Course itinerary
This 7 night 8 day Tuscan cookery holiday is ideal for both beginner and advanced cooks who are interested in learning how to create delicious authentic Italian recipes, with free time to explore the region of Tuscany as well.
Your 5 days of cooking courses with the professional chef Jonathan will take place in a converted monastery in the spacious and accommodating kitchen facilities, a perfect setting for you to immerse yourself in Italy’s rich culinary and cultural history.
In your hands on lessons you will learn to choose the finest Tuscan ingredients and balance flavours creating Italian dishes that any Italian Nonna would be proud of!
Your 7 nights bed and breakfast accommodation is on site offering unbeatable views from the terrace. All rooms are en-suite, basic but comfortable and heated at just a 2 minute walk from the bustling and vibrant Etruscan town of Cortona.
On your non-cooking days you will be free to explore the local area independently and enjoy the wonderful food and sights this part of Italy has to offer. You can also enjoy the company of your fellow chefs on a guided walking tour of Florence led by your good humoured and knowledgeable- host Jonathan who will also organise 2 evening meals in excellent local restaurants over the week.
Each evening that you cook, you and your fellow culinary artists will dine on the terrace, sipping local wine whilst overlooking the rolling green hills of the beautiful Tuscan landscape.
Go learn to cook real Italian dishes in Tuscany on this fantastic Tuscan cookery holiday for an experience that you will treasure long after your trip is over.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from beginner cooks to advanced chefs
- Your Chef Jonathan will go into some depth regarding the history and science of the dishes, so even experts will come away having learned quite a lot
- Minimum age 18 (under 18s accepted accompanied by an adult)
- All classes are taught in both Italian and English
- This course is on request but we can usually accommodate your requirements, to check availability, call us on 08445020445 or email us on with your preferred dates as well as any accommodation needs you have and someone will get back to you very quickly
Travelling Solo?
- This cookery holiday makes a great singles holiday as it is the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people and there are NO single supplements for a private room
Tuscan Cookery Holiday Start Days and Schedule
- This course takes place on set dates during the months of March to October
- On the day of arrival you can check into the accommodation from 2pm onwards, your first lesson will take place at 6pm
- Cooking classes take place in the evening and start around 6pm
- You will have your lessons on days 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, checking out of the accommodation on the morning of day 8
Tuscan Cookery Holiday Itinerary
Day 1
- You will be met at the airport (Perugia) on arrival and taken to the accommodation
- You’ll have the time to visit the beautiful hill top Etruscan town and enjoy a real coffee in the Piazza, or relax watching the beautiful views of the rolling Tuscan hills
- You’ll join the group in a local restaurant to get to know each other and kick start your gastronomic week with some excellent local specialities
Day 2
- Enjoy breakfast at the accommodation before you visit the large bustling street market in Camucia
- Your cooking lesson starts at 6pm and finishes around 10pm after you’ve eaten the dinner you’ve learned to cook
- You’ll focus on learning to make a delicious 4 course Italian meal
- Once you’ve cooked, you’ll sit down to enjoy your meal accompanied by your fellow chefs and a good glass of Tuscan wine
Day 3
- Enjoy breakfast at the accommodation before you will have the morning and the afternoon free to yourself
- Your cooking lesson starts at 6pm and finishes around 10pm after you’ve eaten the dinner you’ve learned to cook
- You’ll focus on learning to make a delicious 4 course Italian meal
- Once you’ve cooked, you’ll sit down to enjoy your meal and wine in this scenic setting
Day 4
- Free time or a trip to Florence with your knowledgeable guide Jonathan, followed by dinner in the evening at a local restaurant
Day 5
- Free time, you can take the day off to explore the area, Tuscany, Umbria, Perugia or even Rome by train, sit in the sun and read a book on the terrace or do exactly what you want!
- You’ll focus on learning to make a delicious 4 course Italian meal
- Once you’ve cooked, you’ll sit down to enjoy your meal accompanied by your fellow chefs and a good glass of Tuscan wine
Day 6
- Enjoy breakfast at the accommodation
- You can take part in an optional tour of the local Etruscan museum to learn more about the fascinating ancient civilisation
- Your cooking lesson starts at 6pm and finishes around 10pm after you’ve eaten the dinner you’ve learned to cook
- You’ll focus on learning to make a delicious 4 course Italian meal
Day 7
- Enjoy breakfast at the accommodation
- Cooking lesson in the evening as before
- Once you’ve cooked, you’ll sit down to enjoy your farewell dinner with all your chefs with you, soaking up the beautiful view and enjoying the delicious wine!
Day 8 -Departure day:
- Breakfast at the accommodation and transfer to the airport
- Taking home with you delicious flavours, good memories and a collection of fantastic Italian recipes to make at home
About Your Chef
- Passionate about enjoying real Italian food your chef Jonathan is British by origin but has been living and cooking in Italy for over two decades and is one of very few Englishmen to have been asked to cook for Italian nobility
- It is a passion which has led him to be invited to teach in England, France and the USA to both amateur and professional Chefs
- As Italians often attend the cookery courses, especially in winter, your classes will be taught in both English and Italian so the Chef’s bilingual daughter is often on hand to help out, a perfect chance for you to get to grips with your Italian food vocabulary!
What Will I Learn?
- You'll learn how to prepare a full 4 course Italian meal on 3 days of your holiday
- The focus on the classes will be on traditional and delicious food from the Tuscany region and you'll be learning to cook food that you will enjoy
- How to select fresh, seasonal produce
- Techniques for dressing the plates
Typical Italian Dishes You May Learn To Cook
Antipasti, Zuppe and Insalte
Crostini Neri
Rucola salad
Focaccia
Raw Zucchini salad
Zuppa di Farro
Primi e Secondi Piatti
Gnudi
Tagliata with rosemary (Steak)
Gnocchi alla Gorgonzola
Chicken breast alla Marsala
Radicchio di Treviso
Verdura Saltata
Fried Zucchini flowers
Rabbit with black olives
Grilled Aubergine
Mackerel with balsamic vinegar
Dolci and Formaggi
Crostata
Cantucci
Panna Cotta
Pecorino cheese board and various types of honey
Other Italian Cookery Courses
- If this Tuscan Cookery Holiday course whets your appetite for learning to cook, other courses are also on offer, please follow this link to more Tuscan cookery courses at this school or email for details
Accommodation
- The accommodation in a beautiful hilltop monastery that has been converted into welcoming accommodation, it is no longer used for religious purposes
- It is set in the Etruscan town of Cortona with breathtaking views across the Tuscan plains
- The rooms are basic but comfortable, simply decorated, heated and all with en-suite bathrooms
- The rooms offer good basic facilities such as wireless internet but do not have televisions
- You will be 2 minutes walk from the centre of Cortona
- Whilst the convent is a haven of tranquillity there is also time after the evening cooking classes, for those who wish, to return to Cortona town centre which is still busy until two in the morning
- Please click here to see photos of the course including the accommodation
Want To Stay Longer?
- It is possible to add extra nights accommodation to this Tuscan Cookery Holiday, please email or call 08445020445 and we'll help you put your trip together
Go on a culinary journey in Tuscany, learn to cook Italian dishes on this Tuscan Cookery Holiday with a difference and learn new skills that will stay with you long after the holiday is over.