Florence: Chef Massimo's Kitchen™

Step into the professional kitchen of Executive Chef Massimo for hands-on cooking classes in the heart of the Florence and revisit classic traditions with his innovations. Chef Massimo’s cooking classes are perfect for the experienced home-cook who wants a challenge, the seasoned chef who wants to learn something new and the passionate food lover! This rising-star-Chef’s motto is ‘local, seasonal and fresh, while using only high quality products from the region.’ His classes include a full menu with antipasto, pasta, risotto, a main course and dessert. Porcini, tartufi and precious produce of the Tuscan land are used!

Florence, the city of food, art & romance, is laid with ancient cobblestone streets and elegant outdoor cafés spilling onto piazzas. There is the Uffizi Gallery, home to Leonardo’s Adoration of the Magi & Botticelli’s Primavera; along with the Accademia Museum, home to Michelangelo’s Davide. From the first Etruscans who founded the city that dates back to as early as 1000BC, to the flourishing Medici Family who ruled it with a devotion to art & culture, Florence’s beauty and art is forever.

Join Chef Massimo in Florence, climb the Duomo, step across the Ponte Vecchio, and sip a café on the Santa Croce. Tie on your apron along side Chef Massimo and learn the history of Florentine cooking!

Cooking Classes

Executive Chef Massimo’s award winning cuisine and style of cooking has gained him recognition in Italy, as well as working in the USA. “This feeling comes from my heart and goes to kitchen,” he states and he sautés his pasta and porcini. Step into his private kitchen, reserved only for our small groups of 2, 4 or 6 participants. Each cooking class includes the preparation of a full course menu with antipasto, fresh pasta or risotto, the main course; fish, meat or vegetarian and dessert.

Everyone joins around the table and enjoys the foods that were made in class following. Great conversation is always included.

Florence

Home to Brunelleschi’s Duomo and hailed the most romantic city in Italy is Florence, home to Chef Massimo’s kitchen. Enjoy your choice of a Food Lover’s Walk through Florence with our guide Luca or Massimo, or choose to visit the Uffizi Museum, home to the great Florentine masters such as Tintoretto, and the Renaissance masters Michelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael and Botticelli. If time permits, we suggest a visit to the Accademia home to Michelangelo’s Davide on your own, or ask about adding on an additional guided tour with Luca. Cross the Arno and stop at the Medici Palace and Boboli Gardens for a circle view of the city.

Accommodations

Check into your 17th century host property in the heart of Florence on the left bank of the Arno River. Massimo will welcome you with open arms, answer any questions during your stay and make you feel right at home. Located in the heart of the San Niccolò neighborhood, the property is walking distance to the museums, Pitti Palace, Santa Croce, and Ponte Vecchio. The hotel’s rooms are elegantly appointed with full en-suite private bathrooms with toiletries. There is a mini bar, TV, air conditioning and complimentary Wi-Fi in each room. A 24-hour reception is available for all your needs at the family-owned property, a full continental breakfast is served daily in the salon; and weather permitting it is also served on the large outdoor garden terrace overlooking the Arno.

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Itinerary ~ 4 days, 3 nights

Day One: Arrival & Chef’s Tasting Dinner

• Arrival and check in.
• Welcome Apertivo: Meet your host and native-Florentine guide Luca or Massimo. Your guide will give you a brief introduction to Florence with an informal discussion to answer any questions you may have regarding your program. A Prosecco apertivo is served.
• Welcome Dinner with the Chef’s Tasting Menu at our favorite trattoria. The Chef’s Tasting menu includes an antipasto, pasta, main course and dessert. Tuscan antipasto may include a trio of bruschetta featuring three extra virgin first cold pressed olive oil, salumi & affettati meaning a plate of prosciutto crudo and Tuscan cheese. Taste the great Tuscan breads, sciocco, unsalted bread and schiacciata, traditional flat bread accompanied by a Vino Nobile di Monetpulciano. Tagliatelle ai fungi porcini, gnudi, plump pasta dumplings of Ricotta and spinach; or Risotto al salto alla Parmigiano. Tagliata di manzo, bistecca alla Fiorentina or scamerita con cavolo nero, tender pork with winter black cabbage. Desserts are always a must, including Tuscan apple cake, Vin Santo Tiramisu or Cantucci dipped in Vin Santo.
• Wine and beverages not included and payable directly.

Day Two: Cooking Class 1

• Breakfast is served.
• The morning is free and you can leisurely explore on your your own. Suggestion, visit the Boboli Garden or Pitti Palace. Shop along the Borgo or make your way through the Porto Romano and upward is the Poggio Imperiale. An imperial avenue, lined with tall cypress and set between ancient olive orchards on a road that turns into an almost one-way country road that leads to San Felice a Ema in the Acciaioli Hills, for a bird’s eye view of the City.
• Lunch on your own. Suggestions provided in your welcome bag.
• Tie on your apron and step into the kitchen for your Cooking Class 1: an afternoon filled of chopping, slicing, dicing and cooking. Executive Chef Massimo will take you through preparing a full course menu. Starting with antipasto, fresh pasta such as ravioli or gnudi, plump little dumplings, moving on to a main course and dessert, you will be learning classics with Chef’s Massimo’s innovative technique.
• Everyone joins around the table and enjoys the foods that were made in class for dinner following. Wine and beverages not included.
• During your cooking class, Chef Massimo discusses extra virgin first cold pressed Tuscan olive oils. On site there is an olioteca didattica, an olive oil tasting bar featuring more than 25 precious olive oils, and it is the only one of its kind in Italy.

Day Three: Choice of Florence Food Lover’s Walk or Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour & Cooking Class 2

• Breakfast is served.
• In the morning, your choice of either the Florence Food Lover’s Walk or the Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour.
• Choose the Florence Food Lover’s Walk to learn and discover the foods and wine of Florence. Meet the artisan makers with tastings included.

OR

• Uffizi Gallery Guided Tour: Meet Luca or Massimo your professional art historian guide for a tour through the Uffizi Gallery. The Uffizi, one of the oldest and most important museums in the Western world, was commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici and its construction began in 1560 by Giorgio Vasari. It was originally built to house the offices for the Florentine magistrates, however in time the palace evolved into an exhibition place to display the many Florentine paintings and sculpture that were collected by the Medici family. Once inside the Uffizi, marvel at the collection of masterpieces by Botticelli, Da Vinci, Caravaggio and Vasari. (Three-hour guided tour included with reserved entrance, entrance fees payable at the door.)
• Lunch on your own, suggestions included in your welcome bag.
• Cooking Class 2 with Executive Chef Massimo. Starting with antipasto, a fresh pasta, main course and dessert in Cooking Class 2 will have you preparing yet new Tuscan classics. Everyone joins around the table and enjoys the foods that were made in class following. Great conversation always included!
• Wine and beverages not included.

Day Four: Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• Check out and say goodbye.
• Ciao e Arrivederci!

*Note: This schedule may vary due to inclement weather, saint days or festivals. All activities, in the event of rescheduling, are always included during the program.