Join Chef Barbara outside of Florence for a day of genuine Tuscan cooking, followed by a full course lunch or dinner including the foods that were prepared in class.  Young and in love with her Tuscan heritage, Chef Barbara has been school and trained at the Florence Hospitality School and has worked in several top Florentine restaurants before deciding to dedicate herself to teaching and sharing her passion with others.  In addition to her family traditions, she is always cooking, entertaining and sharing her knowledge with guests.  The unique 1 day cooking class offers a full immersion into Florentine life as Chef Barbara’s opens her Tuscan home to welcome guests.

1-Day Cooking Class In The Florence Countryside

Each morning starts with an introduction and a stroll through Barbara’s vegetable garden to see and learn about the foods of the season. Barbara’s family grows spinach, onions, celery, lettuces of all sorts, and more. Then return to the kitchen to tie on your apron and get cooking!

Traditional Tuscan Cooking Class

Your cooking class includes the preparation of a four-course Tuscan fare, starting with an antipasto such as crostini with mushrooms, or fegatini, traditional chicken liver crostini of Tuscany, then on to a first course of homemade Ricotta and spinach ravioli in tomato sauce or tagliatelle pasta with slow-cooked ragù. Main courses include chicken alla cacciatora, simmered with garden vegetables and olives or turkey roulade stuffed with ham and spinach. End with a sweet dessert such as Barbara’s famous zuccotto, a domed sponge cake filled with chocolate and whipped cream or her special recipe for tiramisù.

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Pasta Making In Tuscany

Fresh Hand-Made Picci, Gnocchi & Gnudi

Traditional Tuscan Pasta Making Class is unique and includes the preparation of green potato gnocchi with a four-cheese sauce, gnudi, a traditional ‘naked’ ravioli of Ricotta, spinach, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Learn to make traditional pasta and the sauces that go with them.

Lunch follows on the foods prepared in class. Toast to the fruits of your labor with a glass of Chianti wine and end with a good Italian espresso!

Barbara’s Tuscan home is located just a short ride outside of the center of Florence, about 20 minutes by car or 15 minutes by local train.

1-Day Shopping with the Chef Market Tour & Cooking Class In The Florence Countryside

Start off your day with a visit to the local produce market that showcases Tuscan vendors, products and purveyors. Learn about local produce – breads, cheeses and the wonderful olive oil, and look out for seasonal ingredients like mushrooms, game, wild asparagus, salad greens, beans and even truffles in the right season. Salami and other specialty pork products are much appreciated in this part of the world so keep your eye open for wonderful pancetta, lard and salami laced with fennel seeds. The area is also famous for its chickpeas, cereals such as farro and barley, and its chestnuts, all of which are put to wonderful use in the kitchen. Discover interesting shops and stalls stocked with local products led by your Chef for an insider’s view on food, wine and culinary food notes. Tastings included.
Back in the kitchen, each morning starts with an introduction and a stroll through Barbara’s vegetable garden to see and learn about the foods of the season. Barbara’s family grows spinach, onions, celery, lettuces of all sorts, and more. Then return to the kitchen to tie on your apron and get cooking!

Your cooking class includes the preparation of a four-course Italian meal, starting with an antipasto such as crostini with mushrooms, or fegatini, the traditional chicken liver crostini of Tuscany, then on to a first course of homemade Ricotta and spinach ravioli in tomato sauce or tagliatelle pasta with slow-cooked ragù. Main courses include chicken alla cacciatora, simmered with garden vegetables and olives or turkey roulade stuffed with ham and spinach. End with a sweet dessert such as Barbara’s famous zuccotto, a domed sponge cake filled with chocolate and whipped cream or her special recipe for tiramisù.

Or, choose a special Pasta Making Class including the preparation of green potato gnocchi with a four-cheese sauce, gnudi, a traditional ‘naked’ ravioli of Ricotta, spinach, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Learn to make traditional pasta and the sauces that go with them.

Lunch follows on the foods prepared in class. Toast to the fruits of your labor with a glass of Chianti wine and end with a good Italian espresso!

Barbara’s home is located just a short ride outside of the center of Florence (about 20 minutes by car or 15 minutes by local train).