Host offerings
Maria is an architect who has specialized in bio-architecture and restoration. She is now retired and has dedicated her time to enjoying her passion for painting and cooking. She learned to cook at a young age when living in Sardinia, where it is tradition to hand-down family recipes from one generation to the next. Maria’s mother was an exceptional cook, and it is from her that she learned to cook traditional Italian food. She is not only passionate about cooking, but also enjoys hosting as well. Maria looks forward to meeting people from all over the world, hosting them in her country house and cooking her favorite recipes together. When asked why she would like to be a Traveling Spoon host, this is what Maria had to say, “I love to cook and I love people. I would really like to share my recipes and spend time together with the guest in my country house – cooking and sharing good food”.
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 - 4 guests) Join Maria and her husband in their beautiful Tuscan countryside farmhouse to share stories and enjoy a traditional meal cooked using family recipes. You can expect to share a home-cooked Italian meal using Maria's grandmother’s recipes. A few traditional Tuscan dishes that you might be served are bruschetta with tomatoes and basil or black cabbage and ravioli with ricotta and spinach or tagliatelle with ragu or broccoli pesto or arrabbiata. End your meal with a dessert such as tiramisu or ice cream with cake. Two glasses of local wine will be served with your traditional Tuscan meal.
Cooking experience (1 - 4 guests) Maria meets you in a central Florence location and drives you to her beautiful 12th century countryside home for your Tuscan pasta making class. If you are a group of 5+ people, please make your own way to Maria's home located a 20-min drive north of Florence. During your hands-on Florence cooking class, learn to make authentic Italian classics from scratch including handmade pasta, bruschetta and dessert such as tiramisu. All the recipes you will learn are Maria's grandmother's recipes - Maria also shares tips and tricks that she learned from her. You can choose to make fresh pasta such as ravioli or tagliatelle with a sauce of your choice, so please let Maria know your preference in advance. After your Italian cooking class in Florence, join Maria at the dining table to enjoy the dishes you helped prepare over wine. Two glasses of Italian wine are included in your experience.
Market visit (1 - 4 guests) After you've been picked up from a central Florence location, enjoy a guided tour of San Lorenzo market with your host. When in Florence a visit to San Lorenzo market is unmissable. Enjoy a tour of this central market while you learn about local fruits, vegetables, meat and cheese. Here you will find butchers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetable vendors and small specialty shops selling local olive oils, meats, cheeses and much more. During your walking market tour, Maria introduces you to her favorite vendors and shows you how to pick fresh produce while explaining how these ingredients are used in Italian cooking. If you are a group of 5+ guests, please make your own way to Maria's home after your market tour for your cooking class.
Notes: Maria can accommodate lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diets on request. Please let her know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, while booking your Florence cooking class online. <br><br> Round-trip transfers from the Florence city (Forno Sale Grosso) are included only for guests 4 or fewer as Maria's car can only accommodate a max of 4. Please include your WhatsApp number or local contact number in your booking so that it is easy to communicate, in case of traffic or other delays. For guests 5+ please make your own way to Maria's home and back.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007ffb14a25a00>
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | Not offered | $90 | Not offered |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $140 | Not offered |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $180 | Not offered |
| Alcohol | $0 per person | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | 12:00pm - 03:00pm | 6:00pm - 09:00pm |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 9:30am - 01:30pm | 5:00pm - 09:00pm |
| Market Tour + Cooking Experience + Meal | 9:30am - 02:30pm |
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.
