Tuscany in Italy is a charming
medieval town with traditions that are centuries
old, people and their culture, art, food and wine.
For people who look to explore the town and its
cuisine, and do a lot of touring around, the Weekly
Culinary Adventure by Good Tastes of Tuscany,
a member of the IFWA is just the right choice.
You can experience Tuscan cooking
to the fullest by getting a hands-on experience
with two expert chefs in the week-long culinary
classes. Good Tastes of Tuscany has carefully
planned the courses so that you can dedicate a
whole week learning and experimenting with the
various gastronomic techniques, modern and traditional
those are used in Tuscan kitchens. You will be
spending some very interesting time in the 14th
century kitchen of Villa
Pandolfini during your cooking classes.
The introduction session would
carry a brief explanation on the history of the
Tuscan diet, the typical dishes, bread, food made
by peasants and the changes in gastronomy that
have been happening since the medieval times to
the renaissance and up to the modern days.
On each day you will learn to
prepare a five course meal that include soups,
pastas, vegetables, meat and fish.
Seasonal Cooking, Antipasti and
Desserts:
The specialty of Italian cuisine
is in the fresh products used. All fruits and
vegetables available in that particular season
are used and do not recommend the use of frozen
products. Most popular dishes of the season can
be prepared according to the popular demands.
Schedule on Each Day
of the Culinary Quest
Saturday
The participating group will
usually arrive at the Villa Pandolfini Estate
after lunch and settle into their accommodations.
They can freshen up, relax and also will have
time to explore the estate. The gourmands will
receive an orientation and a ‘Benvenuto
Dinner,’ during which they will meet the
chefs and the hosts. The visitors will be captivated
by the villa, its historical 14th century kitchen
with its original fireplace made of stone, marble
sink and the domed ceiling.
The dinner would comprise traditional
and seasonal Tuscan delights and the estate’s
wine. The participants will also receive the recipe
books and other instructions pertaining to the
course.
Sunday
Southern Tuscany Tour
The tour to the Tuscan countryside
is intended to give an insight into the history
and culture of the people. You get
* Firsthand experience with the
origin of the Tuscan produce; visit some medieval
villages, impressive castles
* Drive through the Sienese Crete and the Chianti
valleys and the spectacular Val d’Orcia
* Have an amazing view of the Pieve of Sant’Anna
in Caprena where the Olivetan monastery of the
14th century is located. Two films, The English
Patient and The Gladiator were filmed here
* Visit a charming vineyard estate owned by one
of renowned noble families of Tuscany and get
a unique opportunity to taste their wines, cheese,
olive oil and salami
* Mini lunch at the estate restaurant, the trip
will continue into the towns of Bagno Vignoni
and San Quirico, known for their natural geysers
* Relax in the quaint village of Pieza that has
numerous shops selling lovely handicraft items
and local produce
* On the way back, visit the factory producing
pecorino cheese and learn more about its functioning
* Stop at Montalcino for an ‘apertivo’
* Return to Florence via a different route
Monday
Cooking (Day 1: 10.00 am - 3.00 pm)
The day’s cooking class
will end with the lunch prepared by the gourmands.
They will be free in the afternoon to either relax
or opt for an additional activity/tour offered
in the ‘Additional Activities’ program.
Tuesday
Cooking (Day 2: 9.30 am - 2.30 pm)
The day’s cooking class
will end with the lunch prepared by the participants.
They will be free in the afternoon to either relax
or opt for an additional activity/tour program
and is to be paid separately.
Chianti and San Gimignano
* Drive through the hidden country
roads of the glorious Chianti region in Tuscany
* Visit an ancient Abbey and get a spectacular
view of vineyards
* Taste the wines of the estate
* Breathtaking views of the Chianti villages
* Enjoy the well-known ‘Dante reciting’
butcher’s recitals
* Visit a farm that raises the Chianina cows’
* Get an exciting view of the medieval town of
San Gimignano
* Dinner at local pizzeria
Wednesday
A visit to Mercato Centrale, lunch and afternoon
in Florence.
The trip to Florence to visit
Mercato Centrale will start at 10.00 am.
* Meet the chefs and visit the
multilevel marketplace that has been supplying
the local people fresh produce for all these years
* Enjoy lunch along with the Florentines
* Go shopping to leather markets, taste the world
famous gelato and walk the romantic stone streets
* Historical Florentine restaurant dinner with
the hosts and back home with them
* Personal guided tour of Florence and restaurant
for those who wish to stay in town for dinner
can also be booked.
Thursday
Cooking (Day 3: 10.00 am – 3.00 pm)
The day’s cooking class
will end with the lunch prepared by the participants.
They will be free in the afternoon to either relax
or opt for the Truffle Hunting (seasonal) an additional
activity/tour offered in the ‘Additional
Activities’ program.
Friday
Cooking (Day 4 with an Excursion)
* Visit to Italian Hand Painted
Ceramics factory that still maintains the craft
that is centuries old
* Purchase directly from the manufacturers and
ship to any location in the world
* Meet some skilled artisans; walk through the
streets and stores that display these special
handicraft items
* Travel the winding hills to reach the magnificent
Medici Villa and get an insight into the world
of the last royal family of Italy
* Lunch in the village of Artimino located on
a hill
* Admire the Medici Villa that is known for its
100 chimneys
* Relax before the culinary class begins in the
afternoon at 4.00 pm
* Dinner at 8.00 pm
The culinary programme in this
session (4.00 to 8.00 pm) will be to prepare a
farewell dinner for the whole group. You will
learn to make an excellent presentation of an
‘apperitivo.’ The Weekly Culinary
Adventure will end with the presentation of the
Certificate of Attendance to the participants.
Participants Fee
Each participant (cooking classes)
has to pay an amount of € 2,200* that is
inclusive of accommodation, welcome and farewell
dinners at Villa Pandolfini, visit to the Florence
market with transportation, Southern Tuscany Tour
with breakfast, wine tasting and pizza dinner,
lunch, the local market trip, transportation,
mini lunch in Artimino, intensive cooking on four
days, buffet breakfast on the last day, an apron
from Good tastes of Tuscany, recipe book and taxes.
**This price is for double occupancy.
Single supplements will be charged an extra €
300 per week.**
Non-participants Fee
Each non-participant has to pay
an amount of € 1,800** that is inclusive
of welcome and farewell dinners, visit to the
Florence central market with lunch and transportation,
Southern Tuscany Day Tour with breakfast, lunch,
pizza dinner and wine tasting, trip to local market,
transportation and mini lunch in Artimino, buffet
breakfast on the last day and the taxes.
**This price is for double occupancy.
Single supplements will be charged an extra €
300 per week. **
NOT included
for both participants and non-participants:
The following are not included
for both the participants and non-participants
are additional meals, optional day tours and transportation,
car rentals, any other trips, groceries purchased
for private needs, cell phone rentals, additional
cleaning, maid services, purchasing of estate
wine and olive oil.
The following services can be
provided at additional cost on request:
* Airport transfers from Florence,
Pisa and Rome
* Book hotels, villas/apartments, bed and breakfast
for those wishing to extend stay in Italy
* Provide competitive rental car rates via our
consolidator
* Book tours and outings
Please Note
Please ask us for our complete
list of tours. The program is subject to minute
changes depending on the local festivals, seasonal
produce, harvests etc. There may also be some
minor changes in the menu due to this.
Enquire here about the weekly culinary
adventure Or send us an email to info@ifwa.us.
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