Organic cooking classes, farm visits and tours

Week-long "farm to table" organic cooking holidays in the Tuscan hills. We visit local organic farms & teach you traditional Tuscan dishes, both inventive peasant food and richer fare, including delicate desserts. Three vegetarian courses a year.

7 days

7 days

$800 - $1200 (EUR)

April - October

Certaldo (FI) / Certaldo (FI)

Sample itinerary:

SATURDAY

You arrive
We help you get settled in to your apartment by leaving you a basket filled with organic goodies - fruit, honey, coffee and biscuits.
Have a dip in the pool or an exploratory hike (we provide a hiking map of the area).

8.30 pm
Alfresco welcome dinner at our home, La Selva, where the cooking courses will be held.
We light the wood-fired oven and you assemble your own pizza and foccaccia, to go with grilled organic vegetables and crisp salads, all washed down with local biodynamic wine.

SUNDAY

10.00 am-1.00 pm
Cooking Course - Session 1
Sformati (light vegetable flans, with asparagus, artichokes, cardoons...), arista (juicy Cinta Senese roast pork with rosemary and garlic, Tuscan style), dessert.

1.00 pm-2.30 pm
Lunch

4.30 pm-7.00 pm
Visit to a nearby organic farm in a beautifully preserved valley. We visit the vineyards and cellars, where we taste some of the farm's award-winning wines. Dinner is at the farm restaurant, which uses its own organic produce.

MONDAY

10.00 am-1.00 pm
Cooking Course - Session 2
Handmade fresh pasta, 3 seasonal sauces, artichoke and parmesan salad, dessert.

1.00 pm-2.30 pm
Lunch

Visit to the medieval city of San Gimignano, including a wine tasting at 6.00 at an enoteca.

TUESDAY

10.30 am -12.00 am
Walk to a biodynamic farm which grows vegetables and makes exquisite cheeses (the walk is optional - if you prefer to go by car and meet us at noon no problem...)
Visit to the farm, and to the farm shop, where we buy products for a picnic.

1.00 pm-2.00 pm
Picnic lunch
We provide you with a map with clear indications for a pleasantly comfortable walk (just over an hour) to the medieval centre of Certaldo. Or if you prefer, you can drive to the new centre of Certaldo and take the funicular train up to the medieval part.
Afternoon and evening free to visit Certaldo (there are some great restaurants).

WEDNESDAY

You have a day free to visit Florence, with Uffizi gallery tickets reserved (so no queuing). We provide you with a map with a walk that takes in must-see sights and good, reasonably priced places to eat.

THURSDAY

10.00 am-1.00 am
Cooking Course - Session 3
Risotti (artichoke, radicchio), rabbit with rosemary and white wine, dessert.

1.00 pm-2.30.pm
Lunch

4.30 pm-7.00 pm
Visit to an organic farm, where we see the honey-gathering process, and have an oil tasting. Dinner at the farm restaurant, housed in a barn with a stunning view.

FRIDAY

10.00 am-1.00 pm
Cooking Course - Session 4
Delectable antipasti, caponata, chicken with prunes and pine-nuts, dessert.

1.00 pm-2.30 pm
Lunch

4.00 pm-8.00 pm
Visit to Siena, including a visit to the Museo Civico. Dinner at a trattoria in Siena.

SATURDAY
Departure

Seven nights' accommodation
Four hands-on cooking classes (in English)
Lunch with delicious local biodynamic wines after all classes
A welcome dinner at La Selva with wine
Two dinners at organic farm restaurants with wine
A farewell dinner with wine in a great local trattoria on Friday night
A wine-tasting session
A light picnic lunch with organic products
Guided tours with official guides in Florence and Siena
A hamper with organic breakfast items (bread, milk, tea, coffee, fruit, honey, biscuits, extravirgin olive oil) in your apartment

Flights
Airport transfers
Car rental
Lunch and dinner on the day you visit Florence
Dinner on the evenings you visit Siena and San Gimignano

+39 347 328 9333