Gourmet Cooking in Bella Tuscany!

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This wonderful cooking school's modern, professional kitchen occupies the ground floor of a 15th century villa. During your stay you will live above the school, in bedrooms that are charmingly decorated with Italian country antiques.

Students encompass every level from culinary beginners to accomplished chefs who come to study the unique nature of Tuscan cuisine. Taught by three experienced and professional instructors, all classes are small in size, completely hands-on and conducted in English.

During the cooking class, the school’s instructional emphasis remains focused on the same three things: traditional Tuscan technique, innovative use of ingredients and aesthetic presentation.

What changes is the seasonality of the food. Each course devotes special attention to pairing foods with appropriate wines.

The package price for each program includes accommodations, lessons, all meals (paired with excellent wines), daily sightseeing tours, taxes, tips and airport or train transfers to and from Pisa airport or Viareggio train station.

Your Schedule for the Week

You arrive on Sunday and are welcomed with lunch served on the main lawn. The remainder of the day is yours to settle in, explore the estate and enjoy a delicious four-course gourmet dinner prepared by your instructors.

Monday through Friday, your hands-on cooking lessons are held from 10 am to 1 pm in a gourmet chef's kitchen located on the main floor of a 17th century olive grove estate. All of the cooking classes are small, completely hands-on, and make use of all-natural, seasonally-fresh ingredients. Your instructors are famous and have been known to host a food Network star or two as a guest chef/cooking instructor for the week.

Essential Tuscan techniques you will master include: homemade pasta, ravioli, gnocchi, pizza, focaccia, risotto, bruschette, crostini and other types of canapes, vegetable and grain soups, grilled, roasted, fried and stuffed vegetables, fish and meat preparation, sweet and savory tarts, pastries, ice creams and sorbets.

After you've enjoyed your morning cooking lesson, you'll join your group for an early afternoon lunch, based on fantastic foods prepared during the morning lessons. All meals consist of three courses accompanied by local wines and served at a formally set table situated on the main lawn.

Afternoon tours are led by professional, English-speaking guides who will introduce you to such undiscovered treasures as Lucca (an 11th century walled city surrounded by 3 1/2 miles of perfectly preserved walls), the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the seaside resorts of Viareggio and Portovenere and Pietrasanta, famous for its marble works.

Dinner each night is a glorious, candlelit affair featuring four delectable courses prepared by your instructors and accompanied by a variety of excellent wines.

Your Tuscan experience reaches its climax on Friday night at our graduation festival dinner, where you receive a diploma certifying your newly acquired status as an "Authentic Tuscan Cook."

Accommodations

This gorgeous property is located 15 miles from Pisa International Airport which has direct flights from Rome, Milan and most other major European cities.

Participants stay on the grounds of this 15th century villa in fully equipped suites. Each suite contains bedrooms kitchen area, living room and fully-equipped modern bathroom. The suites are charmingly decorated with Italian country antiques.

Extending Your Stay

Located in the heart of Tuscany's wine and olive-growing region and only 30 miles from Florence, this estate is an ideal base for touring Tuscany. The estate itself offers a wide range of amenities (swimming pool, hiking, extensive grounds and gardens) available to all guests. Accommodations can be made for those wishing to arrive earlier or depart later than the class dates by asking your agent at the time of your booking.

Terms & Conditions

Deposit and Payment information:

$500 per person is required at time of registration with balance due no later than 60 days (90 days for Advanced Fundamentals Class) before course date.

Prices are based on double occupancy and include accommodations, all meals with excellent wines, lessons, tours, airport or rail transfers, taxes, tips and gratuities. There are no hidden costs or additional expenses.

Private bedrooms and bathrooms are available with payment of a single supplement.

Non-Cooking Guests

Non-cooking guests are welcome friends. Spouses and friends who would like to visit without taking part in the cooking program are welcome at a reduced fee of $2,150 for all courses and includes everything except class instruction.

Cancellations and Refunds

The school reserves the right to cancel any course for any reason. If a course is cancelled, all monies will be refunded and such refund will release Ciao Laura, LLC and the school from any liability. In order to cancel your registration, you must send written notification. Monies paid by you will be refunded less a cancellation fee determined as of the date we receive your written notice.

Cancellation fees are as follow:

60 days (90 days for Advanced Fundamentals Class) or more before course date, $250; 45-59 days (61-89 days for Advanced Fundamentals Class) before course date, $500; less than 45 days (60 days for Advanced Fundamentals Class) before course date, 100% of monies paid.