Fall in love with Tuscany through its food during a 4-hour Tuscan cooking class in Siena! Under the watchful eye of your host – a professional local chef – learn the secrets of Tuscany’s renowned cuisine to put together a lavish spread of ‘antipasto’(appetizer) and pici pasta. At the end of your class, sit down with your host and fellow food lovers to enjoy your creations along with a glass of wine – just as the Tuscans do!
Numbers are limited to 15 on this small-group cooking class, ensuring you’ll enjoy personalized attention from your host.
Meet your host in central Siena and stroll to a private kitchen in the center of town to start your 4-hour Tuscan cooking class. All utensils and equipment are provided for your session, and under the careful eye of your host you’ll learn all about the culinary secrets of Tuscany.
‘Eat local’ is a theme that Tuscans don’t really consider; it’s a concept that’s ingrained in their heritage thanks to the region’s rich abundance of quality ingredients. The countryside around Siena teems with produce: lush olive groves, fragrant sage and rosemary bushes, and hills blanketed with heaving grape vines.
Using these key ingredients, help your host prepare an antipasto feast of breads, cheeses and cured meats – a staple dish in Tuscan restaurants and cafés. Prepare toppings for bruschetta (grilled bread, topped with tomatoes, basil and olive oil) and put together plates of crostini (crispy thin slices of white bread drizzled with extra virgin olive oil).
Learn about Tuscan pici -- a doughy and flavorsome type of egg pasta -- and then make some for yourself. Mix the ingredients and knead the dough before rolling and cutting it into distinctive thick spaghetti strands, and cooking it with a sauce.
Toward the end of your session, sit down with your host and group to eat your creations! The dishes are paired with quality Tuscan wine – carefully selected by your host to complement and accentuate the flavors of the food. Before leaving, your host will give you a recipe card so that you can re-create the food yourself at home to impress friends and family!
Our chef, Simone, was very friendly and helpful. The food we made was quite simple, but delicious. The only problem was that the start time was not changed when daylight saving commenced, and hence it was dark as we were driven along the Chianti trail about 20 minutes out of Siena. We missed the spectular scenery. Otherwise, a great experience.
Review by: Deborah P, October 2017
Disappointing except for the excellent chef who taught us. The class was not in Siena but a 30 minute drive outside of Siena at what looked to be a nice hotel. However, we were led around a back way to a yard where the chef welcomed us and took us to a dingy kitchen for the class. The kitchen was all stainless steel and not particularly clean. There was one dirty bathroom for the use of the 10 people in the class and the chef had to find some thin paper towels to use as tissue. The chef had come in from Florence for the class and made the most of the tools available but had trouble finding what he needed at times. Still he was charming, funny, and very instructive. We learned how to make ragu sauce, tiramisu, and of course home made noodles. It really was fun. Then the chef allotted the food to the 10 of us and we were led outside to unset tables that were in the dark to eat. It was 17C since it was night. We grabbed flatware from around the kitchen and I grabbed some napkins I found under a counter for the group. There was no water or wine. The chef found some water glasses and a bottle of prosecco which he apologetically poured for the 10 of us. Then he went back to the kitchen to clean up. We ate quickly since it was so cold and our food was cooling fast. The chef then ran out happily with another bottle of prosecco he has found and gave us all another glass. The group was full of 'good sports' who laughed a lot and made the whole affair fun. The food we made was really tasty in our view and we agreed we learned a lot. Before we were put on the bus the chef let told us we had permission to use the bathroom of the restaurant connected with the hotel - much nicer warmer and cleaner that the one in the bathroom. _br/_ All told, this was not as advertised and over-priced for what we got but they bussed in a really entertaining and competent chef and we all had fun and learned something.
Review by: momrish, October 2017
We loved every minute of it! I will definitely be making both the fresh pasta could not believe how easy it was as well as the ragu sauce._br/_ Simone our chef was a wonderful host and really helped our technique.
Review by: Brett H, September 2017
Such a fun class!
Review by: Jenna B, September 2017
This cooking class was one of our favorites in Italy! My husband and I took the cooking class with Simon in late-August 2017. We were picked up by a driver at the designated meeting spot on-time and driven to the site of the cooking class. There were 5 people total in this class. When we arrive Simon greeted us warmly and set everyone up with a cooking station and glass of wine! During our class we learned how to make pasta, brushetta, and tiramisu. My husband and I are beginners in terms of skill, and we felt this class was well-suited for our skill level. Simon was very hands on and described in detail everything we needed to know. After we finished cooking Simon lead us to the courtyard where a beautiful table was set for those in the class to enjoy our meal. It was a picture-perfect evening with great food and great company. We highly recommend this class for beginning-level chefs! We had an excellent evening and was sad when it was time for it to end.
Review by: Enrique A, September 2017
excellent experience! great time with the chefs as well as with other participants
Review by: Stuart i, August 2017
It wasn't as advertised, we didn't cook everything and didn't get any recipes to take home. But what was made, and what we made was easy and delicious and Simon was very nice. The other two in the group were great company so we had a very good time.
Review by: Ryan S, July 2017
This was by far one of the best things we did while visiting Siena. Simone was an amazing host for my fiancee and I. We made pasta together and the rest of the class we drank wine and watched while he talked us through each step of the rest of our meal. He had also set up a table for us outside where the two of us enjoyed dinner together. After we offered, Simone joined us and we had a great time hanging out and talking while we enjoyed some of the best food we had in Italy.
Review by: Tarryn M, June 2017
We had a really great night. The kitchen was in a Vineyard and the 3 of us were the only one and #39;s in the class. The chef was lovely and shared lots of tips. The meal was simple yet delicious and authentic. Highly recommended for an evening activity.
Review by: peterwinski, June 2017
The Tuscan cooking class was lots of fun and the chef, Patrizia, was absolutely amazing: knowledgeable, entertaining and attentive. Unfortunately Viator has problems: start time given was 5 PM but was actually 6 PM. Van transport was not mentioned when booked and the kitchen used was not great.
Review by: Gil O, October 2016
The class demonstration was excellent and fun. Be carefu though when booking the activity as the address provided on the booking invoice from Viator is NOT where the cooking demonstration is located. We walked in circles trying to find our meeting point which was evidently described in a separate email notification which we must have missed. So unless it is absolutely clear where the pickup point is, I would avoid this class altogether.
Review by: Shelagh B, October 2016
Most importantly - the cooking class was great, fantastic chef Julio Cesar Pinado, good fun, nice group of people, great meal and wine, and recipes provided by email.
Review by: jkhgwh, October 2016
It was great doing hands on preparation. Location was nice. However a long drive from pick up point. The instructor was only reasonably knowledgeable.
Review by: Jane M, October 2016
This was so much fun. Simone was wonderful and we enjoyed all the company.
Review by: Lynette M, October 2016
Our cooking class with Simone' was enormous fun. He was skillful, thoughtful, instructive and entertaining. The food was delicious and we can't wait to try our new skills at home
Review by: Nancy M, September 2016
This didn't start out great. I was sent the wrong address and had to hustle to the pickup zone near Plaza Gramschi. Then my driver appeared and I hopped into a nice Mercedes for a ride to the Casa Frassia - about 20 minutes outside of Siena. Where in the heck were we going? Once I arrived, however, the chef, Simone, bag an to explain and had me start helping with food prep. Turned out there were only two of us in the cooking class and we did everything! It was a great experience. My only suggestion would be for Viator and the Company running the Tuscan Cooking class to make sure the location is correct in the email voucher confirmation.
Review by: Leigh H, August 2016
Cooking class was fabulous and the chef did an amazing job teaching us. We loved it! The only reason I give 4 stars instead of 5 is because it's not actually in Siena. If we had been given the correct address, we could have saved ourselves 40 minutes in round trip driving, by going directly ther instead of going into Siena just to be brought back out.
Review by: Robyn W, July 2016
This cooking class was fun and informative. Small numbers meant everyone got to be involved with food prep and the meal was delicious. Lots of good tips and tricks for fail safe recipes to be reproduced at home.
Review by: Stanley Adams W, July 2016
As fit turned out, my wife and I were the only two participants in this class and thankfully it was not cancelled for that small number. With the one on one experience, we were able to prepare a delicious meal with the close guidance of our chef. We definitely learned new techniques and enjoyed the results of our efforts on the terrace above the restaurant. An enjoyable time, even with the three of us.
Review by: Holger Peter N, July 2016
Chef was good. Still waiting for email with recipes.
Review by: Laura Ann F, July 2016
So much fun! Excellent instruction - very funny hosts - casual and engaging. We had a great time!
Review by: Sally L, June 2016
This was a brilliant tour. We had so much fun and learned so much about Italian cooking. Our Chef was amazing! Julio was very passionate about his cooking and this definitely rubbed off on us. He was funny, engaging and clearly loves to teach others. We highly recommend this tour as it was certainly a highlight of our trip! You will not be disappointed :
Review by: Marsha M, June 2016
I enjoyed this class, but want to advise others that it was not as advertised. We were told to meet at a certain spot in Siena and then walk to a restaurant in central Siena for it. Instead a driver met us and we drove 45 minutes to a rural hotel over very winding roads, which didn't help me with my tendency for motion sickness. We did make tiramisu, bruschetta, and pasta, but not the local pici pasta. Instead we made raviolis and a wide noodle and a meat sauce and butter/sage sauce. We were not given the recipes, but told we'd be sent emails with a link to the recipes. It has been a month and no such email has been received. The chef was organized, pleasant and had a sense of humor. He taught us some knife techniques and was very patient. We enjoyed ourselves, but it was not as advertised.
Review by: Brian O, May 2016
Great class! Our chef was patient, funny and had the ability to make even beginners feel comfortable. The food that we made together was delicious. I can't wait to try it at home. This class was one of the high points of our trip.
Review by: Kimberly B, October 2015
This was a highlight of our trip to Italy. It was a nice break from all the sightseeing where we were experiencing to get into doing. The class size was perfect 8 people- 4 men/4 women, the chef/teachers were authentic one only spoke Italian! and warm. The 4-course meal we learned to cook was delicious. I got lots of practical tips and aha, that's how they do its. And sitting down and eating our food was delightful. Everyone in the class had a chance to prepare multiple parts of the meal and everyone pitched in to serve the meal. Cooking together is a fun activity and I'm really glad we did this! I would recommend this to anyone/everyone!
Review by: Joyce H, October 2015
Authentic Tuscan cooking in a small group setting. Excellent tips and recipes to enjoy back home.
Review by: Kristen L, August 2015
Take advantage of the resources here. It was beautiful and delicious!!!!!!!
Review by: Diana G, July 2015
This was an extremely satisfying and pleasant experience, as well as a learning experience. It was especially interesting because 2 of the attendees were children, ages 4 and 6. They were extremely well behaved and really enjoyed cooking, especially rolling the dough. I only have one criticism...and that is the use of salt--especially in the mixture for the roast pork. An extremely hugh amount of salt was used, along with the spices and herbs. Perhaps the Italians don't suffer from high blood pressure, but for those of us who do, we need to cut back on the use of salt I know it adds a great deal to the flavor. All in all it was a very pleasant experience and I look forward to making some of the dishes.
Review by: Lawrence M, June 2015
A truly wonderful evening of learning and cooking. Lella and Francisco together with Anna interpreter did a fantastic job. Very glad we decided to do it. Eating what we helped to prepare topped it off beautifully.
Review by: Pamela P, June 2015
A great cooking lesson, easy to understand with an interpreter. Four of us helped prepare, cook and eat a 4 course Tuscan meal. I would recommend this cooking class.
Review by: Elaine D, October 2014
I took this cooking class while traveling alone in Italy. I love to cook and what better way to meet other people. Chef Louisa was wonderful, funny and very supportive of our efforts as was her assistant Cynzia. We cooked an authentic Tuscan meal from antipasti to dolce. It was amazing and delicious. I would definitely recommend this to others. Thank you!
Review by: Richard C, October 2014
Fabulous time with 8 different students. Recipes were great and everyone participated. Chef was great and dinner with red wine was wonderful. I will cook these recipes when I get home!
Review by: christine b, August 2014
This was a fantastic evening. Our chefs and hosts Claudio and Fernando were great fun and very professional. It as the best meal we had in Siena!
Review by: Kathryn R, August 2014
This tour was the best part of our trip! The instructors were great, the food amazing, and the group was so much fun. I would highly recommend doing this class!
Review by: Lauren W, December 2013
Great class with lots of helpful information and the food was sensational. Would have been better if everyone got to cook everything.
Review by: Brenda D, September 2013
Kelly and I thoroughly this class with 4 others! We spent 5 hours with Lella, her assistant, and interpreter, all who love cooking. It was fun and comfortable as Lella led us through the steps to make a gourmet meal. We learned so much! It was exciting to be a part of this and to bring back the recipes we had made. We all got to help in making the parts of the meal and then enjoyed the meal with each other and Lella's special wine! What a great memory!! Lella is a treasure.
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