emd

I (50 yr old female) have not been to Italy and neither has my close friend (45 yr old female- we are both in decent shape and hike together for a long weekend once a yr.). She is going on sabbatical for 6 months and one thing we want to do together during that time is a trip to Italy. We were thinking of going to Florence (or Venice) for a few days and then renting a small place in Tuscany in a good location for a week for exploring the atmosphere, scenery, and small towns there, and taking some cooking classes. My friend is a wine collector w/a big good cellar in her house, and is a very good cook. I am a good cook but not as much as she is.

I have searched as many references to cooking classes as I can find on this board, and they all seem to include room and board and are about $2500 to 3000 for 5 days (or the equivalent). We are looking for classes we can take and not stay at the place; we would like to rent a place in close proximity to the cooking classes and hopefully in a good area for touring around some and relaxing. We wouldn't need more than 3 or 4 cooking classes. We'd like to less structured and have some time to spend alone and not be w/a group all day as w/all of the cooking places I have seen from the recommendations on this board that I have researched.

Any input on where to go and how to find what we are looking for? Please be gentle- as I said this is our first trip to Italy (and our first formal cooking classes) and I have not been to Europe in 20 yrs.

jody

You might find what you are looking for here..http://www.terraditoscana.com/defaul...ate&loc=en

It looks like they would even come to your rental and do the classes there if you prefer. I had this bookmarked and haven't read it fully in awhile but it seems it might fit your plans.

bill_boy

Since your friend is a wine collector, perhaps you should look into Badia a Coltibuono in Gaiole en Chianti. A couple of previous co-workers of mine took the formal week-long and a few day courses and were all impressed with it.

Here -

http://www.coltibuono.com/0scheda.as...ce=5&col=1

emd

Thank you Jody, that looks very good and hopefully what we are looking for.

bill boy, I wish I spoke Italian, as I can't get that site to come up in English...

Thank you both!

ira

Hi E,

You might want to consider http://www.divinacucina.com/ in Florence.

emd

ira (or should I call you "I&quot that is perfect! Maybe the thing to do is do the cooking class portion in Florence and then enjoy Tuscany at our leisure and try out our new recipes and cookbook at the markets and villa in Tuscany! Bless you for this tip.