The Tuscan Kitchen In Cortona™

Join us in Cortona where Chef Netta welcomes you into her home kitchen and shares her Tuscan cooking using farm-to-table local ingredients into delicious Tuscan fare.  Her villa property is nestled on a hilltop in Val di Chiana in lush fields of sunflowers and lavender fields, olive groves and vineyards.  She shares her healthy vegetarian cooking recipes at home in charming Cortona!  

As featured in April 2013 – Click here to read more!

Tie on your aprons for an extraordinary hands-on cooking classes, a Food Lover’s tour with traditional food tastings along the way.  Soak up la dolce vita, sweet life, in sunnyl Cortona with our family.

Our chef will show you how to make handmade pasta, prepare seasonal sauces using organic vegetables from the garden and make desserts and crostate, open-faced fruit pies and Tuscan biscotti with Vin Santo.  Step into Chef Netta’s kitchen and learn how to prepare Tuscan classics while learning about seasonal cooking and Super Tuscan wines.

During your stay, discover Cortona with our English-speaking guide who will take you on an enchanting tour of Cortona’s artisan makers and landmarks – Teatro Signorelli, Piazza della Repubblica, the Diocesan Museum home Luca Signorelli’s masterpieces, the Santa Maria Nuova church, designed by Giorgio Vasari, and Santa Maria delle Grazie.  Enjoy a day in the Tuscan countryside with our driver for a wine tasting tour.  Visit the vineyard, taste the Tuscan wines and enjoy Traditional tastings included.

Cooking Classes

Chef Netta is passionate about her cooking and shares her family recipes in the kitchen.  Tie on your aprons for an extraordinary experience making antipasti, fresh pasta, main courses and dessert accompanied by Tuscan wine.

Chef Netta also grows seasonal fruits and vegetables in her garden and uses farm-to-table ingredients from local purveyors, markets and farmers from the Tuscan hills.

After each cooking class, everyone enjoys lunch or dinner with the food that was prepared in class with local white or red wine.

Chef Netta’s Tuscan Menu

Ribollita – The celebrated ribollita, is a hearty soup of the countryside.
Pappa col Pomodoro – Bread and tomato soup.
Cecina – A savory chick pea pie.
Tortellini di Patate – Traditional fresh pasta stuffed potato.
Schiacciata alla Fiorentina – Tuscan flat bread.
Castagnaccio – sweet chestnut cake.

Cortona

Cortona is a dreamy Tuscan village and offers something for everyone.  Ancient churches, a pretty piazza, wine bars, gelato shops, shopping and artisan goods! Made famous by Frances Mayes in Under The Tuscan Sun, Cortona was once part of Umbria, then became part of Tuscany.

The prevailing character of Cortona’s architecture is medieval with picturesque narrow streets set on a hillside embracing the enchanting view of the Val di Chiana. The town cherishes its tradition with festivals, concerts and events throughout the year.  The locals also celebrate Medieval Week, with a procession of over 300 people wearing traditional medieval costumes while horseback riders parade through the village.  Weekly local markets comes to life in the village’s piazza with venders selling traditional products, wine and goods.  And, you can always sit back in any one of the local caffès, sip an espresso or vino and soak up the Tuscan sun.

Tuscany

Discover Tuscany’s art, architecture and history from Elba Island to precious Tuscan hills towns such as  Montepulicano, and of course, Florence.  Throughout your experience, learn about traditional Tuscan cuisine, seasonal cooking and wine making.

Cortona Accommodations

Chef Netta’s Villa property is set in the green hills of Cortona – close to Pienza, Montepulciano, Montalcino, Siena, and San Gimignano.  The Villa has been respectfully refurbished keeping tradition while adding cozy comforts.  Step into the property  furnished with antiques from the 18th to 20th century and beautiful accommodations during your stay.  Each bedroom has a private bathroom with Italian linens wotj daily maid service each day.  Breakfast is served in the elegant dining room and includes homemade cakes and jam,  cappuccino, tea, fruits grown in the garden, yogurt, and eggs

Step through the garden, relax, soak up the sun and take in the view of Monte Amiata surrounded by  vineyards and a beautiful swimming pool.

Click for Property Photo Gallery

Itinerary ~ 6 days, 5 nights

Day One~ Arrival and Welcome Dinner with Chef’s Tasting Menu

• Pick up at the Cortona train station – Check in, introduction and welcome tea.
• A Welcome Dinner featuring a Chef’s Tuscan tasting menu with a full course menu.

Day Two~ Food Lover’s Tour of Cortona and Cooking Class

• Breakfast is served.
• Transfer to Cortona and meet your English-speak guide at 10am for a Food Lover’s Walking Tour through the historic town’s center. Visit the piazze of Piazza delle Repubblica and Piazza Signorelli, then follow the ancient Etruscan city walls, and admire the sweeping views down over Lago Trasimeno. Along the way, visit an artisan bakery and taste a cantucci, ricciarelli and brutti ma buoni.  The tour continues with your guide and you’ll learn about Tuscan pasta such as pici and with Tuscan wine.
• Following the tour, return to the property.
• In the early evening, Cooking Class 1.  Tie on your aprons and get ready to mix and roll the dough for your hands-on pizza-making class.  Following the cooking class, everyone dines together and enjoys the pizza that was prepared in class, along with other local Tuscan food.

Day Three~ Visit To A Tuscan Vineyard, Wine Tasting Lunch

• Breakfast is served.
• Your driver will pick you up for a visit to a beautiful Tuscan vineyard.  Enjoy the ride through the Tuscan hills along rolling vineyards and fields of sunflowers.  At the vineyard,  enjoy a visit to the vineyard with a wine tasting tour and Tuscan bites included.
• In the afternoon, return to the Villa, relax.  Enjoy a Prosecco and dinner is on your own.  You can chose to dine at the property or suggestions provided.

Day Four~ Montepulciano and Pienza with Artisan Cheese Tasting

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, meet your driver for a  drive through the Tuscan country.  You will visit an artisan cheese maker in Pienza where you will learn how the local cheese is made including Pecorino cheese. Discussions and tastings included.
• Following your cheese visit, you will visit Montepulciano.  Explore this gorgeous Tuscan town brimming with cobble pathways, historical buildings and churches, wine shops and artisans.  Enjoy a vino or aperitivo on any one of the outdoor terraces.
• Following the tour, return to the property.  Dinner is on your own with suggestions provided.

Day Five~ Cooking Class

• Breakfast is served.
• Following breakfast, morning is free to relax at the property, swim in swimming pool, walk through sunflower fields or return to Cortona for a stroll in the piazza.
• tie on your apron for Cooking Class 2.  Hands-on, a traditional Tuscan full course menu using farm-to-table produce from the garden and local farmer.  Everyone enjoys the food that was prepared in the cooking class to follow with a toast of wine.
• In the early evening, tie on your aprons for Cooking Class 2 – and get ready to prepare a full course Tuscan menu with dessert included.  Following the cooking class, everyone dines together and enjoys food that was prepared in the cooking class with a toast of local white or red wine.

Day Six~ Departure

• Breakfast is served.
• After breakfast, check out and arriverderci!