Begin your Florentine culinary journey with Costanza in her lush garden filled with olive and fruit laden trees, aromatic herbs and a huge vegetable garden. She and her family grow seasonal vegetables from leeks, brassicas and fennel in the winter to tomatoes, eggplant and zucchini in the summer and tries to use as much of their own produce in their cooking. Pick some of the fresh seasonal vegetables that you might use in your Florence cooking class. With a basket of vegetables in hand, enter her family’s beautiful, spacious kitchen to learn to cook a seasonal Florentine meal from scratch. Enjoy a cup of hot coffee or tea before rolling up your sleeves to begin your hands-on cooking class in Florence. Learn to cook an appetizer, first course and dessert from scratch. Your farm-table cooking lesson will last about three and half hours which includes a break for a glass of wine and a snack. Enjoy recreating Costanza's family’s recipes before you sit down in her family's beautiful room to share the meal you helped prepare. If you’re interested, Costanza would be happy to take you on a 20-minute tour of a few of their historic rooms furnished with a collection of antiques from the end of the 1500s.
Please note that because Costanza sometimes has guests staying in their B&B they may be present in the dining room and kitchen, but your experience will be private.
Enjoy a delicious farm to table meal in Florence in a stunning 1839 family estate! Join your host Costanza in her family’s beautiful dining room to enjoy a seasonal Florentine feast from family recipes passed down through generations in her family. Your menu may include sides such as peperonata (sautè red bell pepper with caramelized onions), carciofi fritti (fried artichokes) or deep fried zucchini flowers, followed by first course of pasta with duck ragu or risotto with porcini mushrooms or artichokes lasagna and main course of meat like roasted lamb with aromatic herbs or veal rolls with marsala sauce or ossobuco. Your meal will conclude with a dessert such as torta della nonna or fondente al cioccolato (chocolate fondant) or tiramisu ai lamponi (raspberries tiramisu).
Please note that because Costanza sometimes has guests staying in their B&B they may be present in the dining room and kitchen, but your experience will be private.
On days when Costanza is not available, her sister Serena will be your host.
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.
First course of pasta with duck ragu or risotto with porcini mushrooms or artichokes lasagna Dessert such as torta della nonna or Fondente al cioccolato (chocolate fondant) tiramisu ai lamponi (raspberries tiramisu)Two sides such as peperonata (sautèed red bell pepper with caramelized onions), carciofi fritti (fried artichokes) or deep fried zucchini flowersMain course of meat like roasted lamb with aromatic herbs or veal rolls with marsala sauce or ossobuco, Costanza is a warm and wonderful Italian host who makes you feel like family the moment you meet her. She owns a stunning Tuscan estate right outside Florence that has been in her family since 1839. Stepping into her property is like walking into paradise with its picturesque olive groves, typical Tuscan architecture and lush vegetable gardens! Costanza works with her family to maintain a gorgeous farm and two villas, one of which is converted into a bed and breakfast. Your experience will take place in her grandparent’s villa, a beautiful home filled with antiques from the 16th century. Unlike many villas in Italy, this villa has been in the same family for several centuries and has a magical charm to it. Cooking has been Costanza’s biggest passion ever since she was a child watching her parents cook wonderful meals for their family and friends. Her family would host large food gatherings and she often relates being with her parents to cooking for other people. Her love for cooking grew because her grandmothers were amazing cooks and she always loved to eat! Through her degree in agriculture Costanza learned how to grow what we eat and has a deep love for farming and the tradition of farming. She enjoys meeting new people to pass on a little bit of her history and to learn from them about their history and traditions – she says that hosting travelers has special meaning to her because it makes her feel like she is traveling the world! On days that Costanza is busy, her equally wonderful sister Serena will be your host.
"Fantastic experience our host shared a unique day, amazing cooking class, and delicious
recipes. We were taken aback at their work to make the meal feel first class; the
preparations and dining area beat the fanciest restaurants we dined out at on our trip."
"Passion for food and the joy of cooking! The only thing that eclipsed the beautiful villa we explored and cooked in was the food itself. Constanza is incredibly knowledgeable and an excellent teacher who made sure to discuss the how and why along with the what for everything we did. It was a perfect mix of explanation, demonstration, and practice that resulted in a meal and dining experience that topped the best restaurants in Florence. My wife and I were joined with two families, one with children, and the kitchen became a wonderful community with our host accommodating us all. We left with our stomachs and hearts full and with an renewed appreciation for quality ingredients that make excellent food and the joy that should come with cooking."
