Host offerings
Originally from Sicily, Antonella is an adopted Tuscan. As with many born and raised Sicilians, Antonella has always been incredibly passionate about food. A few years ago she decided to turn her passion into her work and Antonella now works as a cooking instructor, professional chef and a food blogger. Antonella lives with her husband and their two daughters in the countryside from May-Oct, it is about 15 minutes from Florence. Antonella and her husband are both very extroverted, easy to talk to and have lots of experience communicating with travelers.
Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.
In-home meal (1 - 5 guests) Meet Antonella and her family at their cozy countryside home. You will be welcomed not only by Antonella, but also by her husband - often Antonella's kitchen assistant! Antonella is an incredible host, both warm and professional - she is a professional chef and cooking teacher. As soon as you step foot in their home, they will offer you a classic espresso before you join the family at the dining table for your meal. The table setting will already be impeccable, and your hosts will offer you a prosecco to start (typical of Italian meals) followed by a selection of delicious Tuscan red wines. Antonella's husband is a wine lover and throughout the evening, he will engage you in a talk about the different types of wines in the region. Your menu might include a selection of dishes traditional recipes from Tuscany and Sicily, depending on the menu you choose.
Cooking experience (1 - 5 guests) Antonella’s kitchen is the kitchen of a professional chef. She has every single, specialized tool that you could imagine and a drawer with knives that would make any Master Chef jealous. During your Florence cooking lesson you will make a dessert, fresh pasta and main dish all from scratch. When you arrive, the kitchen table will already be set with the ingredients for the first recipe, a dessert. As you begin to put everything together according to Antonella's verbal instructions, she will share with you intriguing tidbits about cooking and baking, such as the difference between types of flours, and which flours are best for making fresh pasta versus cakes. As your dessert cooks, you will start to knead the dough for the fresh pasta. While the dough is left to rest, you will make your main dish, and then go back to roll out the pasta. Throughout it all enjoy Antonella and her husband's teaching and stories while they help to clean and fetch ingredients for your class. A memorable culinary experience in Florence!
Antonella can offer a Sicilian or a non-pasta Tuscan menu so if you prefer one of these options instead, let her know when making your booking.
Notes: The location for this experience is 15 minutes from Florence, in the countryside, and is only available from May to October. You will need a car to arrive there or a private transfer - it's not possible to arrive by bus and it's difficult to find a taxi. Antonella's experience is child-friendly, so if you are traveling with a family Antonella is happy to host you. Please also note Antonella can offer vegetarian and vegan meals, if you inform her in advance, at the time of booking the experience.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffae9ae0c90>
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $180 | $100 |
| Alcohol | $0 per person | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 10:30am - 01:30pm | 4:00pm - 07:00pm |
Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.
