Any ideas on a fun cooking class and/or nice place to stay in Tuscany? Interested in staying in a villa (renting a room, not an entire villa) in the countryside that is centrally located for exploring some wineries. Also interested in finding a fun local cooking class to take. Any thoughts? Thanks.

I don't know about those sponsored in Tuscany, but the family that owns and operates the Alimandi Hotel in Rome will be hosting a cooking class and tour I believe in Tuscany in March or April. Marilyn

Tom, I know of a couple of classes that <BR>meet that criteria. Contact me directly if you want some detail. When are you <BR>going, and how long do you plan to stay <BR>in Italy? I assume you will drive.

Tom, <BR> <BR>I suggest yuou contact www.rentvillas.com: they have a great selection of villas at reasonable prices, and they offer several cooking classes.

Tom, <BR>I'm planning a cooking trip to Italy also. Start with Shawguides.com There are many many others. Contact me if you need more.

HI, WE WENT TO THE MOST AMAZING COOKING SCHOOL IN TUSCANY LAST YEAR. IT IS INCREDIBLE, AND THE ACCOMODATIONS ARE 4 STAR. CONTACT JOHN AT <BR>[email protected] FOR INFO. THE 4 DAY SCHOOL (4 HOURS A DAY)INCLUDES EVERYTHING, AND IS QUITE REASONABLE. JUST 1/2 HOUR FROM SIENA. LOTS OF INCREDIBLE TOWNS WITHIN 15-30 MINUTES. <BR>TELL HIM STEVE GROSSMAN SENT YOU. <BR>THIS IS A MUST, FOR A FRACTION OF THE COST OF THE MAJORITY OF COURSES.

I did alot of research about cooking schools in Tuscany. We spend the most wonderful day with Carlo in a little village town in Tuscany, Arcidosso. Contact them at TuscanWay. com. The food was delicious and the day was truely memorable. Contact me for more info if you need.

Well, I guess I am the only one who does NOT want you to contact me personally, wonder why. Don't know about the villas, but small Tuscany cooking classes a friend of mine took and said were great, and pretty cheap, were by a company called Tutti A Tavola, it is near Siena. They have a web site at http://www.ware.it/Agritour/Itinerar...ola/index.html The people who run it also rent rooms out as sort of a B&B, I think. Shawguides is very good, also, as someone recommended. A good Canadian agency called Teachers travel (anyone can use them, I think) has very reasonable cooking "tours" in France and Italy (www.teachers.travel.com -- go to the Taste of Europe section.