Organic Tuscany, Cooking Vacation in Italy

Week-long organic cooking courses in the Tuscan hills.
Organic Tuscany offers week-long cooking classes in Italy, taking you to see where the fresh, local organic food we buy is grown and using it to cook traditional Tuscan and Italian recipes: fresh pastas, hearty salads, the perfect risotto and delectable desserts.
Two of the cooking courses are vegetarian and the others can be vegetarian friendly.
We are between Florence and Siena: one of the most beautiful landscapes in Italy.  As well as seeing stunning countryside, we explore the medieval cities in the area, and investigate their culinary traditions of great food and wine through meals and tastings.

Your week with us

Our Italian cooking courses are very hands-on. They are taught in English, but you will acquire a smattering of culinary Italian. Local chefs will guide you through the preparation of simple but delicious dishes (from Tuscany and from other Italian regions) and reveal some of their culinary secrets. Groups are small (maximum 8 people), so that everyone gets a chance to try their hand at every technique, from making fresh egg pasta dough to lovingly stirring an artichoke risotto to perfection.

You are free to pick and choose whether you‘d like to join in the cooking school activities on a particular day or not. If you fancy a day horse-riding, hot-air ballooning or just going to the beach, let us know and we‘ll help you do just that. Car rental is essential so that you can explore the area on your own, and tailor your cooking holiday in Italy to your wishes.

Accomodation

Accommodation will be in a magnificent 19th century villa, where the Italian cooking school is located.
The apartments are self-catering, so on your free evenings, you can choose whether to investigate the great local trattorie, or stay in and relax with a good Chianti and delicious local organic cheeses. There is also a swimming pool with a stunning view.

 Prices

The 2009 cooking course price of €1300 is per person, based on two people sharing an apartment. (This is approximately £805, or US$1580. Check current exchange rates on www.xe.com/ucc/

What‘s included

• Seven nights‘ accommodation
• Four hands-on cooking classes (in English)
• Lunch with delicious local biodynamic wines after all classes
• A welcome dinner at La Selva with wine
• Two dinners at organic farm restaurants with wine
• A farewell dinner with wine in a great local trattoria on Friday night
• A wine-tasting session
• A picnic lunch with organic products
• Pre-booked ticket to the Uffizi galleries in Florence
• A hamper with breakfast items (tea, coffee, fruit, organic jams and honey) in your apartment