Experience a hands-on pasta-making class in the heart of the Tuscan countryside with local hosts Laetitia and Lucia. Just outside Siena, this 2-hour cooking class offers an authentic cultural immersion through food, stories, and genuine Italian hospitality. Begin with a visit to the family’s garden, where you’ll gather fresh herbs, vegetables, edible flowers, and eggs to use in your meal. Then step into their cozy, rustic kitchen to learn traditional techniques for making fresh pasta paired with a seasonal sauce. After cooking, sit down with your hosts to enjoy the fruits of your labor - followed by a classic Italian dessert like tiramisu or panna cotta. Laetitia's meals tend to be vegetarian forward and the pasta sauce may vary based on the season, but if you'd like to learn to make a meat ragù, simply let your hosts know when booking. Prefer to make risotto instead of pasta? They’re happy to accommodate with advance notice.
This intimate Tuscany cooking class is ideal for food lovers who want to connect with locals, build pasta-making skills, and savor a truly home-cooked Italian meal.
Join Lucia and Laetitia for a traditional Italian meal in the heart of Tuscany, where you’ll enjoy a true taste of Italian hospitality. Nestled in their rural apartment in Belforte, in the province of Siena, this experience offers more than just a meal, it’s a chance to connect over food, stories, and the joy of cooking. Laetitia and Lucia are passionate about using only the finest ingredients, sourcing locally from nearby farmers to ensure seasonal, organic products. Your hosts are happy to accommodate dietary restrictions with a commitment to quality and sustainability. A sample menu might include a wild herb and flower pesto or other appetizer, fresh homemade pasta served with either a rich tomato sauce or hearty ragù (from local, wild-sourced meat) or a seasonal risotto. End on a sweet note with a classic Italian dessert, such as creamy tiramisu or panna cotta topped with a fresh fruit coulis. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone seeking an authentic, home-cooked Italian meal while learning about the flavors and traditions that make Tuscany so special.
1. Please note that, as is common in many Italian homes, this residence does not have air conditioning.
2. Laetitia and Lucia are happy to accommodate gluten-free, lactose-free, vegetarian, and vegan diets with advance notice. Their menu is primarily vegetarian, but if you’d like to include meat, please specify this when making your booking.
3. If you choose to include alcohol for an additional cost, you will be served two glasses of Chianti/local wine, beer, or a non-alcoholic fermented beverage such as kombucha, tibicos, or shwa-saka san.
4. Optional round-trip transportation (available for an added fee) includes pick-up and drop-off from central Siena hotels or from residences that are maximum one hour distance.
5. Please note that, as is common in many Italian homes, this residence
does not have air conditioning.
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.
Pesto with wild seasonal herbs, seeds and flowers or other appetizerFresh homemade pasta (pasta fresca), served with a flavorful tomato sauce or burro e salvia (butter and sage) or Alternatively, enjoy a creamy, seasonal risottoTiramisu or Panna cotta with fresh fruit coulis Laetitia and Lucia offer unique in-home dining experiences and cooking classes in their charming apartment in Belforte, a picturesque village in Tuscany. With a deep passion for local food, Lucia brings a lifetime of culinary expertise, having learned to cook from her grandparents and aunts. After ten years of professional cooking, she focuses on traditional Italian cuisine, incorporating regional recipes and fresh, local ingredients. Laetitia, an environmental engineer with a background in food security, complements Lucia's skills with her passion for sustainable practices. Together, they welcome international friends and travelers into their home, sharing not only delicious meals but also the rich stories behind them. Their offerings combine classic Italian dishes with locally sourced ingredients from surrounding fields and nearby farms, creating an authentic Tuscan experience for all who visit.
"We had a wonderful evening with Lucia and Leita. Leita picked us up and from the moment we met her she was delightful. We had a drive from our Siena hotel to the countryside in Tuscany and she shared stories and information on our drive. When we arrived at Lucia’s house it was in a charming neighborhood with gardens in the back that we checked out. Upon entering the home, Lucia introduced us to her daughter and husband and we had a true home style experience cooking and chatting and drinking with everyone.
We had a delicious dinner and learned to make homemade pasta and tiramisu. Learned how seeds and herbs and flowers could be a part of a delicious meal and sat down for a wonderful evening meal with all. Truly a special experience"
