Tuscany - at Villa Campestri
- With a unique Oleoteca experience -

“Gourmet Cooking Courses in the Spectacular Tuscan Hills
Timeless Views, Medieval Villages, Home Grown Delicacies”

Program, Timing, General Information

Your private driver will be picking you up at Amerigo Vespucci airport near Florence or at the Central Train Station in Florence. Then, you will be invited to join me and your fellow travellers on the evening of your arrival for dinner at the Villa where the family will embrace you with their warmth and welcome you with open arms.

Our Maestro Chef will once again be conducting our four unique, 2-hour classes which will commence on the second day of our adventure. Cooking classes will be offered on days two, three, four and five of your stay. Classes begin at 10 am, after you have enjoyed a hearty, traditional Tuscan breakfast.

Your classes will offer you instruction in traditional Tuscan cooking:
• Pastas, Crepes and Sauces
• Tuscan Renaissance Menu
• 4 Course Olive Oil Menu
• Tuscan appetizers

Each day local farm products are delivered directly to the kitchen of the villa, creating a farm to table experience. And, yes, Chef Jerry does share with us all of his wonderful recipes, many of which have been handed down for generations within his family. Classes are “hand's on” under the watchful eye of Maestro Chef Jerry and therefore we allow a maximum of 8 students. There are no restrictions on the number of non-student companions that would like to join us.

Following class each day we will enjoy lunch served to us in the dining room or al fresco overlooking the exquisite Mugello valley. Our menu will be our very own creations from that day's class! Should you have travelling companions who will not be participating in class they would, of course, be invited to join us for lunch at a pre-fix rate.

This first day of class will be followed in the afternoon by a 2-hour Oleoteca experience, conducted by Paolo Pasquali, the owner of the Villa and our host. Paolo will lead us through the traditional method of creating world class olive oils and, of course, we will participate in a unique olive oil tasting. The extraordinary oils of the Villa are created from the olive groves on the estate.

~ Share your talents with friends old and new ~

~ Florence by night~

After lunch, each subsequent day you will be free to stroll the many walking paths of the Tuscan hillsides, travel alone or with new friends from class to the nearby charming towns of Vicchio, or Borgo San Lorenzo, visit the winery roads for tasting the impeccable wines of this region, go to the Ferrari Autodroma for auto or motorcycle events, horseback riding, golf, bicycling, or enjoy the sights and shopping of Florence. The choices are yours each day. As a traveler I have never appreciated having every moment of my day planned, and in this light I feel each of my guests should enjoy what will make their time in Tuscany a trip to remember. Along with the superb staff of the Villa, I will be assisting you with transportation and reservations for the activities or events of your choice.

On day 6 of our stay our van will pick us up at the Villa following breakfast and take us into Florence for a full day of sightseeing, shopping and dining. Here again, once we arrive in Florence you will be entirely free to explore the masterpieces of this city, the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Should you wish to go shopping on the Ponte Vecchio or visit the Galleria dell'Accademia, one of the world's most acclaimed art museums, to view the David or spend the entire day at the Uffizi Museum I will be happy to make these arrangements for you as your personal concierge. Choices are endless and always yours.

Should you desire to have a final romantic dinner “à 2” before leaving or prefer to spend a festive evening with all of your classmates, once again, you will be able to do as you like. On the day of your departure your private driver will return you to the airport or train station at a time that is most convenient for your travelling needs.

~ Discovering food as fashion ~

~ Cheers to Diane for a once in a lifetime experience~