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Tuscan Cooking Class: Private Culinary Experience
5.0
90 Ratings
Firenze
Join Maria for a private Florence market tour and Tuscan cooking class. Learn, cook, and dine with a local Italian family. Book now!
Join Maria for a private Florence market tour and Tuscan cooking class. Learn, cook, and dine with a local Italian family. Book now!
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Forno Sale Grosso - There are many cooking classes in Florence to choose from - but how many are in a stunning Florence countryside home with a delightful Italian couple! Maria is a recently retired architect and fun-loving host who picks you up from the heart of Florence and drives you to her beautiful home for an immersive Florentine cultural…
- Forno Sale Grosso - There are many cooking classes in Florence to choose from - but how many are in a stunning Florence countryside home with a delightful Italian couple! Maria is a recently retired architect and fun-loving host who picks you up from the heart of Florence and drives you to her beautiful home for an immersive Florentine cultural and culinary experience. Learn about the history of the city from your architect host during your 15-min drive. Join Maria in her kitchen for your private cooking class and learn Maria’s grandmother’s recipes for authentic Italian classics such as handmade pasta, bruschetta and tiramisu. If you’d like to add-on a market tour, Maria gives you a walking tour of San Lorenzo market. She introduces you to her favorite vendors and shows you how to pick fresh produce while explaining how these ingredients are used in Italian cooking. Maria’s menu varies according to the season and what is fresh in the market. She can accommodate any dietary restrictions, from gluten free to vegetarian, so let her know if you have any specific dietary requests. Enjoy your meal with Maria and her husband over conversation and laughter at their dining table overlooking a lovely garden.
What's Included
- Private cooking lesson and meal with your host Maria
- Alcoholic beverages
- Round-trip transport from a central meeting location in Florence
- Private cooking lesson and meal with your host Maria
- Alcoholic beverages
- Round-trip transport from a central meeting location in Florence
Meal Options
- Bruschetta -
- Spinach and cheese stuffed ravioli or tagliatelle - Handmade stuffed pasta or cut pasta in a sauce of your choice
- Tiramisu
- Local Italian wine
- Bruschetta -
- Spinach and cheese stuffed ravioli or tagliatelle - Handmade stuffed pasta or cut pasta in a sauce of your choice
- Tiramisu
- Local Italian wine
Additional Information
This is a special chance to participate in a private and engaging Tuscan cooking class in a charming Florence residence with a delightful retired Italian couple. It’s an ideal experience for those eager to connect with local culture through cuisine. The hands-on cooking class is held in a local home kitchen where Maria guides you in preparing 2-3…
This is a special chance to participate in a private and engaging Tuscan cooking class in a charming Florence residence with a delightful retired Italian couple. It’s an ideal experience for those eager to connect with local culture through cuisine. The hands-on cooking class is held in a local home kitchen where Maria guides you in preparing 2-3 traditional Tuscan dishes. You’ll acquire traditional Italian cooking techniques that can be easily recreated at home. After cooking, savor your meal with this wonderful Italian family. If you opt for a market tour, Maria will lead you on a guided exploration of San Lorenzo market, Florence’s historic food market, perfect for culinary enthusiasts. This experience includes round-trip transportation (for up to 6 guests) in Maria’s car from downtown Florence to her beautifully designed countryside home. During the drive, Maria shares captivating stories about the city. Vegetarians and guests with dietary preferences are warmly welcomed!
- Menu may vary depending on the season
- For your pasta, Maria offers a choice of sauces: Ragu, broccoli pesto, arrabbiata or butter and sage with parmesan cream. If you have a specific preference, please inform her when making your booking.
- If you are a group of 7 or more guests, Maria kindly requests that any guests beyond the first four arrange their own transportation to her home, as she can only accommodate up to 6 passengers in her car.
- Please note that, as is common in many Italian homes, this residence does not have air conditioning.
Location
Forno Sale Grosso
Via della Mattonaia
Meet your host Maria at the entrance to Forno Sale Grosso in the Florence city center. She will pick you up in her car and drive you to the market if you choose the tour + class option or drive you to her beautiful countryside home, 15 minutes away if you choose the class only option.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(90 Ratings)
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C7180ywscottm
May 9, 2025
a wonderful class and Maria will fondly be remembered for a long time - Marias cooking class was perfect. the location was beautiful and the long driveway was actually a part of the ancient road to Bologna ( great history ) . Maria shared all the recipes made plus a few extras. it was a great experience and would recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Susan
May 9, 2025
Exceptional experience - This cooking class was amazing. We began at the oldest market in Florence and bought ingredients for our meal. Maria took us to her home north of Florence and we had a delightful time preparing a meal which was enjoyed by all. The food was amazing and we thoroughly enjoyed her company and the ability to visit in a relaxed atmosphere. She was a gracious hostess who made us feel like family in her home. This experience was a high point in our visit to Florence
Highly recommend
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tc217
May 8, 2025
Don’t miss this! Perfect day., - Wonderful experience. I received this as a gift and it will go down as one of the best gifts ever. Cristina is warm and engaging all while providing the best cooking tips. Gorgeous location, fun day with great food and better people. Don’t miss out on this class. Thank you for a wonderful day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ryaanmichael
May 3, 2025
Amazing cooking class in incredible Italian home. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! - We had an amazing experience with Maria! This was the highlight of our trip to Italy and will be something we remember forever. Maria is very friendly, welcoming, and she made us feel like family. We met Maria at the local market where she gave us a tour, and then drove us out to her home in the country. She gave my wife and me a very detailed class on how to make authentic ravioli, tiramisu, and a couple of appetizers, which were all delicious and made completely from scratch! We then ate what we cooked together with Maria and her husband Marco at their table. It was a very special day for us and we can't wait to remake what she taught us. We highly recommend booking Maria's class, and we can't wait to return! Love, Ryan and Debney.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving24774807105
Apr 28, 2025
A highlight of our Italian adventure - My daughter (14) and I visited Florence from Australia and loved our cooking class with Maria Cristina! We chose this half day experience even though we only had two days in Florence and am so glad we did. It was the perfect offset to the bustle of the city. After browsing all of the amazing produce at the market, we drove to Maria Cristina's beautifully restored country home in the hills. We made bruschetta and antipasto platter, broccoli tagliatelle (pasta from scratch), strawberries with lemon and tiramisu and discussed many more dishes! All delicious and all with delightful conversation. Thank you Maria Cristina - we have wonderful memories of our day with you. Definitely a highlight of our visit to Florence.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
802bobd
Apr 23, 2025
Great Private Tuscan Cooking Class - Christen is very engaging and friendly. Her Tuscan home is simply amazing. We enjoyed hearing the stories about the renovation. Wow. Speaking of wow… the views from her home are stunning. One feels as though they are in a movie scene. From the moment Christine picked us up in town to drive us to her home she was sharing information. Once arriving at her home, together we made our own bruschetta, our own hand made pasta, two pasta sauces, and an Apple Tort for dessert…. We drank wine and ate the food we made. Making our moment more special, Christine added candles to the tort and sang happy birthday to both us. (Our birthday was the day of and day after our class)
Not only did Christine share each of the recipes we made and more… she also shared the model of the past machine she uses…. Yes we bought our own.
If you find yourself in Florence, this tour / class is an excellent way to learn about Tuscany, visit a real Tuscan Villa, make and eat great food, drink good wine, and enjoy great company.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
130prashantl
Apr 19, 2025
Very intimate experience in a small setting - Maria is such a wonderful host. We went to her house with an infant and she was very accomodating towards us and even offered to make a few dishes for our little one.
Her house is a very beautiful countryside villa with an even beautiful kitchen.
Learnt a lot of italian dishes,had wonderful conversations and enjoyed a great meal.
Disclaimer:Be ready to nap hard after this amazing meal.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J3415pnstephanief
Apr 19, 2025
Highly recommend a day at Maria’s! - We loved our afternoon with Maria! She was generous and thoughtful, and the food simple but delicious. We left her charming country retreat with full bellies and warm hearts!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K8394qskims
Apr 13, 2025
A Wonderful Learning Experience - Our cooking class with Maria was truly a highlight of our trip to Italy. Maria, a gracious and welcoming instructor, invited us into her home located in an idyllic countryside setting for a cooking class we will long remember. The food she guided us to prepare was delicious and inspiring. We would love to return and learn more about the art of Italian cooking!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Quest08549108190
Apr 9, 2025
A welcome change from art tours. - What a nice way to get away from the crowds and bustle of Florence and experience the renovated countryside home of Maria. We learned how to “properly” make ravioli, tiramisu, bruschetta, and sauce for our ravioli. She picks you up in the city and returns you when your class is over.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
