Lucca’s Ancient Flavors & Traditions™

Join Mauro, home Chef, food lover and purveyor, in his professional Tuscan kitchen for a flavor-filled cooking experience in the heart of Lucca. Mauro, who grew up cooking in the kitchen with his grandmother, blends ancient flavors and traditions in timeless recipes from his native land. Paired with his wife Tze’ela in the kitchen, who adds her twist on recipes with the possibility of Kosher cooking, their family experience is educational, tasty and fun. Your four-day program includes two hands-on cooking classes in the center of Lucca with Mauro & Tze’ela, and features a Shop With The Chef Market Tour. And with such a foodie at the head of the stove, Mauro & Tze’ela bring you into a culinary world and way of life of this quaint Tuscan town.

Cooking Classes

Tie on your aprons and get ready for a day in the kitchen with Maestro Mauro & Tze’ela. Mauro learned how to cook at an early age-when he was only 16 years old, and continued to develop his love and passion for cooking family style. He worked for a score of experience of chefs, wine producers, olive oil producers, butchers, and local women to hone his skills in the kitchen.

The blend of hands-on experience and knowledge in a world of food experts, and artisans developed his ability and technique and led him to open his own kitchen. Today he shares his knowledge for food and wine in his professional Tuscan kitchen located in the city center of Lucca. After each cooking class, enjoy the foods you prepared in class on the outdoor patio (weather permitting) for lunch or dinner.

Mauro uses only seasonal fresh products of the region, including, porcini, chestnuts, virgin olive oils, polenta, truffles, and of course the great wines and cheeses.

Partnered with Italo-Israeli Tze’ela, Kosher cooking may be available upon request and menus are based on regional & seasonal ingredients, vegetarian, meat and fish recipes; and always Kosher.

Sample Seasonal Menus Include:

Summer Menu:
Bruschetta al Pomodoro
Homemade Fresh Pasta:
Ravioli Ricotta & Spinach in Sage Butter
Aromatic Roasted Veal
Caprese

Fall/Winter Menu:
Pappa al Pomodoro
Homemade Fresh Pasta:
Tagliatelle ai Funghi or Tordelli al Ragu’
Pollo (chicken) Alla Cacciatora
Green Peas with Speck

Lucca

Lucca, a quaint Medieval city where locals still bike along ancient cobblestone streets; cafes fill with young and old alike, reading, conversing and studying; and life passes slower than usual. Pass a bookshop or ceramic artisan’s studio, or just stop and listen to one of the musicians in the piazza playing a classic Puccini. The best way to visit and see Lucca is by bicycle, foot or horse driven carriage.

Lucca is known for its 16th and 17th century walls that circle the city; and once protected it from invaders.

Giacomo Puccini

While soaking up the culture in Lucca, whether peddling along the cobblestone streets or stolling under an early morning sun, we suggest a visit to Luccas’ great, Giacomo Puccini.

Giacomo Puccini was born in Lucca on December 22nd, 1858, in the city walls, on Via di Poggio near Piazza San Michele. Visit the composer’s former home, which is now a museum and displays Puccini’s artifacts and piano. Take a half a day to visit the museum. And if you still have time, walk over to the Corte San Lorenzo where a bronze statue of Giacomo Puccini sits in honor of his life in dating from 1858 to 1924.

Puccini’s memories are seen throughout the province of Lucca, especially at the charming home of Torre del Lago. His house in Lucca, which had belonged to his family since 1815 and where Puccini spent his childhood, is linked to his first studies before he moved to Milan. Giacomo Puccini’s credits include Tosca, Madam Butterfly and La Boheme.

Each summer, the Opera Theater of Lucca still salutes the great musician with the Summer Festival.

Accommodations

Your accommodations for your Lucca program set you at home in a historic 4-star superior hotel, once a 16th century palace. Located in the heart of Lucca, the hotel has recently completed a careful restoration keeping its character and adding modern comforts. A few steps from the main square, the Hotel provides a great location to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the ancient city of Lucca. Each morning, an international breakfast is served and the Hotel’s Lounge Bar provides the perfect spot for a relaxing aperitivo in the evening.

Each elegantly furnished bedroom is furnished with fine furnishing, and has a private bathroom, independently controlled air conditioning/ heating, LCD TV with satellite channels and PAYTV, direct line telephone, Wi-Fi internet connection, minibar, safe, relax or work area, hairdryer and cable radio.

Itinerary: 4 Days, 3 Nights

Check in and start your program on any day of the week, subject to availability.

Day 1: Arrival & Welcome Dinner

• Arrival in Pisa and transfer to your hotel in the heart of Lucca.
• Relax and check in to the hotel.
• In the evening, a Welcome Dinner is served by Mauro & Tze’ela. Your first evening will introduce you to the traditional dishes, history and culture that make up your cooking course.

Day 2: Market Tour & Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, discover the old shops and visit the ancient Local Marketplace with Mauro & Tze’ela. Shop With The Chef Market Tour and choose fragrant, in-season fruits and vegetables, crisp oven-baked breads, artisan cheeses and hand-selected ingredients for your afternoon cooking course.
• Meet back in the kitchen in the later morning and get cooking for your hands-on Cooking Class 1 with Mauro & Tze’ela.
• Lunch follows on the dishes prepared in class.
• Afternoon free and dinner is on your own. Suggestions provided at the hotel.

Day 3: Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served.
• Meet back in the kitchen in the later morning for your hands-on Cooking Class 2 with Mauro & Tze’ela.
• Lunch follows with the foods prepared in class.
• Afternoon free and on your own. Dinner on your own. Suggestions provided.

Day 4: Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• Departure transfer. Ciao e a presto!