Italian Cooking and Gastronomy in Tuscany

Highlights

  • Stay in stylish Tuscan apartments with a pool in a lovely medieval village
  • Master the regional specialities that you can easily reproduce at home
  • Meet the local producers and taste their sustainable organic produce
£1500 pp
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What you'll do

Overview

So much more than your average Italian cookery holiday, this 6 night gastronomic adventure takes you on a journey from farm to table; experience the production process, taste the produce & meet local artisan producers first-hand, not to mention hands-on cookery lessons with your personal chef!

2023 – Now sold out

21-27 May
11-17 June
2-8 July
3-9 September
1-7 October

This is not your typical cookery holiday. During this 6 night Italian gastronomy and cooking holiday, you will go from farm to table, discovering what goes on behind the scenes of Italian gastronomy, and against a stunning Tuscan backdrop, as you spend time with cooks, winemakers, fishermen, cheese producers, honey farmers – the area’s best sustainable artisan producers.

When you’re not out trying new things and meeting local producers, Oli is your experienced chef and trained pasta maker who will walk you through a carefully selected repertoire of dishes and share the secrets and skills you need to create vibrant and authentic Italian cuisine.

Growing up, Oli spent his summers in this region, so it is of little surprise that he grew up to be trained as a master traditional pasta maker and knows the finest producers in the region. Not only will you be learning, creating (and eating) a wide range of Tuscan classics, but this is a fully immersive, behind the scenes cooking and food adventure for those fascinated by Italian gastronomy.

Join this unique Italian cooking holiday for a real taste of Italy and discover the real Tuscany off of the tourist trails.

Please note some activities and food inclusions may vary due to time of year, availability  and weather conditions.

Arrival

– 2-5pm: Arrive at your accommodation and check-in to your lovely room for the week, check-in times are not too strict but be sure you arrive in time for the evening activities!
– 6pm: A welcome aperitivo with your hosts and the other guests
– 7:30pm: A group 4 course dinner will be served at a nearby villa under the pergola (weather permitting) with beautiful views

Meet the producers

– 9am: After breakfast at your accommodation, you will head to a buffalo mozzarella farm for a tour and tasting of buffalo cheese with the opportunity to also try buffalo milk cappuccinos and ice cream if you wish
– 11:30am: Next, there is a visit to an organic Tuscan rice farm for a tour
– 2-5pm: Some free time to lounge by the pool or go for a walk in the town
– 5pm: After an aperitivo of prosecco and some tasty nibbles, get stuck in to your risotto making masterclass with Oli using the rice that you picked up from the farm that day; cook together and then sit down for dinner and enjoy the risotto you have prepared plus a few other treats

Gone Fishing

– 7am: Start your day like no other with a fishing trip along the Tuscan coast; join a local fisherman on his daily trip who will tell you all about sustainable fishing and his mission to protect the local marine life while you enjoy beautiful bathing spots and great food on board
– 2pm: When you return, you will have free time back in the village
– 5pm: Roll up your sleeves for a hands-on evening cooking lesson in a professional kitchen, usually something you have picked up on your fishing trip, followed by aperitivo and dinner

Organic Vineyard

– 10am: Today begins with another hands-on cooking lesson looking at some of the staples of Italian cooking and an al-fresco lunch (weather permitting) of what you have just cooked
– 2-5pm: Free time to spend as you please
– 5pm: Visit a nearby organic vineyard, 600m above sea level with incredible views
– 7:30pm: You have tonight free to spend as you wish, why not try that local restaurant you’ve had your eye on?

The art of the Pizza

– 11am: Visit an organic honey maker and Brunello wine producer for a tour to learn about organic honey making and the production of Brunello wine followed by a lunch of traditional Tuscan dishes and honey and wine tastings
– 5:30pm: Learn to make pizza from scratch and cooked in a woodfired oven during a pizza making lesson

Gnocchi and wine-tasting

– 11am: Your final hands-on cooking class will have you preparing gnocchi dishes for your lunch

– 3pm:  We will head out to an olive farm for a visit and oil tasting

– 5pm:  A special vineyard tour with an award-winning winemaker then delve into the cellar for a private tasting of Sangiovese, Viognier and Syrah paired with traditional Tuscan antipasti
– 8:30pm: The final farewell dinner will be served as you say goodbye in style

Departure

– 9am-12pm: Check out from your room and head home with a content stomach and bags full of local cheese and wine

What's included

Included

  • 6 nights in pool side apartment accommodation (pool is open June to September)
  • Cooking lessons from your private cooking instructor including fresh pasta making, a risotto and gnocchi masterclass, pizza making, staple Italian dishes and more
  • Breakfast supplies of local ingredients in your accommodation to make your own breakfast
  • All meals, including multi-course dinners cooked by a private chef and wine-paired dinners at a local vineyard, apart from one dinner which you can spend as you wish
  • Wine and selected aperitivos
  • Various tours and tastings including:
  • Buffalo mozzarella farm tour and cheese tasting
  • Organic Tuscan rice farm tour
  • Fishing boat trip
  • Honey and Brunello wine producer tour
  • Vineyard tour and tasting
  • All transport during the week in a comfortable spacious van
  • Return transfers between the accommodation and Grosseto train station on arrival and departure days
  • Check in anytime between 2-6pm on day 1 and check out by 12pm on day 7
Your local host

Oli & Flo

Oli and Flo created and run their amazing Italian gastronomy and cooking holidays in Tuscany, born from their love of the slow food movement and passion for local organic produce. Oli is an experienced chef and pasta maker, and Flo is an events organiser from London. They have combined their skills to try to create immersive, behind the scenes cooking and food adventures for those fascinated by Italian gastronomy.

Oli and Flo created and run their amazing Italian gastronomy and cooking holidays in Tuscany, born from their love of the slow food movement and passion for local organic produce. Oli is an experienced chef and pasta maker, and Flo is an events organiser from London. They have combined their skills to try to create immersive, behind the scenes cooking and food adventures for those fascinated by Italian gastronomy.

Sustainability Efforts

What Sustainability Efforts are we Taking?

Learn More

Location

Your base on this unique Italian cooking holiday will be in the beautiful village of Roccatederighi, carved into the rocks 500 metres above the flatlands below. From up there, on a clear day you’ll be able to see the islands of Giglio, Elba, or even Corisca.

The undisturbed Maremma coast produces extremely fine ingredients and dishes. Some of the local specialities include stuffed pasta, cured meats, honey, wild boar, hearty soups and chestnuts.

The village and your accommodation is easy to reach from main train station and airports in the area. Take a fast train from Pisa Central to Grosseto, the nearest local train station, and it will take you just 75 minutes. If you decide to come from Rome. it will take you less than 2 hours by train. Transfers to and from Grosseto station to your accommodation are included in the price of your cookery holiday.

What our travellers are saying...

Had a super week - Flo and Oli couldn’t have done more to make us feel welcome. Oli was a knowledgeable and relaxed teacher - the food, wine and setting were all fantastic. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip!

J Bulmer

FAQs

Who is it suitable for?

- Suitable for all levels from beginner to advanced cooks
- Minimum age 18 with no upper age limit (under 18s accepted if accompanied by an adult)
- All classes are taught in English

When can I start?

- Course arrival days are on Sunday on selected dates from April to October
- Please note, no holidays will be held in the months of July or August
- Departures are the following Saturday staying 6 nights in total

Restricted mobility access

- Most of the activities are operated in hilltop villages where the walkways are often steep and uneven
- In the accommodation, some of the rooms are at ground floor level
- Special requests can be made and looked at on a case by case basis and the trip tailored accordingly

What can I do in my free time?

- As you’re located right in the village, have a shop, or try a local bar or restaurant and meet some locals
- The village has a wonderful old town, built into the rocks, with lovely historical churches and architecture - don’t forget to bring your camera!
- Enjoy the sun and lounge on the deck by the pool
- Rent a bike and enjoy the Tuscan countryside
- Your hosts will help you utilize the public transport if you would like to visit nearby towns or the coast

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