Host offerings
Fabio learned to cook as a young child helping his mother in the kitchen. As an adult, experimenting with recipes became his hobby. Fabio cooks Italian food but in a Tuscan way which means that he uses a few ingredients that are seasonal, local and of the highest quality. He also enjoys cooking Sicilian and Mediterranean food. Fabio is very knowledgeable about Florence and Italy's rich history. He lives with his wife, Christiane, who is a German journalist. An architect and designer by profession, Fabio loves contemporary art, rock, jazz music, tennis and skiing.
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 - 12 guests) Unique culinary experience in the countryside of Florence with Fabio and Christiane. They live upon a hill in the countryside of Florence (about 10 km from the city center); tucked away in the hills, surrounded by olive trees. Fabio and Christiane will welcome you into their cozy, colorful home with a refreshing welcome drink. He will share more about living in Florence and will show you how they pick olives and explain the process of how olive oil is made. Your meal will be prepared using local and seasonal ingredients, and include dishes such as tagliatelle with vegetarian ragù or squid risotto with wild fennel and orange peel, peposo alla fornacina with white beans (cow meat stewed in red wine, garlic and pepper) or seppie in zimino (cuttle fish with spinach or chard), and crostata (short crust pastry) with homemade jam and dried fruits or apple pie.
Cooking experience (1 - 12 guests) After you've been picked up from central Florence drive through the hills to Fabio and Christiane's stunning countryside home. Join them in their home kitchen for a hands-on Florence cooking class, and learn to make pasta from scratch. Fabio will introduce you to two machines that are normally used for making Italian pastas and explain how they are used and what the differences are. Once the pasta is done, you will start making the sauce. This could be a simple fresh vegetable sauce with aromatic herbs or, if you prefer fish, a sauce with sardines made the Sicilian way. Next, help Fabio make a vegetable flan or one of his favorites, baccalà con porri e cavolo viola (pan stewed cod with leeks and purple cabbage). For dessert, learn to make a simple cake called castagnaccio, which is a chestnut flour cake topped with pine nuts and baked in the winter or a panna cotta with strawberry coulis in the summer. The recipes are always made with seasonal ingredients so Fabio's menu varies with the seasons!
Notes: Fabio's home is about 10km from the city center, half an hour drive from the meeting location. He or someone appointed by him will pick you up from a central meeting location (Via dei Renai 37, Firenze) and drop you back to the same place after the experience is over. The cost for return transportation from the central meeting location is included in the price. 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. Please note Fabio cannot pick you up from your hotel, you need to meet him at the central meeting location (Via dei Renai 37, Firenze), as private cars are not allowed in the historical center. <br><br> Fabio can transfer a group of up to 6 people. If your group is larger than 6 people, Fabio requests that you find transport for the remaining guests and follow him back to his home. <br><br> Fabio can accommodate a vegetarian diet in his Italian cooking class, so please inform him in advance if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007f7f03b7f960>
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.
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
I can honestly say that my experience was positive in every way! Fabio is a great host! His wife Christiane, is also the sweetest lady! Fabio went out of his way to make sure everything was amazing. You can really tell he is very passionate about food and cooking! Everything was so fresh and delicious! Truly, everything was amazing! I really liked the welcome drink Fabio made! It was Campari with fresh squeezed orange juice. I also really enjoyed learning about and watching Fabio make fresh pasta! The whole experience from start to finish couldn’t have been more perfect! I’ll be honest, I was a little sad when dinner was over because I could have stayed longer just chatting with Fabio and his wife. They are such a cute, loving couple. Married 30 years and still crazy in love, you can just tell! I’m very thankful for this experience as I can truly say it was a highlight of my travels through Italy, and definitely in Florence!
Sheena, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | Not offered | $85 | $70 |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $130 | $110 |
| Alcohol | $5 per person | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | 12:30pm - 03:30pm | 7:30pm - 10:30pm |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 10:00am - 02:00pm | 5:00pm - 09:00pm |
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.
