Vegetarian class with organic ancient grains
Cooking ClassesDuration: From 2 to 3 hours + time for lunch
Rates
ARE YOU READY FOR THE HEALTHIEST COOKING CLASS IN TUSCANY?
We will utilize ingredients sourced from a local organic farm cultivating grains, cereals, and legumes with ancient origins that precede the industrialization of farming in the 50s and 60s.
THE BEST ORGANIC PRODUCTS
These ancient grains, such as spelt and farro, boast not only a rich historical legacy but also pack a nutritional punch. Unlike modern, heavily processed flours, ancient grains offer a healthier alternative as they retain more of their original nutrients, including fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Furthermore, they often exhibit a lower gluten content, making them a favorable choice for those with gluten sensitivities.
COOKING TIME
During the class, we’ll explore into the fascinating history and nutritional benefits of these ancient grains. Learn why they are a superior choice for promoting digestive health and providing sustained energy. Discover how incorporating these grains into your diet contributes to a more wholesome and fulfilling culinary experience.
At Rita’s farm, enjoy a hands-on experience and discover firsthand, through touch, taste, and aroma, the enhanced flavor these unique organic products bring to dishes. Your stomach will also thank you, as food prepared with ancient grain products is both wholesome and easily digestible.
At the end of the whole experience, the pure joy for your palate: a complete lunch with all the specialties you prepared, served with local wines from Rita’s farm!
The selection includes 3 courses among these:
• fresh pasta with a vegetarian sauce
• salad of spelt or farro, dressed with seasonal vegetables
• legumes and/or grain soup, with some other fresh vegetables
• panzanella bread salad, with tomatoes, cucumber, onion and basil
• pappa al pomodoro bread thick soup, with tomato sauce, garlic, sage and basil
• cookies or biscuits with almonds or chocolate
EXTRA: Enhance your tour by booking an extension that includes a visit to the farm, its mill, and its bakery. This optional addition adds an extra hour to your experience.
What you taste
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! 
Ciao, I'm Ester, one of the cooks of Arianna & Friends'. I've been working with them since the beginning of their adventure in 2007.
I love cooking together with people from all over the world, especailly with young kids.
What I prefer to cook is pasta dishes, pizza and desserts, like for example the stunning cake I made to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary.
I live, like Davide (my nephew), in the little village of Lajatico, birthplace of Andrea Bocelli and from my home I can hear his voice and see something when Teatro del Silenzio takes place in July.
I live on a farm and I have chickens, rabbits, a large vegetable garden. I make my own olive oil and wine together with my family.
I hope to be able to cook with many of you in the years to come and teach you a lot of our typical Tuscan food. 
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! 
Giulietta is a sweet little donkey living at Rita's Farm. She is among the several pets on the farm together with Elsa the dog and Primo and Tuga the cats and a number of chickens and ducks 
The total rate for this activity varies according to the number of people in your party.
Check rates in the table below.
VEGETARIAN CLASS with ORGANIC ANCIENT GRAINS– RATES 2025 – |
|
|---|---|
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY |
TOTAL RATE |
| 2 persons | € 560 |
| 3 persons | € 615 |
| 4 persons | € 670 |
| 5 persons | € 725 |
| 6 persons | € 780 |
| 7 persons | € 835 |
| 8 persons | € 890 |
| Extra Adult | € 55 |
| Extra Teenager (12-17 yrs) | € 45 |
| Children (4-11 yrs) | € 35 |
| 1-hour tour Extension: €80 per party This cooking class is for private parties of max 12 people |
|
Rates include
- Hands-on cooking experience for about 2.5 to 3 hours
- Ingredients from organic farm
- All food & local wine
- Private local chef
- English speaking assistant. Also available in French, German, Spanish and Russian
- Printed material
- Personal aprons as souvenirs
- Served full lunch
- Tax
Rates do NOT include
- Transportation
- tips to the staff. Not obligatory but very much appreciated.
- 1-hour tour Extension: €80 per party
Transportation is not included in the rates above. For more info on transportation, please see the box “Transportation options”.
This is a message from Toni, who enjoyed a private pasta making class at the organic ancient grain farm with Massimo:
Thank you, and Mossimo and Carla, for such an amazing afternoon of cooking and eating. They are a great team, entertaining, informative and fun!!
I’d like to get the recipes, if possible, for the meal we made. Thanks for your help.
This are the words of Kate, who enjoyed our ancient grain cooking class while visiting Italy with her family:
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 a message from Nella who joined us for a cookery lesson while visiting Italy:
Hi Arianna,
I have posted a review on Tripadvisor as requested. I returned from overseas last Thursday and posted the review yesterday (Sunday).
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
This is an email we received from Rasha, after having a tour with Arianna:
Hi Arianna i miss you so much we always talk about you and how sweet you are, we cant forget the tour you arrange it for us,it was really nice and you are really friendly.
I send picture for you maybe you will need it.
every body say hi to you,please be in tuch..
Rasha from Kuwait
This is an email arrived on from Lynn and her friends, who enjoyed a cooking class on our farm with the teaching of Ester and the assistance of Luca:
Last week myself and 2 friends took a cooking class near Peccoli that was arranged by your company. It was WONDERFUL! Ester and Luca were great. Luca said he would send recipes to my email but I have not gotten them yet. Could you please send the recipes for the fabulous meal that we made? I am anxious to get cooking now that I am home.
Thank You,
Lynn
—–
Boungiorno, Luca!
Thanks for the fast reply to my email! I am going to try the veal ragu tonight! If it is not too much trouble we would also love the recipe for the chocolate salami we made.
I am attaching some pictures for you. I will also be happy to recommend Arianna and Friends on trip advisor! I think our cooking class was the highlight of my 2 weeks in Tuscany!
Ciao!
Lynn
Smiling after a cookery lesson at the ancient grain farm
Cooking lesson with Ester and Luca
Hand-making tagliatelle with the special organic flour of the organic farm of our tour
Cookery class with focus on ancient grains
The premises of the tour take place in the Valdera area, 10 km from Selvatelle and Volterra; 15 km from San Gimignano and 20 km from Montaione
MEET-UP LOCATION:
Unless differently specified, the meeting point with the language assistant is at our office in la Rosa. Detailled instructions will be provided.
DURATION:
This program takes 6 hours: 1 hour for visiting the farm + 3 hours for cooking and the rest for lunch. Time for transportation not included.
AVAILABILITY:
Available all the year through, from Mondays through Saturdays in the morning, followed by lunch, or in the afternoon, followed by dinner.
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:
This program and its rates do not include transportation and are set on a self-driving base. For further information see the box "transportation options".
The destinations reached during this activity are in the Tuscan countryside, in areas off the beaten track that cannot be reached by public transport. We highly recommend renting a car or a scooter in order to reach them. As an alternative, we can offer a valued service by chauffeured car, van or minibus. Any cost of transportation is to be added to the rates displayed on the rate table of this page.
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