The food was delicious! The cooking tips were priceless! We had the best time cooking with Nonna…read more We felt like we were being taught our very own Italian Nonna! We so enjoyed the fruits of our labor dining at the big wooden table with our fellow chefs.

Cannot say enough good things about our experience with Nonna and Paolo. We attended a lunch…read morecooking class in mid-April, along with 2 other visitors to Tuscany. The menu included 3 types of bruschetta, tagliatelle with asparagus, chicken with a vin santo reduction, and zabaglione for dessert. This was one of our best meals in all of Tuscany. Not only because of the quality of the food (many of the ingredients came fresh from neighboring farms), but also because of the warmth and hospitality shown by Nonna and Paolo. They were both incredibly kind, genuine, and knowledgeable about the cooking techniques and ingredients, but perhaps the most enjoyable part was their lovely relationship and the way they made everyone in the class comfortable with one another. By the end, we were all laughing and joking together. Please go visit Nonna; you won't regret it!

This is a 5 star experience through and through! Everything about this 1/2 day class is…read moreunbelievable. Host and cooking lead, Manuela is a gem. She is friendly, welcoming, knowledgeable but most of all knows how to take your trip to Italy to another level! She immerses you in a full on sensory experience to cooking. Smelling ingredients, touching and understanding textures, seeing the freshness of ingredients and the rich colors, and finally tasting the fruits of your labor. Mmmmm. We opted for a regional class that featured Sicilian recipes and it was fantastic! We made a four course meal. One of the freshest meals I've ever had. Our food was down right mouth watering! You must must must go here when visiting Florence for a truly rich cultural and culinary experience. Loved this day more than I can capture in a review.

OMG!! This review is long overdue!! We had the best time with Manuela and Simon. Was definitely…read moreone of the highlights of our trip!! Manuela was patient, informative, and humorous. Everything we made was explained very well, and best of all was delicious. I will forever remember this time, and look forward to utilizing the recipes back home. Highly recommend taking a class with them!!

La Scuola di Cucina Lorenzo Medici has to be one of the top flight schools of Italian cooking…read more Everything about it is so totally impressive form its huge open modern design to its formally attired chef and master chef instructors attired in their dress whites with 52 pleated chef hats. Unfortunately I didn't have the opportunity to attend any of the classes, though I wish I would have. However, I did carefully observe just about everything of their operations and the instructors left no detail to chance or uncovered. For example I noticed one student incorrectly cracking an egg against a knife edge and immediately saw two chef instructors showing him and instructing him on how to properly do it against a flat surface and they didn't leave him until he got it right. Also the instructors are constantly observing, tasting, having the students taste and advising throughout the entire process of students cooking. The instructions and classes are done in a totally "hands on" process of instruction. Furthermore you'll find that most of the students aren't comprised of armatures or wannabe cooks, but those who are already professionals and are there to improve and further hone their culinary talents. I've fortunately had the opportunity to observe many schools of cooking and culinary instruction including those of the Culinary Institute of America and have to say that those of the La Scuola di Cucina Lorenzo Medici were amongst the most impressive.

Took a cooking lass at the Central Market! What an amazing experience. Go on their website for…read morecooking class dates. €50 per person per class. You will not be disappointed

The best day we had in Italy was the day spent with Veronica, in her home, making the most…read moredelicious homemade Italian classics. My husband and I were on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy with our 10 year old and 17 year old nieces, and all ages were engaged in the process. We started the day seeing Veronica in town selecting fresh ingredients for our culinary adventure. We followed her from the center of town to her home, which is breathtaking on acres and acres of olive groves and other gorgeous landscaping. We had tasty homemade pastries and then got started. We did a roast, homemade pasta with both a meat and marina sauces, focaccia, salad of pole beans, feta cheese and a champagne vinaigrette, tiramisu and lots of fun and love! She sent us home with leftovers and olive oil from the property, which is sublime! We all agree it was our favorite day of the trip, and one day I hope to return and stay on the property and take another amazing class. Veronica is so knowledgable and warm, and she can teach any age and any personality. So blessed to have found her and spent the memorable day with her.

Veronica is an incredible chef and teacher. Her cooking class was the highlight of our trip to…read moreItaly. The food was delicious but the opportunity to spend an real Tuscan afternoon is something we will treasure always. Our kids were spellbound for the whole time!

Assolutamente posto meraviglioso.Lo consiglio a chiunque.Li merita propio 5 stelle come valutazioneread more

A TOTAL FOOD LOVERS EXPERIENCE…read more.... WANNA GET PHAT? How can you not adore a city whose emblem is the tortellino. Bologna in the region of Emilia-Romagna is the phattest city in Italy. I love it so much here. Literally, even Mario Batali brags about the richness of Emilian cuisine. He's right, phat is cool!! More than that Emilian cuisine has soul!. You can't not love chefs like Mario-- no pretense, real and unrepentant. It's cool to be phat in Emilia-Romagna because the food there is known worldwide as the richest in Italy: the simple yet rich sauces, the Parma butter, the parmiggiano, the culatello, the mortadella, the simplest zen tortellini in a bowl of brodo, the balsamic vinegars, the ragu, lambrusco, over 25 grand cheeses, sangiovese, the desserts, the wines...To me it's all..freakin' outta this world Amore. So what do you do IF you so love Emilian food and you want to take the experience to another level? Take a cooking class. Where? CIBO (The Culinary Institute of Bologna) which oddly means "food" in Italian, cool acronym. Still smilin' thinking about the class 3 months later. The pictures show it all. Gabriella, our chef/professore taught us how to shop for the best ingredients for a Bolognese and make it. Taught us how to make pasta from scratch with elongated Italian pastry rolling pins and made tortelloni in butter and sage (genius!), taught us how to make artichoke and cream in pasta (honored she showed me how to make my favorite), made tiramisú from scratch (that my American tiramisu haters loved) and a ragu, a genius Bolognese soup from the leftover vegetables (ecologically sensible). What else did I love about this cooking class? Wine and espressi kept flowing during the class. We loved it, it was awe-inspiring to learn traditions and secrets. And to make it yourself and serve it to one another is the ultimate. In the end, Gabriella shares with us a 25 year old balsamic and drizzles it over 24 month old parmiggiano....we took a bite. Heaven. I've had this in NYC many times, it was great. When I had it at CIBO, at the source, it was phenomenal. It always is in this part of the country cause I think Emilians do not export their best products, LOL. I don't blame them. I loved this class!!! I hope you take this class one or 2-day when you go to Bologna. You'll get to feel the Emilian soul by experiencing this cooking class as we did. I made my own pasta, my own Bolognese, my own ragu, artichoke cream sauce, a memorable soup, a tiramisu 2die4. Move over Batali, I wanna cook for everyone! Brava Gabriella, grazie mille, bacibaci! Visits: 1 and future visits. Tip: Be aware you are cooking your meal so plan for that. They provide vino, water, coffee. Such a great deal. Make sure to request Gabriella. Loved her expertise; she speaks of her grandmother who was an exacting pasta maker who taught her the techniques she shares throughout the class. Unfreakin'forgettable.

The Best Ever!!! My Dream Visit…read moreMy Cooking Inspiration My Dearest sister The Best Chef Ever--Laura Giusti

Thank you so much for the experience of a life time. We made wonderful friends at this cooking…read morevacation in Tuscany and will treasure the memories... From the minute I went through the gate my cooking vacations in Italy was unbelievable. Each lesson felt more like a cooking party... As soon as we drove up to cooking vacations in Tuscany, I could see that this was the right choice for me, The grounds and villa are very impressive but for sure once i saw the "cook book"- I was impressed!... Gratzie! For your vision and flawless execution to create this amazing place the cooking vacations in Italy was great with all recipes and teaching skills... We loved the cooking tips and the professionalism at your Italian cooking vacation, we loved the villa and the beautiful room with a breathtaking view! We will spread the news in for the cooking vacation in Italy...

Amazing! Authentic Tuscan experience. Wine and food in a wonderful setting. Coleen, the owner, is…read morea super host.

Goodness! This luxury vacation was worth every penny. So great that I visited twice. Once in 2008…read moreand now in 2015. Cooking classes right in the village of Montefollonico taught by women whose families have lived here for generations. We got to cook with Dania at La Chiusa Ristorante and Hotel. To learn to stuff zucchini blossoms from a Michelin starred chef who is beautiful to boot, in Tuscany was a bucket list, lifetime experience. First class accommodations at her hotel and hands-on (and in the pasta) classes with women from all the village restaurants (13 Gobbi, La Costa, Belagaggio) is something that can't be taught in the US. I learned how to make amazing eggplant Parmigiana, pici pasta, pizza, handmade lasagna with béchamel...delish! (Note: be careful, I almost posted on another company's yelp because they sounded like Tuscan Women Cook but checked the websites and realized the other was a brand new company. I think the Sutherland's have been holding classes in Montefollonico since 1998 or 2000.) Check out pictures on their website. You will swoon. Patty and Bill Sutherland, save my place I'll probably return for a third time.

Ayoub was a FANTASTIC chef to lead our cooking class. He made the experience so memorable. He had…read morewonderful enthusiasm and made the class fun. After the class, we got to enjoy our food at a table on the streets of Siena. Thank you Ayoub for the experience!

I've only been to cooking classes in Asia, and this Siena one one was very enjoyable and our pasta…read moremaking came out better than expected. It was deliciously good and our tiramisu dessert was excellent and probably the best tiramisu I've ever had. The teachers explained clearly and easily what we needed to do...the worst cooks would have been successful. It came with wine and bottled water that enhanced the meal. I definitely would recommend the cooking classes as a thing to do if you have the time, as it made my stay in Siena more memorable.

I attended the course in 2010 with a friend and a nonparticipant (didn't cook, but did eat) and it…read morewas a wonderful first leg of our Italian adventure. Tuscany is absolutely gorgeous. The local agriturismo with the bee farm was lovely. Best honey ( castagna, acacia, girasole) in Tuscany. The sidetrips to Siena and Florence with great tour guides ( loved Elisabetta!) and the free time to explore San Gimignano and Volterra were great. Saving the best for last--the beautiful organic produce we used to cook with and the time we spent with Manuela, Riccardo, Tina and Shilpa were incredible..the dishes we created were simple but flavorful. I use Riccardo's ragu di carne recipe to this day. The desserts were wonderful, too! The course is a perfect mix of cooking and free time to explore the area. I have recommended this course to anyone who wants to learn some great recipes and still have the time to sightsee.

From the owner: Organic Tuscany offers week-long organic cooking courses in the Tuscan hills. Our cooking classes…read moreare very hands-on. Our wonderful local chefs will guide you through the preparation of a variety of simple but delicious Italian recipes (from Tuscany and from other Italian regions) and reveal some of their culinary secrets. The classes are taught in English, but if you like, we can teach you some simple "foodie Italian" to help you order in restaurants and be polite to the locals. Activities include visits to local organic farms, meeting the owners, and taste their wines and olive oil. Accommodation is in a beautiful villa with a panoramic view, in the grounds of the farm where the cooking classes are held. three of the cooking courses are 100% vegetarian and the others are vegetarian friendly.

We had great time sitting outside and tasting different local wines, which are served with small…read moresnacks. Each wine was presented and explained. We also bought a bottle of wine we liked the most but then we saw it in the local store for cheaper, so keep that in mind. Still, no complaints :)

This cellar-like cocktail bar was a Gem find in the Cinque Terra area of Italy. The owner actually…read morelived in Seattle for 9 years before moving back to his hometown. He is a Master Mixologist! The drinks were perfection. Subtle, delicious and beautiful! We wish we could have visited nights earlier while in the area. It was a short (5 min) train ride from Manarola where we were staying. So glad we came upon it. We even bought a painting! He had a local artist's work (Genoa) on the walls. Such a great place! And such a nice man. Go here I'd you're staying anywhere in the Cinque Terra! You will be so happy if you enjoy cocktails made with love and expert hands!