The cooking classes

Our cooking classes are very hands-on. They are taught in English, but if you like, we can teach you some simple "foodie Italian". Our local chefs will guide you through the preparation of simple but delicious Italian recipes (from Tuscany and from other Italian regions) and reveal some of their culinary secrets.
Wine tasting Cooking class Fruit and Custard Tart Cooking class Lunch al fresco Cooking class Baked Pumpkin Dumplings Wine tasting Cooking course Roast Peppers & Goat's Cheese Canapés Cooking class
Groups are small (maximum 9 people), so that everyone gets a chance to try their hand at the techniques, 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 in advance and we'll help you do just that.

Getting around

You can get to Certaldo easily by train, but car rental during your week is essential. Ours is not a package tour, where we herd you around in a van. We give you a structured week's activities but also the tools to explore on your own if you wish to. You drive to all excursions, either following us, or with our 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 often have four or five people sharing a car, meaning that we don't arrive at beautiful organic farms in a haze of carbon monoxide).
Your week with us
Here is a typical week at Organic Tuscany. Please note that this is an example, albeit a pretty accurate reflection of what we do! The dishes cooked will vary following the seasons and any special requests you have, and the specific days for excursions may vary.
1 - Saturday

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 can provide a hiking map of the area).

7.30 pm

Alfresco welcome dinner

We cook for you and your new classmates on this first evening, and keep things simple. Warm foccaccia straight out of the oven accompanies grilled organic vegetables, local biodynamic cheeses and crisp salads, all washed down with local biodynamic wine.
2 - Sunday
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

Handmade fresh pasta, 3 seasonal sauces (a meat sauce, an asparagus and ricotta sauce and an artichoke sauce), Sicilian fennel and orange salad, tiramisù.
3 - Monday
10.00 am-12.30 pm

Cooking class 2

Crostini with roast peppers and with "salsa verde", "pappa al pomodoro" (Tuscan tomato and basil soup), potato and spinach gnocchi, slow cooked beef with vegetables and herbs, artichoke and parmesan salad, custard and fruit tart.

12.30 pm-1.15 pm

Olive oil tasting session

Our oil expert guides you through the world of extravirgin olive oils.

1.15 pm-2.30 pm

Lunch

Afternoon and evening

Visit to Siena

The visit includes a tour with an official guide. For dinner, explore Siena's many great restaurants or return home for a light meal.
4 - Tuesday

Visit Florence

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.
Ponte vecchio, Florence
5 - Wednesday
10.00 am-12 noon

Gentle walk followed by a picnic

Tuscany is very hilly but we've managed to find some gentler routes! If you prefer, you can drive to meet us for the picnic at noon.

Afternoon and evening

Visit to San Gimignano

We suggest a visit to this medieval city just 20 minutes away. This is a good day to use if you want to explore on your own (the Chianti area, Volterra, etc).
San Gimignano, towers
6 - Thursday
10.00 am-12.30 pm

Cooking class 3

Panzanella (Tuscan bread and tomato salad), risotti (e.g. artichoke, asparagus, porcini mushrooms), herby turkey cooked in milk, moist apple cake.

12.30 pm-2.00 pm

Lunch


4.00 pm-5.30 pm

Visit to a local biodynamic farm

where we see how a small community can be self-sufficient while producing amazing cheeses and growing delicious vegetables.

5.30 pm-6.00 pm

Visit to a master potter's ceramics studio

Our friend Terry Davies wll show you his beautiful studio.

7.00 pm-9.30 pm

Wine tasting of local organic wines

led by our wine expert, followed by a light dinner (much of which you will have prepared earlier!) accompanied by the wines you have tasted.
7 - Friday
10.00 am-12.30 pm

Cooking class 4

Delectable antipasti (marinaded sundried tomatoes, baby onions slow-cooked in balsamic vinegar), vegetable sformati, pollo alla cacciatora (chicken with herbs, wine and olives), almond biscotti.

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

7.30 pm

Farewell dinner

We eat in a great local trattoria.
8 - Saturday

Departure















The villa where you will stay

You will be staying in lovingly restored Manor House and adjacent cottage, on a farm which has 6 hectares of vineyards and olive groves.

Click on a picture to see a larger version.

A vegetable lover's paradise

With its great variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as cereals that are little used elsewhere, Italian food affords a host of exquisite flavours for vegetarians. pappa la pomodoroThe traditional "peasant" food of Tuscany is no exception: nutty pulses, tangy vegetable sauces and imaginative salads all have an important part to play at the table of the cooking course.
Two of the courses are entirely vegetarian.

TripAdvisro logo
Organic Tuscany rating on TripAdvisor based
on 38 traveler reviews: 4.5 of 5 stars

Most Recent Traveler Reviews:
  • September 29, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “Amazing Experience”
  • September 29, 2011  5 of 5 stars
“The sights, smells and sounds of
a real Italian kitchen!”
  • September 25, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “"Great day of cooking and wonderful hospitality"
  • September 4, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “Highlight of our trip!”
  • July 13, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “Amazing Food and Hosts!”
  • July 12, 2011  5 of 5 stars
“An Incredible Experience of the Senses”
  • June 30, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “A vacation like no other”
  • June 28, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “Everything I hoped for”
  • June 23, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “A Perfect Week!”
  • May 17, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “Wonderful hosts and teacher, great surroundings, delicious food!!”
  • January 2, 2011  5 of 5 stars
 “Best in show' when it comes
to Tuscan cooking schools”
  • December 27, 2010  5 of 5 stars
 “best culinary adventure”
Read all 38 reviews on TripAdvisor

2012 calendar

The dates shown are Saturday through to Friday. Departure is actually on the Saturday morning. The 2011 courses are all full. 
 April 28th - May 4th Full
 May 5th - May 11th 2 places available
 May 12th - May 18th
Full
 May 19th - May 25th
 Vegetarian course
Full
 June 2nd - June 8th Full
 June 9th - June 15th 4 places available
 June 16th - June 22nd 2 places available
 June 23rd - June 29th
 Vegetarian course
Full
 Sept. 1st - Sept. 7th
Full
 Sept. 8th - Sept. 14th
Full
 Sept. 15th - Sept. 21st
 Vegetarian course
Full
 Sept. 29th -  Oct. 5th
Full
 Oct. 6th - Oct. 12th Full


One day cooking class

One-day cooking classes

For those of you who will be in the area and would like to have a little taste of Organic Tuscany, we offer one-day cooking classes from our instructors' villa home in the Chianti region.

Contact us

mail email us at info@organictuscany.org
UK flag Call us from the UK:  0208 144 9164
US flag Call us from the US:  347 410 9690