We are leaving next week for a two week vacation in Tuscany. We have a villa near Lucca.

There are several of us that would like to take a cooking class. Just a day or two ... not one of those where you spend several days with accommodations. Does anyone have any suggestions?

TIA

Is it true that Tuscan bread has no salt in it and thus tourists don't care for its taste?

You might try this Web site:

http://www.divinacucina.com/

The woman who runs it, an American, I believe, is a frequent poster on www.slowtrav.com under the screen name Diva.

And yes, PalQ, it is true that Tuscan bread, for some reason that goes back centuries, is made without salt.

For years i've searched European bakeries for salt-free bread and often hard to find - in France 'Pain sans Sel' is easily available but elsewhere i've had trouble - though i don't know other countries as well as i do France. Now in Tuscany i know i won't have to ask! thanks.

THIS tourist definitely cares for the taste of Tuscan bread! A day old, it is perfect for panzanella--bread salad--and oh! the tomatoes! I'll be there in three weeks, studying Italian language at Il Sasso in Montipulciano.

......try the following for cooking classes:

www.umberto.com/delia.htm

Held at the Villa Delia near Lucca.

I was in Umbria in April and we hired Amore Sapore to come to the villa and teach a cooking class. It was really one of the highlights of the trip. There are two chefs, one American and one Italian; you pick the menu, they do all the shopping, instructing and clean up. I'm not sure if they travel as far as Lucca for a class (we were on the northern tip of Lake Trasimeno) but I would highly recommend them.

Have fun!

www.amoresapore.com

Check out www.sienacookingculture.com I can vouch for it being fantastico!