one day cooking class
Feb 28th, 2006, 03:27 AM
#29
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Hi Monica!
We just returned yesterday and I am still on Rome time, so I'll let you know about our experience with Accidental Tourist.
In a word, the entire day was FANTASTIC! It was definitely a highlight of a trip full of highlights!
The meeting point is very easy to find. There is a little cafe with excellent cappuccino (although is there any bad cappuccino in Italy? I didn't find any).
I was with a group of 8 persons and another group of 8 joined us for the winery tour/tasting portion of the day. We drove in two vans for about 40 minutes out into the countryside to a winery/olive oil producing estate. Even in February, the scenery was just beautiful! I’m sure it will be even more amazing when you go in May.
It was pretty quiet on the estate, probably because it is the off-season. Steve gave us the olive oil portion and Majla the wine portion of the tour, as well as conducting the tasting. It was a cold, overcast day, but the wine (and the space heaters) soon warmed us up! After tasting wine and olive oil produced on the estate, you have the option of purchasing. There is absolutely no pressure to do so - is it merely an option.
They do request that you complete an Accidental Tourist membership card because this allows them to conduct tours/classes in private homes and estates. (Some gov't regulation.) However, it does not cost anything and you don't even have to use your real name.
Steve then drove our group to the c. 1100 C.E. farmhouse owned by Roberto and Christiana where he conducted the pasta making class. It was a lot of fun: the wine was flowing, the ingredients were delicious and it was not too difficult. It was perfect for our group, some of whom love to cook and some who love being married to a cook! If you have Steve, be sure he sings for you. He is a trained opera singer, relocated to Florence from Philadelphia for his music and his Italian wife. The acoustics in the room, as well as his beautiful voice, made it magical!
We then had a delicious lunch prepared by Christiana and served in her large, warm and cozy farmhouse kitchen. She is a beautiful person and a fantastic cook. The food was simple but very special and, of course, you get to eat the pasta!
I really don't know how they do all this for such a reasonable price. (E75/person for our group of 8; E80 is the usual price.) Any tips you feel like leaving are well-deserved!
Everyone associated with this tour was gracious, hospitible and lots of fun! I highly recommend Accidental Tourist and will not hesitate to go on the other tours they conduct when I am again in Florence. (And believe me, I will go back!)
Let me know if you have any questions. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time.
Linda
We just returned yesterday and I am still on Rome time, so I'll let you know about our experience with Accidental Tourist.
In a word, the entire day was FANTASTIC! It was definitely a highlight of a trip full of highlights!
The meeting point is very easy to find. There is a little cafe with excellent cappuccino (although is there any bad cappuccino in Italy? I didn't find any).
I was with a group of 8 persons and another group of 8 joined us for the winery tour/tasting portion of the day. We drove in two vans for about 40 minutes out into the countryside to a winery/olive oil producing estate. Even in February, the scenery was just beautiful! I’m sure it will be even more amazing when you go in May.
It was pretty quiet on the estate, probably because it is the off-season. Steve gave us the olive oil portion and Majla the wine portion of the tour, as well as conducting the tasting. It was a cold, overcast day, but the wine (and the space heaters) soon warmed us up! After tasting wine and olive oil produced on the estate, you have the option of purchasing. There is absolutely no pressure to do so - is it merely an option.
They do request that you complete an Accidental Tourist membership card because this allows them to conduct tours/classes in private homes and estates. (Some gov't regulation.) However, it does not cost anything and you don't even have to use your real name.
Steve then drove our group to the c. 1100 C.E. farmhouse owned by Roberto and Christiana where he conducted the pasta making class. It was a lot of fun: the wine was flowing, the ingredients were delicious and it was not too difficult. It was perfect for our group, some of whom love to cook and some who love being married to a cook! If you have Steve, be sure he sings for you. He is a trained opera singer, relocated to Florence from Philadelphia for his music and his Italian wife. The acoustics in the room, as well as his beautiful voice, made it magical!
We then had a delicious lunch prepared by Christiana and served in her large, warm and cozy farmhouse kitchen. She is a beautiful person and a fantastic cook. The food was simple but very special and, of course, you get to eat the pasta!
I really don't know how they do all this for such a reasonable price. (E75/person for our group of 8; E80 is the usual price.) Any tips you feel like leaving are well-deserved!
Everyone associated with this tour was gracious, hospitible and lots of fun! I highly recommend Accidental Tourist and will not hesitate to go on the other tours they conduct when I am again in Florence. (And believe me, I will go back!)
Let me know if you have any questions. I'm sure you will have a wonderful time.
Linda
Feb 28th, 2006, 04:35 AM
#30
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Hi Linda,
Thanks so much for posting your day with the Accidental Tourist company. Sounds fantastic and I can’t wait for my day with them. I did fill out the membership card on line when I booked my cooking class.
I would like to hear more of what was served at lunch with the pasta you made.
Was the wine and olive tasting a separate tour from the cooking class? I did an olive oil tasting not too far from Montalcino and enjoyed it. Brought back a bottle, which I still have some left. Did you buy any?
After lunch, how much time did you have to at the villa before heading back to Florence? What time were you dropped off at the meeting place in Florence?
Did you take any photos while you were in the cooking class?
Thanks!
Monica
Thanks so much for posting your day with the Accidental Tourist company. Sounds fantastic and I can’t wait for my day with them. I did fill out the membership card on line when I booked my cooking class.
I would like to hear more of what was served at lunch with the pasta you made.
Was the wine and olive tasting a separate tour from the cooking class? I did an olive oil tasting not too far from Montalcino and enjoyed it. Brought back a bottle, which I still have some left. Did you buy any?
After lunch, how much time did you have to at the villa before heading back to Florence? What time were you dropped off at the meeting place in Florence?
Did you take any photos while you were in the cooking class?
Thanks!
Monica
Mar 1st, 2006, 06:52 AM
#31
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Hi Monica -
I apologize for not answering sooner but jet lag got me and I pretty much slept the day away yesterday.
For lunch we had sausage and cheese toasted on bread (I'm not a foodie but I think this is crostini) and a fritatta made with eggs, potato and zucchini. Both were absolutely delicious! Christiana then cooked our pasta. After cooking the ravioli, she lightly coated it with a sauce she had made of olive oil and garlic. For the fettucini, she added porcini mushrooms. And of course there was parmagiana and plenty of wine.
Dessert was a fabluous trifle-like concoction with chocolate, custard and lady-fingers. It had some sort of liquore that is an old Tuscan recipe and used to be colored by ladybug wings. Now, of course, they use food coloring. (This liquore is sold at Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy.)
As I said, the lunch was simple, but filling and really delicious. I don't know if they serve the same thing every time, but Christiana is one of those natural cooks and anything she prepares is certain to be wonderful. Everything was relaxed and casual and we took our time.
The cooking class tour we signed up for included the wine/olive oil tasting. We were picked up at 9:30am and did not return to Florence until after 5:00pm. Perhaps these tours can be separate, but the Cooking Class description I read on their website included both and so that is what we signed up for. Both portions of the tour were wonderful and I would not miss either.
I did purchase olive oil (and wine) and am looking forward to using it soon. I took video (included Steve singing) but my sister was the official photographer for the trip and I will post some of her pictures soon so you can see them. Believe me, you will not be disappointed in your experience. Everyone in our group was delighted - which made me happy since this was my idea.
Let me know if you have any more questions. You can also email me at [email protected] but I check in at Fodors often. I'm hooked and now I have something to contribute!
Linda
I apologize for not answering sooner but jet lag got me and I pretty much slept the day away yesterday.
For lunch we had sausage and cheese toasted on bread (I'm not a foodie but I think this is crostini) and a fritatta made with eggs, potato and zucchini. Both were absolutely delicious! Christiana then cooked our pasta. After cooking the ravioli, she lightly coated it with a sauce she had made of olive oil and garlic. For the fettucini, she added porcini mushrooms. And of course there was parmagiana and plenty of wine.
Dessert was a fabluous trifle-like concoction with chocolate, custard and lady-fingers. It had some sort of liquore that is an old Tuscan recipe and used to be colored by ladybug wings. Now, of course, they use food coloring. (This liquore is sold at Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy.)
As I said, the lunch was simple, but filling and really delicious. I don't know if they serve the same thing every time, but Christiana is one of those natural cooks and anything she prepares is certain to be wonderful. Everything was relaxed and casual and we took our time.
The cooking class tour we signed up for included the wine/olive oil tasting. We were picked up at 9:30am and did not return to Florence until after 5:00pm. Perhaps these tours can be separate, but the Cooking Class description I read on their website included both and so that is what we signed up for. Both portions of the tour were wonderful and I would not miss either.
I did purchase olive oil (and wine) and am looking forward to using it soon. I took video (included Steve singing) but my sister was the official photographer for the trip and I will post some of her pictures soon so you can see them. Believe me, you will not be disappointed in your experience. Everyone in our group was delighted - which made me happy since this was my idea.
Let me know if you have any more questions. You can also email me at [email protected] but I check in at Fodors often. I'm hooked and now I have something to contribute!
Linda
Apr 4th, 2006, 05:02 AM
#37
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Hi Linda,
I wanted to say that the Accidental tourist cancelled my class! I was so upset about it but got over it after I made other plans for that day (day trip to Greve in Chianti and Montefioralle). They had asked me to take the tour on Thursday, rather than Friday, but I told them I arrive in Florence on Thursday afternoon, so there's no way I can make it.
I looked for other cooking classes, but this one was the best priced and lasted longer than the other ones. Too bad.
I emailed the other tour company I'm using in Italy, who told me they had 30 tours last May, so it sounds like they won't be cancelling mine.
Monica
I wanted to say that the Accidental tourist cancelled my class! I was so upset about it but got over it after I made other plans for that day (day trip to Greve in Chianti and Montefioralle). They had asked me to take the tour on Thursday, rather than Friday, but I told them I arrive in Florence on Thursday afternoon, so there's no way I can make it.
I looked for other cooking classes, but this one was the best priced and lasted longer than the other ones. Too bad.
I emailed the other tour company I'm using in Italy, who told me they had 30 tours last May, so it sounds like they won't be cancelling mine.
Monica
