Authentic Florence Cooking Class in the Tuscan Countryside

"My husband and I had a sense before even meeting Fabio and Christiane that our cooking experience would be relaxing and fun. Communicating via e-mail ahead of our visit, we agreed on a menu of seafood (Octopus salad with potatoes, handmade pasta with sauce of baby clams). We stayed in contact before our visit to arrange a place/time for pick up.
The drive to their beautiful country farmhouse in the hills outside of Florence is epic!
Narrow dirt roads lined with stone walls climbing higher and higher with amazing views of the countryside below.
Upon reaching their home, we were welcomed by Christiane (& some of their cats!) Before heading outside to their patio to enjoy a crisp glass of white wine and some yummy appetizers, we watched Fabio set the Octopus in a pot over low heat to start the cooking process. So interesting!
Watching and learning from Fabio as we prepared the food was so great. He clearly has a passion for cooking and his attention to getting the taste and flavors "just right" was a work of art!
Aside from the main dishes, he put together a beautiful fresh spinach salad with ripe tomatoes and sliced baby zucchini and prepared a pear pie with chocolate for dessert.
Sitting down at their table to enjoy this feast was an experience in itself. The conversations flowed along with some wine! The food was absolutely delicious!
We learned so much about their lives and interests and we shared our own stories as well.
This cooking experience with Fabio and Christiane exceeded our expectations & is a memory we will never forget. They are a lovely couple!"

"Fabio and his wife provided a wonderful opportunity to experience Italian life in their warm and gracious home. We arrived to a warm and welcoming greeting. We then proceeded to enjoy some appetizers while we chatted and discussed our cooking lesson. We had the privilege to learn how to make several different dishes for our meal which we enjoyed together around their dining room table. We also learned about different herbs they grow in their garden. it was truly a relaxed, fun and unique experience. I'm so glad our travel agent booked this as opposed to one in town with lots of people. Fabio consulted ahead of time to learn what we would like to prepare. Thank you, Fabio and Christiane, for a delightful experience."

"We can’t say enough about our new wonderful friends we were fortunate to join at their home to discuss food, family, and life. We loved the truly real world experience that we had with them during our cooking and dining adventure in the Florence countryside - we will never forget and we hope to meet again someday!!"

"A wonderful evening. Fabio picked us up in town and we drove into the country to his home.
Very local experience. Great food and fun company. Highly recommend!"

"We had a wonderful experience with Fabio and Christiane at the start of our week in Tuscany. We communicated with Fabio ahead of time to agree on the details including time and menu. Fabio met us in town at 4:30 to drive us up the hill -- we loved getting out of town and enjoyed the beautiful sunset views overlooking Firenze... we arrived at their home and enjoyed an aperitif in the garden of local sparkling wine and toast with homemade pesto (with kale, walnuts, fresh parmesan, garlic and local olive oil) and butter and sardines. We then shifted to the kitchen to help prepare the meal -- we started making the apple pie, so it had time to bake, then prepared the pork roast with fresh herbs, shallots and garlic, sauteed local green with house olives, and then homemade pasta with carbonara (carefully mixing to ensure it is a sauce vs. scrambled eggs!). We enjoyed the meal and conversation with Chianti wine and homemade bread. Our hosts were very interesting people with varied interests who had traveled in lots of places, so the conversation was easy and enjoyable. Fabio uses only fresh and local ingredients and shared a lot about the local spices, cheeses, meats, vegetables while we were cooking. It happened to be our son's 21st birthday, so Fabio decorated the desert with the traditional Italian "Augeri" candles. Very enjoyable and authentic experience -- we learned a lot about the local area, food, culture and had a great meal. I realize that Christiane and I took the pictures, so there are none of us! Highly recommend!"

"Great hands on cooking and eating experience in a family home outside of Florence. We love food and cooking and wanted to have a night that was different than going to a restaurant— allowed us to dine with a very kind and interesting couple, learn more about life in the area, prepare food together (learned to make fresh pasta, a carbonara sauce that didn’t turn into scrambled eggs!!), a pork roast with fresh herbs, a warm escarole salad with fresh olives, homemade bread, homemade apple pie and local wines. We cooked together and then dined with our hosts. Fabio was very knowledgeable about food, natural ingredients. He and his wife were very interesting people— a retired architect and journalist who are well traveled. Fabio picked us up in Florence and took us to their home and back so transportation is covered. This is a really special experience that I recommend to people who want to learn more about cooking and eating in Italy with a highly personal and authentic experience."

"Fabio and Christiane were far and away our best experience during our Italian Vacation. They were our second to last night in Italy and we were glad of it because the food we had there was hard to compete with.

Fabio and Christiane were unbelievably accommodating hosts. Their house, was nestled in the hills outside florence. On our way Fabio would make stops to show us the Olive trees and shows us views of the city and country side. Once we got to their house they poured us a glass of wine and took us on a walk of their gorgeoud property.

Their Olive trees, herb garden and cats were like something out of a movie. My wife and I had so much fun with them and were grateful for the engaging conversation during the cooking lesson.

If you are looking for a break from the fast pace of the cities I would highly encourage you to check this out. My wife and I rank it among our best experience in europe."

"Fabio and Christiana were amazing. They welcomed us into their home with a great salad and wine. They used fresh herbs from their gardens and fresh ingredients locally. They contacted us ahead of time for the menu and altered for us based on allergies. We enjoyed talking to them throughout the evening and learning about their lives. They also picked us up and drove us to the hills and showed us Florence from afar. We stayed extra late and started earlier, so that shows we had a great time!"

"I could not have asked for a better experience! It was just me and my now fiancè cooking with Fabio and Christiane. They helped me create the perfect evening to propose. Fabio was so accommodating in planning meals that would not take too long, so we would have light, and he even made the tiramisu have a heart-shaped dusting of cocoa powder. They were more than generous with their time and knowledge, and we learned a lot about Italian cooking."

"We had a wonderful time with Fabio. Learned a lot about authentic Tuscan cooking.
Happy we chose this experience you will be too."

"It was an absolutely fantastic experience. Fabio was a brilliant host and we learned SO much from the class and had a great time!! It was truly a pleasure to be welcomed into their home and learn so much. One of the best experiences."

"Meeting Fabio and his wife for a cooking class in their home was a highlight of my time in Florence. I would do it again! Thanks to our hosts."

"The evening of cooking and conversation with Fabio and Christina was definitely a trip highlight that I would higly recommend! They welcomed us into their home and together we cooked a delicious Tuscan meal. Fabio took great lengths to tailor the menu to what we wanted to cook, Parppadelle with wild boar sauce, Pollo alla Cacciatora, and Apple Tart, along with some local red wine- absolutely delicious!! We ate outside looking out onto olive trees and the beauty of the Tuscan hills and stayed for hours having great conversation- an evening in paradise with two amazing people!"

"We went to Italy to visit friends & family. We went to Rome, Sorrento, Amalfi, Florence and Lucca. It was fun, crowded, and busy. But the cooking class with Fabio and his lovely wife in their home above Florence was among the most memorable. He picked us up at about 4:30 and brought us to his home in the hills. There were 4 of us. Before our trip, he was very helpful in accommodating and planning a menu that would work for us. He was easy and flexible. He had the items ready to prepare. We made homemade Pappardelle Cinghiale (one of our favorites), Chicken Cacciatore, and an Apple tart. His manner was easy and fun, and his wife kept us on time. The meal was fun to make and even better to eat. We dined Al Fresco amidst the olive grove and had a wonderful evening. It was definitely one of the highlights of our trip, and I can't wait to practice making homemade pasta. I cannot recommend Fabio enough. I am the main cook at home, and he showed me how to be more relaxed and how to have more fun cooking."

"This experience was one of the highlights of our ten day Italy trip. Fabio picked us up from town and took us to his house where we met his wife Christiane. We spent the night learning about the Italian culture and cuisine with two of the best hosts we could have asked for. They were kind, informative, and funny -- just a joy to be around. It was very engaging and we happily participating in preparing the meal through Fabio's guidance. We would highly recommend this to anyone traveling from out of town!"

"My mom wanted to cook in Italy and we were suggested to cook with Fabio in Florence. Fabio is the nicest, most patient and creative cook. He was welcoming and loved sharing his mastery of cooking. We thoroughly enjoyed being with him and his wife Christine and chatting about all things - cats included.

If you want to learn to cook an amazing meal as well as get to know more about Florence, culture and life in italy - this is the experience for you.

I now need a pasta machine :) and it is not as hard as I thought."

"Fabio and a family friend picked us up in Florence not far from where we were staying and drove us to his home in the country side. The views just driving to his home were AMAZING, and we were welcome with prosecco, fresh mozarella and bread with oil made from the olives on the property. We then began preparing our 3 course meal of homemade pasta and sauce, swordfish, cuttlefish, and apple tart. The cooking instruction was fun and informative, and we then got to sit to enjoy our food while getting to know more about Fabio and the area. This was one of our favorite parts of our entire 2 weeks spent in Italy!"

"Fabio and Kristiana are top notch hosts. From Working closely with us to develop a menu to the drive back after dessert. We enjoyed our time completely and felt like we said goodbye to new friends when the night was over. The food was interesting and enjoyable, accompanied by nice wine."

"My husband and I had the most wonderful time with Fabio and his wife Christiane. Fabio picked us up in Florence and we had a beautiful scenic drive in the country to his home. He even stopped at an overlook so we could get out and see Florence below us. Once at their home, Fabio and Christiane we're so warm and friendly. We felt as if we were old friends. We loved hearing stories of how they met and their lives together. Fabio provided us with a welcome drink as we learned how to prepare a traditional Florentine meal. We made ricotta cheese and spinach gnudi (my personal favorite), peposo (my husband's favorite), stewed artichokes, and for dessert, castagnaccio. We were there on Valentine's day and Fabio put his own special touch on the cake to make it extra special. We stayed much longer than the tour time designated just eating, drinking, and having lovely conversation. Prior to coming, Fabio communicated frequently with us to make sure the menu he had planned was something we would enjoy and he had no trouble changing things that we were unsure of. Afterwards, he sent us the recipes so we could make them at home as well. We did so many wonderful things in Italy, but this was by far our favorite!"

"My husband and I had a wonderful experience with Fabio and his wife, Christiane. We learned some delicious recipes, enjoyed lovely conversation, and had a spectacular dinner outside in their backyard located on a beautiful estate surrounded by the most amazing views! I highly recommend this cooking class experience. It is a highlight of our travels to Italy in July 2022! Lisa & Mike"

"Truly the highlight of our time in Italy. We spent the afternoon with Fabio and his wife, Christiane, learning some traditional recipes including ricotta and chard stuffed ravioli and a traditional ligurian dish of salt cod with chickpeas. But the best was having an afternoon of delicious food , wine, and conversation discussing music and books in the Tuscan countryside. It felt like we were visiting old friends. Fabio provided all the recipes so that we can try again now that we have returned home."

"Fabio was wonderful, generous and made this a highlight of our trip to Italy. His wife Christiana joined as well and shared her delicious homemade plum chutney and shared how they cured olives from the grove outside their house. I wish I could give them 6 stars. Thank you!"

"We had an amazing experience with Fabio and his wife Christiane. My wife and I were traveling in Italy for 2 weeks on our honeymoon and spent a few days in Florence. We booked this cooking class with Fabio a few months in advance and he reached out ahead of time to customize the menu/food to our preferences.

We ended up making homemade pasta with a white bean sauce with bacon & peppers plus a couple sides (fried zucchini and chicken rolls). Fabio is very knowledgeable and offered all sorts of insights about the ingredients, cooking tips, etc, throughout the process. We had great local wine and were greeted with a plate of local cheese when we arrived. All of the food was incredible and as good as anything we had in Italy - and it was certainly one of the most memorable overall experiences. Fabio picked us up and dropped us off in downtown Florence. They live at the top of a mountain on the outskirts of Florence and the drive was unbelievably scenic. Their house is surrounded by gardens, olive trees and all sorts of wildlife - a very authentic tuscan countryside experience. We prepared the food in the kitchen but the weather was nice so we ate at their table outside in the garden/yard. The cooking class was supposed to be from 5:00-9:00pm but we were having such a great time chatting with Fabio & Christiane after dinner that we lost track of time and ended up staying until 11:00pm. Fabio & Christiane were such amazing hosts and were not the least bit upset that we stayed that late. They are great people clearly appreciate getting to know their guests and were hospitable from beginning to end.
Your response
"

"We had a wonderful time with Fabio and Christine. The food was fresh from a local market or from their garden. The experience was amazing, fresh food, good wine and the conversation was delightful. The day was perfect to sit on their patio for a wonderful lunch. It was so nice to get out of the city and learn about the area. Since we have been home we have made the dishes several times with confidence. We are planning a return visit and look forward to another session with wonderful teachers."

"Fabio and his wife were very enjoyable. We had great fun."

"After a full day in Florence visiting museums and galleries, we were really looking forward to our personalized dining experience. Our visit to the home of Fabio and Christiane exceeded all of our expectations. In the weeks before we arrived, we communicated with Fabio several times discussing the menu. This allowed us input into our meal and Fabio did the rest, creating a wonderful 3 course lunch. After picking us up directly from our hotel, we drove to their charming home high on a hill, taking in beautiful views of the Tuscan countryside. We were greeted by Christiane and immediately felt right at home. We spent the next 2 1/2 hours in their kitchen sipping Campari, chatting about a host of topics and helping Fabio prepare our meal. We prepared and baked a delicious Apple Tart, then Pappa al Pomodoro, which we had requested and finally learned how to make home made pasta which we used to make our main course of seafood/ricotta stuffed tortelli in a creamed zucchini sauce. The meal was absolutely delicious ( our best in Florence ) and served with a wonderful local wine while seated next to a cozy open fire. Fabio and Christiane even took time between courses to explain all about different olive oils, which included sampling with his own homemade bread. Before we knew it, almost 5 hours had flown by since we started our day. Florence is a beautiful city but to really appreciate Tuscan life and the people there ( not to mention a meal you won’t forget ) we would highly recommend this dining experience arranged through the Traveling Spoon."

"My husband and I had such a wonderful time with Fabio and his wife, Christiane. First Fabio picked us up in town and drove us back to his home in the outskirts of Florence - during the drive we stopped to enjoy the beautiful view of Florence and talk about the surrounding olive trees and the olive oil making process. Next we arrived at Fabio's cozy, friendly home where he had prepared the whole space to welcome us - there were welcome drinks, an appetizer and a warm fire burning in the living room. We proceeded to make homemade pasta using his antique family hand-press pasta maker (he has a modern pasta press also), gallinella (fish) fillet sauce with fresh tomatoes, squid with spinach, fried anchovies and a shortcrust pastry tart with homemade jams. The entire time Fabio was happy to answer my question and explain everything step by step, letting me be as involved as I wanted to be. (No need for ME to touch the anchovies, right?!) We had a wonderful wine that was from a vineyard owned by a good friend of Fabio's. Dinner was served on their family china and was so good! The best food we had in Italy which is defiantly saying something!! Both Fabio and Christiane speak English really well and the conversation was very engaging and fun. They are an adorable couple who clearly enjoy each other, good food, meeting new people and their wonderful home. I couldn't say enough wonderful things about this experience. You should book this experience too so it can be the highlight of YOUR trip, you won't be sorry!"