In-home cooking classes at your private villa in Tuscany
Cooking ClassesDuration:From 2 to 3 hours + time for lunch or dinner
Rates
ALL THE FUN & ALL THE FLAVORS… IN ALL THE COMFORT!
Have you ever thought of taking part to a cookery class in Tuscany? Does this worry you though because you do not know where and how to make it? What if the cooking class is delivered to where you stay and you do not need to arrange any trip to it or to worry about the way back? Arianna & Friends organize private half-day cookery classes in Tuscany RIGHT AT YOUR VILLA! So we offer the perfect solution for you. Our cook and our language assistant will bring all the ingredients to your premises, arrange a private class there and serve dinner or lunch right after!
A chef at your villa in Tuscany
We arrange private cooking classes delivered directly to your villa at your best convenience. After agreeing with your housekeeper to arrange the class at its best, our local cook along with an English speaking assistant get to your villa and start arranging the kitchen for the cooking class. We deliver all ingredients and all necessary tools that might not be in the equipment of your kitchen.
Then you wear your aprons and you start working at the preparation of the dishes listed in the menu of the day. You can choose your favorite menu out of a list of 10 options!! See below for further details.
During the preparation of the dishes you are involved in chopping vegetables with a mezzaluna or streching fresh dough for your home-made tagliatelle or ravioli by means of a rolling pin. The lesson is your chance to learn many of the wise tricks that a local cook knows like no-one else! By chatting with us, you can also learn a lot about our habits and traditions, not only about food!
An unforgettable lunch or dinner in the end of the class
Finally, all the dishes you prepared are served in your dining room, pergola or in your garden: a lunch or a dinner together with some excellent wines from farms of Tuscany.
Before leaving, the cook and the assistant will clean up your kitchen completely.
OUR PRIVATE SINGLE-DAY COOKING CLASSES IN VILLA IN SHORT:
– The preparation of your dinner or lunch of 3 or 4 courses to choose among starters, primo and secondo main courses and a dessert
– During your meal fitting local red or white wines will be served as well
– A language assistance is included in English, German, French, Spanish or Russian free of charge.
– The cooking classes TAKE PLACE AT YOUR PREMISES – please check rates below as they differ depending on where you are located
– Vegetarian or Vegan options available on request.
OUR MENU OPTIONS:
C2. Typical 2 course menu
2 dishes of your choice from the menu list we will provide
C3. Typical 3 course menu
3 dishes of your choice from the menu list we will provide
C4. Typical 4 course menu
4 dishes of your choice from the menu list we will provide
C6. Pizza party
Many types of pizzas + green salad + sweet pizza
C7. Pasta time
Fresh made tagliatelle + fresh made stuffed ravioli + two delicious sauces for each pasta type
C8. Pasta & pizza
Tagliatelle with sauce + assorted pizzas + sweet pizza as dessert
C9. Truffle menu
1 antipasto, 2 main courses, 1 dessert, all with truffle based products and fresh truffles of the season
C10. Cinghiale night
Pasta with wild boar sauce + wild boar stew with polenta +biscotti
Your cooking class at your villa will be the most striking day of your holiday in Tuscany!
WHAT WE ASK OF YOU:
• Access and Timing: Please, ensure permission for our cooks to access the villa and kitchen. Please, ask the villa manager/owner before booking the service. Confirm that the villa is accessible at the agreed-upon time to avoid additional fees for waiting time. You find this information in the voucher.
• Preparation: Please, Leave the kitchen clean and free from personal items for prompt service. Additional cleaning time will incur an extra fee.
• Table Settings: Provide the correct number of table settings for your party size (chairs, cutlery, glasses, tableware). We will utilize only what is available.
• Punctuality: Please, be at the table on time; delays will result in extra charges.
• Service Gaps: We plan for a 5 – 6-minute gap between the end of one course and the serving of the next one. Delays from your side will be charged extra.
• Children’s Meals: If serving children first, expect an extra hour of service, charged accordingly.
• Allergies and Restrictions: Communicate any food restrictions or allergies at the time of booking. Last-minute changes are not possible.
• Extended Services: Please, inform us in advance if you plan to have a long dinner with additional activities such as speeches, singing and dancing. We’ll provide a personalized quotation for extended service hours.
Extra Charges:
Delays result in a €15/half-hour (€30/hour) charge per staff member.
This is a list of specialties that you are likely to sample as part of the program of this class. Please, note that the specialties of the menu prepared at the class may vary according to the season and the availability of the products in the day of the class.
In our cooking class we like telling you a lot about Tuscan farms and farmers' cooking traditions, introducing you to Tuscan people with their personal stories, careers and characters.
You will have one of our guides as a language assistants and coordinator with you during the whole class. Please, see below all the guides and language assistants who can be with you.
During this experience you will also meet one of our Tuscan cooks who give you the cooking class. Please, see below which cooks you are likely to encounter.
Ciao, I'm Silvia, one of the youngest cooks at Arianna & Friends'. Cooking is my real passion and I like to prepare any traditional dish both for visitors and for my family. I also love baking pizza as well as trying innovative food and special contemporary techniques, especially in my kitchen at home. When I started working for this company in 2018, I met an incredible team of collaborators and with them I finally feel joy and serenity in what I do. Any time I work as a cook I can breath freedom and this makes me happy.
As I really love the sea, in my free time I like being at the beach. I have a passion for travelling and being in the company of my friends. I could define myself as a "free spirit" with a big attraction to ... hats !!!
Looking forward to meet you all! 
Hello everybody! My name is Davide, the youngest one in the team of Arianna & Friends. I joined the company in 2022, when my aunt Ester, one of the chefs in the team, introduced me to Arianna & Massimo. I am a wonderful talker and I really enjoy entertaining our guests during cooking classes and foodie tours. I also deal with bookings related to Teatro del Silenzio. Being from Lajatico, I am really happy to arrange holidays to people who will visit my hometown.
I am a very ironic person who likes making life enjoyable, something that my colleagues really appreciate on a daily base. I really hope I can meet many people from all over the world thanks to my job. Ciao ciao! 
Buongiorno a tutti! My name is Anna from San Miniato, a historical town in Tuscany famous also for its delicious white truffles. I met Arianna and Massimo in the early 2000s, when we were all working at a local agriturismo: I was at the reception while they were starting their career as event organizers and food tour operators. As their company was expanding we had several occasions for cooperating until I finally joined the team more stably in 2022. I now deal with accountancy and coordination of all the chefs for the many services a day that we arrange. I spend most of my free time at sea as I now live in Livorno, a beautiful harbor town. 
Hi everybody, ciao a tutti. I am Elisabetta and I am the youngest one among the chefs of Arianna & Friends. I have been working with the company for several years, initially just as a sous-chef and eventually as a proper chef. I have accumulated many years of experience while learning from all my other colleague chefs, but I also added my personal taste and knowledge to the whole. I am really happy to be part of this team and to be able to meet people from all over the world. In my free time I enjoy the company of my lovely puppy for long walks or just hanging around for shopping. Ciao a presto! 
Good morning everyone! I'm the cook Lorena. I started working with Arianna & Friends a few years ago when I retired, because someone set me up. You must know that Arianna is a good friend of my daughter Martina and they had this brilliant idea of asking me to cook for Arianna's tourists. Well, I coulnd't say no! Arianna tried my food for the first time when she was still at school with my daughter and she knows that I can cook very well!! ahahah
The food I prepare is purely Tuscan: I don't use and butter or lard, but just EV olive oil, from Tuscany of course. People say my meat ragu is excellent, but also my Cacciucco - Livornese style fish soup - is simply fantastic. I make preserves and the best lasagne ever!
I live in Pontedera, the town of the vespa. I'm in my early 70s and last year I got married for the second time! I like music from 40s 50s and 60s like Glenn Miller, King Cole, Frank Sinatra etc. etc.
I cannot speak English, even if I tried to attend some English classes in these last few years... I ended up chatting about food with the other students! But no problem, when I'm with some guests in their holiday home preparing a meal, I always have my little dictionary with me that helps a lot in the conversation.
I look forward meeting you all again soon! 
Eccomi! My name is Margherita, mother of 2, who lives in Santa Croce sull'Arno. I was born and raised in the fantastic wine region of Fiano, Greco and Taurasi, namely some the best wines from the South of Italy. I have been living in Tuscany for decades and I have always cooked both for my families and for several restaurants. My very mild and sweet personality is able to create a very relaxed working ambience and my guests really appreciate this atmosphere. I am a curious person who likes learning and I am ready to share my knowledge with all visitors who take on a cooking class or a chef service. Grazie a tutti! 
Mi chiamo Carlo, the only "boy" among the chefs of Arianna & Friends. I am a cousin of Lorena, who has worked with the company for long now and who introduced me to them back in 2022. I live in Pontedera, home of Vespa, and I have been cooking all my life, since preparing delicious food has always been my great passion. In my working age I was an operator for an insurance company, so I know plenty of local people and I am very friendly and talkative. I then retired and decided to dedicate myself to the things I like the most: cooking and joining friends. I have limited Enlish but miraculously all our guests can easily understand me through my body language and face expressions. I will be waiting for you for great barbecue dinners and traditional dishes of all kinds! 
Hi everybody! I am Paola, a talented cook who is never tired. I have been cooking all my life both privately and in the kitchens of a series of restaurants in the area I live in, near the central town of Empoli. I joined Arianna & Friends in early 2022 as the whole world was recovering from the difficult years of the pandemic and as the company was quickly restarting its operativity. I was very glad that I could join such a dynamic and friendly team and share with them all my knowledge and passion. I deal with cooking classes and chef services in all the region together with the various story-tellers and chef assistants who participate in the service. In my free time I enjoy cycling in the spectacular Tuscan hills that surround my home town. I can't wait to cook for you an unforgettable meal! 
Marco is a very fascinating middle-aged man with plenty of interests and a great knowledge on botanics and farming. He has been cooperating with Arianna & Friends as a sous-chef in cooking classes and chef services. A great professionalism and care for the quality of service make him one of the most beloved members of all the team. 
Maria Grazia, in our team called MG, is a very positive thinking lady who works as a sous-chefs at Arianna & Friends, when she is not busy helping children get born. In fact she is also a professional ostetrician! A nice irony in her character, combined with an intrinsic calm when working, create
an incredible effect during the services provided. 
The total rate for this activity varies according to the number of people in your party.
Check rates in the table below.
|
PRIVATE COOKING CLASSES AT YOUR VILLA IN TUSCANY – RATES 2024 – rates refer to villas located within 25 minutes from our premises in TERRICCIOLA |
||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type of menu & food included | MinIMUM rate FOR 2 people |
Extra adult |
extra teenager (12-17 yrs) |
extra child (4-11 yrs) |
||||||||
| C2. Typical 2 course menu 2 dishes of your choice from the menu list we will provide |
€ 400 | € 45 | € 35 | € 30 | ||||||||
| C3. Typical 3 course menu 3 dishes of your choice from the menu list we will provide |
€ 440 | € 50 | € 40 | € 35 | ||||||||
| C4. Typical 4 course menu 4 dishes of your choice from the menu list we will provide |
€ 480 | € 55 | € 45 | € 40 | ||||||||
| C6. Pizza party Many types of pizzas + sweet pizza |
€ 400 | € 45 | € 35 | € 30 | ||||||||
| C7. Pasta time Fresh made tagliatelle + fresh made stuffed ravioli + two delicious sauces for each pasta type |
€ 400 | € 45 | € 35 | € 30 | ||||||||
| C8. Pasta & pizza Tagliatelle with sauce + assorted pizzas + sweet pizza as dessert |
€ 480 | € 55 | € 45 | € 40 | ||||||||
| C9. Truffle menu. Low season from January to September (spring and summer black truffle) 1 antipasto, 2 main courses, 1 dessert, all with truffle based products and fresh truffles of the season |
€ 560 | € 70 | € 50 | € 40 | ||||||||
| C9. Truffle menu. High season from October to December (winter white truffle) 1 antipasto, 2 main courses, 1 dessert, all with truffle based products and fresh truffles of the season |
€ 595 | € 105 | € 65 | € 55 | ||||||||
| C10. Cinghiale night Fresh pasta with wild boar sauce + wild boar stew & polenta + biscotti |
€ 520 | € 60 | € 50 | € 35 | ||||||||
TRAVEL COSTS (per party, not per person):
No travel fee due if your villa is located within 25 minute-drive from our office in Terricciola, to locations such as Palaia, Lari, Peccioli, Terricciola, Chianni, Pontedera, Molino d’Era etc.
€ 60 for a 30-45-minute drive to locations such as Volterra, Montaione, San Miniato, Fucecchio, Gambassi, Castelfalfi, Pisa, Fauglia, Buti, Vicopisano
€ 110 for a 50-70-minute drive to locations such as Vinci, Lucca center, Livorno, Rosignano, San Casciano V Pesa, Viareggio, Montespertoli, San Gimignano, Colle V Elsa
€ 160 for a 75-90-minute drive to locations such as Lucca northern area, some Chianti vilages, Siena, Follonica, Fiesole, Florence, Sesto Fiorentino
For distances over 90-minute drive, such as remote Chianti villages, Arezzo area, southern part of the coast, please ask for an estimate. The staff will need to overnight there, so extra fee is required.
Rates include
- Private cook
- English speaking assistant, able to assist in German, French, Russian and Spanish as well
- 2 to 3-hour cooking class
- All food
- 1 bottle of wine every 2 people
- Printed material
- Personal aprons as souvenirs
- Served full lunch or dinner
- Final cleaning of the kitchen
- Tax
Rates do NOT include
- Transportation
- Tips to the staff. Not included, not obligatory but very much appreciated
These are the kind words of Claudia who visited in October 2019 and much enjoyed a private cooking class at her villa with our chef Lorena:
Dear Arianna,
We are back in the U.S. now and I can’t believe I will not be seeing you soon. How quickly our vacation passed. We all enjoyed Firenze and Venezia but Jim, Nick, Jerilyn and I agree the most fun was had with you and Signora Lorena. Not to mention the best food!
I am writing to thank you and Signora for such a wonderful class and to request copies of the recipes for the delicious foods we made and ate. Also, because it is getting colder here in Pennsylvania,I would love to receive a copy of a favorite soup or two.
We wish you continued success in your interesting business and hope one day to have another seat at the table on Rita’s farm.
Fondly,
Claudia
Here a message we received in January 2019 from Kristy, who much enjoyed our private cooking class at her villa delivered by Veronica and Silvia
Hi!
I hope you’re doing really well! We l did a class with you guys on 9/7 and we made Italian flag bruschetta, Hand made tagliatelle with the meat sauce and apple Tuscan cake. Would you be able to send me the recipes when you have a chance please? Attached is a picture from our trip. The reservation was under Margarita
Private cookery lessons delivered to private villas in the Chianti area
We received this message from Mike in November 2018 after a private cooking class that Arianna and Silvia delivered to his villa:
Arianna!
I hope you are doing well. I am just now finally getting a chance to email you about getting the recipes for the items we made at our villa. As a reminder, we did the 3 course meal on Tuesday, Oct 30th of:
– Cannellini beans soup with small sized noodles
– handmade ravioli stuffed with ricotta cheese and spinach in a butter and sage sauce
-Tuscan trifle with custard, sponge biscuits and liquor
Christine really wants to try doing the ravioli again! Also Mikayla is doing well and loving Rome and Italy!
Hope that you are doing well!
Mike
P.S. I’m attaching a couple of photos from our cooking class.
Personable and enjoyable cooking classes in Tuscan resorts
Cooking experiences for families in Tuscan villas
Here a message from Jan, who loved the private cooking class delivered to his unit for his family by our chef Laura:
Hi Arianna,
Thank you for sharing the recipes from our cooking class and the menu when Laura came to cook at the Hilton villa on Sept 24.
They are wonderful but we have noticed that we are missing the recipe for the bread salad (Panzanella), It was one of our favorites and we have nothing quite like it in the states. Would you be willing to send us that recipe as well?
Thank you very much,
Jan
Here the enthusiastic words of Rachel, who enjoyed a private cooking class at their unit in Castelfalfi during their visit to Tuscany:
Dear Licia and Veronica
What a wonderful way to end our lovely holiday in Tuscany! Your cooking class was the highlight of our week. We so enjoyed learning the family secrets of tuscan cooking and really appreciated Veronica’s rich descriptions of family life and the mysteries of extra virgin olive oil. Everything was delicious and we were very proud of ourselves for producing such thin pasta!!
Please could you email the recipes and I’ll share them with the others.
Also, Veronica – you mentioned a farm on the way to Volterra where we could buy good olive oil, but I didn’t note down the name – if you have time to send it before this afternoon I’d be really grateful as we’ll be heading over there around 15h…
Thank you for a great experience
Best wishes
Rachel, Geoff, Benjamin & Heidi
Here a message of Kim who welcomed Massimo, Roberta and the chef Daniela at her private villa in Montevarchi and enjoyed a marvellous private cooking class in villa:
I wanted to thank you for the wonderful cooking class and dinner you provided us at our Villa on Tuesday evening.
Your staff was wonderful and the dinner was amazing. We are still enjoying the leftovers.
When possible, I was told we could get copies of the recipes we made.
Regards,
Kim
Here a message of appreciation of Victoria, who had Massimo and Lucia delivering a private cooking class in their villa in San Gimignano:
Massimo,
I want to thank you and Licia for spending last Wednesday with us at our villa in San Gimignano. The class was excellent and the food was excellent. We all had so much fun!
Would you be able to share the recipes of the items we cooked? Our class cooked mushroom crostini, ravioli with sage and butter sauce, beef spezzatino, and the apple cake.
Thanks again! Vicki and Friends
This is an email we received from Karen who took part in our small group cooking class on Wednesday afternoon in Tuscany:
Hi Arianna, here is the photo of all the wonderful male guests at the wonderful Tuscan Cooking Class last Wednesday. The Smiths and the Harpers fully enjoyed the class, the food, the wine — the entire evening. Thanks so much!
Karen
Here the kind words of Pernille, who had Massimo and Daniela at her villa in Garfagnana where she enjoyed a private cooking class with all her family:
Buongiorno Massimo
Thank you very much for the recipes – we look forward to try them again.
And thank you once again for the cookingclass – it was a fantastic experience that we will always remember, and we would happily write a comment about it.
Have a great day!
Best regards,
Pernille
Here a message of appreciation for a cooking class held by Ester and Luca:
We had a cooking class with Lucca and Esther last month and would like the reciepe for the Fettine di manzo alla pizzaiola. You have created a monster in the kitchen as I just completed a pasta 101 class in Ft worth. Tomorrow is Tiramisu for dessert. Give Easther a hug and kiss for me. Thanks for the wonderful experience. James and Dannie H. and the Youngs.
This is an email we received on 7th June 2015 from a lovely family who took a private cooking class delivered to their villa in Tuscany
Buon giorno, Arianna,
Please remember to send the recipes for our Tuscan Cooking Class, 13/May 2015. I will pass them on to my son and grandson too.
We so enjoyed ourselves and definitely will try the recipes here in Colorado.
Have a wonderful summer. It is glorious here in the mountains now.
Auguri,
Mary, Buck & Josh
Here a message by Mark thanking Veronica for providing a lovely cookery lesson to his villa. Mark and Deena were on their honeymoon in Tuscany
Dear Veronica,
Many thanks for the cookery lesson that you provided to Deena and myself we both thoroughly enjoyed it and thought you were a terrific teacher of Tuscan cuisine. We both learnt lots which we hope to use in our cooking back in the UK. It has certainly whetted our appetite for Tuscan cuisne and may look at undertaking a longer course in the future.
The drive back was very safe thanks and we enjoyed our last evening in Tuscany; unfortuately our honeymoon has now come to an end and we are back in the UK and back to reality.
Many thanks for emailing the recipes and also scanning my notes, it is greatly apprecaited.
Thanks again for such an entertaining class and providing a true highlight of our honeymoon.
Kind Regards,
Mark
Here the comment of a Danish family on the private cookery lesson that Veronica and Ester arranged at their rental villa near Florence
Dear Veronica
Ny family and I can only confirm what you wrote below and we rate the day among top 2 of our experiences here in Toscane. We have allready used our new skills to make wondefull Italien food and with the recepies it will only be better 🙂
When we return to Denmark next week, I will as promised send you some pictures from the day.
Please send our love to Ester.
Hope to meet you again next time we go to Toscany.
Kind regards
Søren
This is a message from a nice Finnish family who had us at their rental villa in Reggello (by Florence) for a delivered private cookery class with Arianna & Lorena
Dear Arianna and your team!
Thousands of thanks to you and Lorena of the cooking class on 30th May in Reggello.It was so nice and easy going one can imagine. We all were very satisfied with what we got in that evening. Later in the evening, after the class, we were sitting round the table and tried to find something negative of the cooking class. We found nothing!! It was so perfect and nice and we learned plenty of the Tuscan cooking. THANK YOU!!!!!!
If anybody ever asks us of the cooking classes in Tuscany the only recommendation will be Ariannandfriends for sure. When we planned this evening your website was the best, the inform was clear and the prices were easy to find and very moderate to that we got. That evening was the most rememberable of our visit in Tuscany, GREAT!!!
Best regards and plenty of success to your company
Kari, Kirsti, Jouni, Janita and Satu from Finland
A private cooking class delivered to the villa in Tuscany rented by a Finnish family
Sampling some local white wine while cooking Tuscan specialties during our in-home cooking classes
A message from Kathy, who enjoyed a private cookery class with Ester and Arianna at their villa while visiting Tuscany:
Hello there,
We wanted to send this picture we took after our cooking lesson. We had so much fun and learned so much about not just what we were cooking but also the culture and some history! We felt like family it was a highlight of our trip! Thank you!
We had some questions for Esther about a couple of the items on the menu. I was so tired from travelling and keeping up with the kids, I had a hard time keeping notes!! With the bruschetta with sausage and cheese. Was the bread toasted first? Was the meat cooked first? Or was the meat and cheese mixed together, spread on slices and then baked in he oven? How long to cook it in the oven? with the pasta, it was 100grams with 1 egg and do we add a spoon of water? Also, what kind of apples were used in the cake, were they sweet or tart apples?
Thank you!
Katherine
This is a message from Patricia, who had Arianna and Licia at her rental villa in Tuscany for a private cooking class delivered followed by a great dinner
Arianne, What a fabulous cooking class and dinner, we will never forget it! We just fell in love with Tuscan cooking and your infectgious passion for the food and lifestyle in Tuscany . I am attaching a few photos, maybe one will find itself in an ad !! Ciao and GRACIE! Pat and all of us.
Lovely tagliatelle and bruschetta made during our in-home cooking class
A private cookery class delivered to your private villa in Tuscany
This is a message sent to us by Kate, who enjoyed a private cooking class delivered to her Tuscan villa in the Chianti region:
Dear Arianna and Friends
We have all now returned from our magical holiday in Italy and are adjusting to being back in the real world.
We would all like to thank you so much for a fantastic afternoon and evening of cooking, eating and drinking. It was absolutely wonderful – we all enjoyed it so much and I think all came back with new tips on cooking.
A huge thank you to Massimo and Esta who were so warm, kind and fun – especially to the bambinis!
Massimo mentioned sending us the recipes – we would love to have them if possible!
Thanks again
Kate B.
P.S. We left your pamphlets in the villa and told the owner about your amazing services.
This message of gratitude was sent from Michelle who enjoyed the cooking class arranged by Veronica at her private villa in Tuscany, with a focus on a winter bean soup (she visited in late November)
Dear Arianna & Veronica,
I absolutely enjoyed the cooking class I had with your company and Veronica was wonderful!! I had so much fun learning from her and tasting the lovely food that was out of this world. I am a personal chef and always look forward to educating myself and tasting food. I am half Italian and so is my husband even though from different regions and our families get to share different preparations of food which is nice. I learned a lot and hope to do it again in the future and would highly recommend your company to anyone who travels to Tuscany. I would love to get Veronica’s email address so that we could share recipes together. I have a lot of recipes that I could share in exchange if you all are willing. Again, Thank you so much for the experience and hope to keep in contact sharing recipes. If anyone has a website on how to get Veronica’s clay pot that she cooked the beans in that would be wonderful.
Thank you,
Michelle
This is a message from Gary who enjoyed a vacation in Tuscany with his whole family, full of nice experiences with Massimo
Massimo,
We just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed the chocolate experience, the cheese making experience and the cooking at our villa. The kids are still talking about how much fun it was and this past weekend we tried to replicate several of the recipes we learned with you. They may not remember all of the churches and art we saw, but they will definitely remember the things we did with ariannandfriends. I wanted to post a review on TripAdvisor but didn’t see you guys on there. Let me know if I just missed it. Hope are you well and staying busy in September. Drop us a line when you make it to NY.
Gary
Note from Arianna & Friends:
We now have a tripadvisor spot where many of our guests write feedbacks and upload pictures.
See our tripadvisor spot here
This is an email we received from Sandy, Andi, Lin and Ann:
Massimo- We wanted to share with you how much we enjoyed the cooking class with you and Luana. It was one of the highlights of our trip. I haven’t even begun to put my pictures together, but once I do (probably after the holidays are over), I will sent you copies of what I took). May your holidays be the best. Thanks again for making our Italy trip so very memorable. Always,
Sandy and Andi (Rita and Lin too) (USA).
This is an email we received from Gianna, who spent a week in Tuscany with her beautiful family:
Dear Arianna, Massimo, and friends!
You were a great help in making our trip a success! We really appreciated the last minute accommodation arrangements. And the whole group had a great time with the olive oil and dairy tour and then the market tour and cooking class. We learned a lot about tuscan food and wine, had great fun, and ate wonderful, local food. Rafael already made the mushroom bruschetta are we are looking forward to trying to replicate the carciofi risotto and veal in chianti.
Mille Grazie e Ciao,
Gianna
A cooking lesson delivered to a luxury villa in Barberino Val d’Elsa
This is an email we received from Kate, who took a cooking experience at her villa with her whole family:
Dear Arianna and Friends
We have all now returned from our magical holiday in Italy and are adjusting to being back in the real world.
We would all like to thank you so much for a fantastic afternoon and evening of cooking, eating and drinking. It was absolutely wonderful – we all enjoyed it so much and I think all came back with new tips on cooking.
A huge thank you to Massimo and Esta who were so warm, kind and fun – especially to the bambinis!
Massimo mentioned sending us the recipes – we would love to have them if possible!
Thanks again
Kate
P.S. We left your pamphlets in the villa and told the owner about your amazing services.
This is a message from Ernesto do Brasil, who joined us for a cooking lesson delivered to his property.
Dear Massimo
I would like to thank you and Carla for your patience and for your good instructions on preparing real Tuscany meals. As soon as I try to execute at home what I learned with you both, I will report the results to you.
We had a nice trip back home and now is time to go back to work.
Obrigado e saudações desde o Brasil
Ernesto
This is an email we got from KerenOr and her family from Tel Aviv after a very intense cooking experience at their villa near Arezzo a few days before.
Dear Arianna and Friends,
we would like to thank you for a great afternoon & dinner !
the cooking class was definitely one of the highlights of our visit to Tuscany.
Ester showed us how to cook wonderful food and Massimo explained and hosted the evening with great interest. its been fun and tasty!
could you please send us the recipes so we can try it at home??
till next time,
best regards,
kerenOr
And further after our reply:
Hi Massimo
I didn’t have the chance to thank you for the great evening we had together. So I do it now, thank you and your campanions for the great and happy birthday you gave me, It was absolutely a beautifull evening, full of joy and happy,
I must admit that I am not a recipe follower, which mean that I have to add my twist, but I tried some of your recipes (with changes) like the rice with regular rice which came out great.
For the mazno (the beef), sorry to say, I made some changes like use Merlot wine(I didn’t have Chianti), and added some garlic tooth and mashrooms. It came out great.
So, as you can see, I like to do my version of dishes, don’t take it personally, I loved you dish, but that is how I am.
Again, you and your companion gave us the best time and I’m going to tell everyone who plan to stay in Tuscany to use your services.
Massino, say thanks to Ester and (sorry, I don’t remember her name) a big thanks and give them a big hag in my name.
Hope to meet you again very soon.
Kisses and love
Moshe
This is an email we received from Eliza, who had a private cookery class at her premises with Massimo and Ester.
Hello Mossimo!
We are in Ravello right now. I never want to leave Italy. We have the best pictures we will post of our evening with you and Ester! Absolutely the best night of this amazing vacation. We will be home next Sunday and will touch base as soon as we catch our breath. All our best! We will be back!
This is an email we received from Elena from Moscow, who spent 2 months in one of our villas and arranged a pizza class with us:
Hello, Massimo!
Thanks a lot for wonderful photos and words. We miss all of you too. I’m going to write a letter to Franko, it’s a pity that he can not use the computer…we could communicate easier and more often. We will be happy to meet you in Moscow if you will have an occasion to come here. Please let us know in advance about your arrival and we will think where to go together and what places to show. 2 months has passed very quickly, but we’ve got used to your perfect food, beautiful nature and wonderful people. We’ve printed some photos and look at them regulary, and when I go to the supermarket i look for everything Italian – today I’ve found Italian flour tipo 00 and Mozzarella di buffalo. Unfortunately the assortment is not much various here, me and Julia really miss Coop and Conad. Even when we follow the original recipy while cooking something Italian here – it’s not as tasty as it was in Villa Amalia. Next weekend we will meet with Julia and her family for a barbeque in their summer house, we will drink Franciacorta Ca’ del Bosco Brut, watch the photos and listen to Italian music, bought during the vacation. Unfortunately I can not continue my language study right now because most of Italian teachers have a vacation until september, but I hope to improve my knowledge and next summer I’ll be able to speak and to write in Italian fluently. Thanks a lot for everything!!!
Elena & friends
A group picture of Elena and her family and friends while visiting Tuscany on their 2-month holiday
This is an email arrived from Arlene, who enjoyed one of our private cooking classes held by Luca and our chef and a wine tour!
Dear Luca
I have now just gotten the time to thank you so very much for your very professional and cordial assistance. You were truly a bright spot in our vacation and we enjoyed the cooking class and the wine tour. We have already told our friends about Arianna & Friends and your expert service in the Tuscany area. Please keep our e-mail and if you ever have the chance to come to the states, please e-mail us and we will be sure to show you our lovely city of Philadelphia and our home in the country and at the beach. Please tell Arianna that you are what we Americans say “a keeper” and her business will flourish with an employee like you.
Thank you again with all the help you gave us and all the courtesy you showed.
Sincerely,
Arlene
P. S. If possible, you said you could e-mail us the recipes from our cooking class!!!
Cooking and baking at private cookery lesson
Our guests and Luca at a private cookery lesson
A group visiting a winery
This is an email we received from Kate, who took one of our private cooking classes provided at the apartment in Lucca she rented with her two friends.
Dear Arianna,
I just wanted to pass on our highest praise and thanks for a simply wonderful class on Friday. We had the best time! Massimo and Esther were so wonderful. We loved the class and will be certain to review favourably on tripadvisor.
Massimo mentioned you could email us the recipes we made? Would that be ok? We are planning a Tuscan feast for our friends now!
Kind regards and thanks again.
This is an email we received from Nella from the US, who experienced a cooking class and a dinner with Arianna and our cook:
Hi Arianna,
[…].
I would like to thank you once again for being a part of my 50th birthday celebrations and making it an enjoyable day for everyone.
Could you please email me the recipes for all the items on the menu we had on the 18th of May. It would be most appreciated.
I hope all is well in bella Toscana and I look forward to my next visit.
Regards,
Nella
Our in-home cooking classes take place in any location in Tuscany. Rates of this class vary according to the distance between your villa in Tuscany and our premises in Peccioli, near Pisa. Please, take a look at the rate table for further details.
MEET-UP LOCATION:
Our chef and assistant drive directly to your location so the meet-up location is at your premises. Please, give us details about your location during the booking procedure.
DURATION:
This program takes 5 or 6 hours. Please, consider 30 minutes to prepare your kitchen, 2 to 3 hours for cooking and preparing all and the rest for serving dinner or lunch and cleaning up the kitchen.
AVAILABILITY:
Available all the year through, from Mondays through Fridays.
LANGUAGE:
This class is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Russian or Italian with no surcharge.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
Easy
CHILD FRIENDLY:
Ideal for children
CLOTHING:
No particular clothing required.
FOOD RESTRICTIONS:
The foods served during this cooking class might contain gluten, lactose, nuts and alcohol. If you have any food restriction, please inform our personnel during the enquiry process.
TRANSPORTATION:
No need to consider transportaion for this kind of activity as the class is delivered to your villa or accommodation place.
NO NEED TO CONSIDER TRANSPORTATION FOR THIS ACTIVITY
FOLLOW US: