna who shared her Tuscan family recipes with her which she's perfected and now shares with all who are lucky enough to spend time in her kitchen!

Your Tuscan host would love nothing more than to share these passions with you and your friends and family in this truly AMAZING day in her Chianti kitchen! She also provides amazing market tours in Florence on request to include stops for breakfast and a special tea house on the return to her estate.........not to miss!

Making fresh pasta

Making a grape torta with fresh grapes grown on the property

Preparing zucchini blossoms and fresh cheese

ABOUT YOUR COOKING LESSON IN CHIANTI

Join your lovely native Tuscan host in her cucina where she’ll share her traditional family recipes with you in an amazing day filled with organic food and delicious wine while learning how to prepare classic Tuscan cuisine.

On arrival, you’ll enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee with homemade cake while your hostess provides an overview of the lesson of the day. With the day's menu in hand, you'll roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty in what many of our clients have said was the highlight of their trip to Italy - cooking in an authentic Tuscan kitchen in the company of a wonderful native Tuscan cook!

You’ll enjoy a short break from cooking by sipping a glass of wine and enjoying Tuscan treats such as fresh pecorino cheese with homemade marmalade, pepper jelly, pear jelly, pumpkin jelly, plum jelly, or a classic Tuscan antipasto that you've prepared during the first part of the class..

After your break, you'll get back to work in the cucina as you put the finishing touches on your delicious authentic Tuscan meal! At approximately 2 pm, you’ll enjoy lunch based on the fruits of your labor.

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All menus are seasonal and based on traditional Tuscan dishes. Menus may include fresh pasta, focaccia, meat course, side dish and dessert. Vegetarian and special dietary requests available on request at time of booking.

ABOUT THE PROPERTY

This private estate is located 12 km south of Florence (about 20 minutes by car and accessible on the bus line). Transfers available to/from a designated meeting point in Florence for an additional 35 euro each way (for up to 3 persons). Professional transfers can be arranged for larger groups with a private driver.

The cooking school is situated on a 17th century property, and was purchased by the family in 1963. Your host’s father was a painter and meticulously restored the property with historically correct brick and stone.

The property is surrounded by 8 hectares of land, which is partly cultivated with olive trees and vineyards, where they make their own olive oil, wine and grape juice.

And for all those interested in purchasing extra virgin olive oil made from fresh olives from the olive trees grown on the property, your host has a little corner dedicated to local products for sale following your lesson!

Included in the class:

• The menu includes: first course, second course, side dish and dessert
• Classes are all hands on and the ingredients in the recipes are written in Italian, so that also during your class, you will learn a few Italian words that you can take with you when shopping in the markets in Florence!
• The meal includes house wines made on the property and bottled water

Not included:

• Please note that the price does not include transportation, room and board or any other excursions

Please inquire for pricing and availability at chianti@ciaolaura.com

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• One day cooking lessons are held at either 10 am or 5 pm daily
• Add a market tour in Florence for an additional fee
• Add a visit to a goat cheese farm for an additional fee
• Multiple-day fully customizable programs available on request
• Affordable transfers available from Florence on request

BOOKING AND CANCELLATION POLICY:

Payment in full is due to confirm your cooking lesson and is non-refundable within 30 days or less of the class date if canceled by the client for any reason. Cancellations by the client made 30 days or more in advance will be refunded less 50% non-refundable booking fee.

The price does not include transportation, room and board or any other excursions.

FOR ALL NEW BOOKINGS CONFIRMED ON OR AFTER FEBRUARY 15, 2012:

A non-refundable deposit of 34 euro per adult and 25 euro per child is due to confirm your lesson. The remaining balance of 96 euro per adult and 40 euro per child is due in cash on the day of the lesson (euro only please).

We also require a credit card number to reserve your placement. The credit card will not be charged for the remaining balance due unless we receive cancellation or no show within 30 days or less of the class date for any reason. In this case, we reserve the right to charge your credit card for the balance due in the event of a no show or cancellation within the time frame noted above.

Please note that no credit will be given for anyone who decides not to cook after the initial deposit is received, and the client will still be responsible for paying for the person if you do not show for class or decide that you no longer wish to participate. If the class is canceled by the school, your deposit will be returned in full less wiring fees, if applicable.

The price does not include transportation, room and board or any other excursions. If the class is canceled by the host, funds will be returned in full (in euro only, regardless of difference in currency exchange rate at time of cancellation)

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 to us.

Under no circumstances shall we be held responsible for any additional refunds of purchases made by the clients for travel related expenses, or otherwise.

Testimonials

"We had our cooking class in Tuscany today and I just wanted to thank you so much!  We had a truly wonderful time. She was so kind to our children and our daughter in particular, thought that she was completely lovely.

We cooked delicious vegetarian meals and she had clearly put a great deal of thought into creating a menu that catered to our needs.  We loved the focaccia and we are looking forward to making our own gnocchi when we get home.

The room where we cooked was delightful when we arrived with fresh flowers, fresh herbs, a welcoming fire and warm drinks for us.

It was a special time for us as a family and I am sure that we will recall our time with great fondness in years to come.  

Thank you once again and I hope that we can return one day!

- T. Turnbull & Family, Australia