Our cooking classes are very hands-on. They are taught in English, but you will acquire a smattering of culinary Italian. Local chefs will guide you through the preparation of simple but delicious dishes (from Tuscany and from other Italian regions) and reveal some of their culinary secrets.

Groups are small (maximum 8 people), so that everyone gets a chance to try their hand at every technique, from making fresh egg pasta dough to lovingly stirring an artichoke risotto to perfection. Rather than cooking a "usual" meal of first course, second course and dessert we teach you several dishes on each day, so that you go home with quite an extensive repertoire!

You are free to pick and choose whether you'd like to join in the cooking school activities on a particular day or not. If you fancy a day horse-riding, hot-air ballooning or just going to the beach, let us know and we'll help you do just that.

You can get to Certaldo easily by train, but car rental during your week is essential. You drive to all excursions, either following us, or with our (very detailed!) directions. Distances driven are short and to keep carbon emissions down, we encourage car-sharing and car pooling whenever possible, putting you in touch with other participants who would like to share a vehicle (we have sometimes had even five people sharing a car, including non-drivers!)

Here is a typical week at Organic Tuscany. Please note that this is an example! The dishes cooked will vary following the seasons and any special requests you have, and the specific days for excursions will vary.

You arrive
We help you get settled into the villa by leaving baskets in the kitchen filled with organic goodies - fruit, fruit juice, honey, milk, freshly baked bread, biscuits, fairtrade coffee and tea.
Have a dip in the pool or an exploratory hike (we provide a hiking map of the area).

8.00 pm
Alfresco welcome dinner at Clara's home, a short walk away. We light the wood-fired oven and you assemble your own pizza and foccaccia, to go with grilled organic vegetables and crisp salads, all washed down with local biodynamic wine.

11.00 am-1.00 pm
Visit to a nearby organic farm where we see the honey-gathering process in detail and walk to see the cereals and animals. Lunch at the farm restaurant, housed in a barn with a stunning view.

1.00 pm-2.30 pm
Lunch

5.00 pm-7.30 pm
Cooking Class 1
Crisp vegetable croquettes, handmade fresh pasta, 3 seasonal sauces, arista (juicy Cinta Senese roast pork with rosemary and garlic, Tuscan style), stuffed onions, tiramisù.

10.30 am-1.00 pm
Cooking Class 2
Crostini with roast peppers and with tangy "salsa verde", "pappa al pomodoro" (Tuscan tomato and basil soup), potato and spinach gnocchi, artichoke and parmesan salad, custard and fruit tart.

1.00 pm-2.30 pm
Lunch

Afternoon and evening
Visit to Siena, including a tour with an official guide. For dinner, explore Siena's many great restaurants or return home for a light meal.

You have a whole day to visit Florence. You meet an official guide for a three-hour walking tour in the morning, and have the afternoon free to do as you wish - see museums, churches, go shopping for shoes or just wander the streets.

10.30 am-1.00 pm
Cooking Class 3
Delectable antipasti (marinaded sundried tomatoes, baby onions slow-cooked in balsamic vinegar), caponata, pollo alla cacciatora (chicken with herbs, wine and olives), moist apple cake.

Afternoon and evening
We suggest a visit to the medieval city of San Gimignano, just 20 minutes away.

10.30 am-1.00 pm
Cooking Class 4
Panzanella (Tuscan bread and tomato salad), risotti (e.g. artichoke, radicchio), salt cod Livorno style (with tomato), panna cotta.

1.00 pm-2.30.pm
Lunch

5.00 pm-6.30 pm
Visit to an biodynamic farm where we see how a small community can be self-sufficient while producing amazing cheeses and growing delicious vegetables.

6.30 pm-7.00 pm
Visit to our friend Terry Davies' beautiful ceramics studio

7.00 pm-9.30 pm
Wine tasting of local organic wines led by our wine expert Cristina, followed by a light dinner (much of which you will have prepared earlier!) accompanied by the wines you have tasted.

10.00 am-1 pm
Gentle walk (Tuscany is very hilly but we've managed to find some gentler routes!) followed by a picnic. If you prefer, you can drive to meet us for the picnic at noon.

Afternoon free to relax by the pool or do some shopping (dried porcini!!) before you leave.

7.00 pm
Farewell dinner in a great local trattoria

Departure