Arezzo: Private Cooking Class & Home Tasting with Local Host

Summary

Learn Tuscan recipes from locals in their own kitchens

You’ll join a welcoming local host in Arezzo for a hands-on cooking class inside their own home. Learn to prepare classic Tuscan dishes like fresh pasta and traditional desserts, then sit down together to taste everything with local wine. Expect laughter, real stories, and flavors you’ll remember long after you’ve left Tuscany.

What’s the experience like?

“More flour!” That’s what Francesca kept saying as I tried to roll out the pici dough in her bright kitchen just outside Arezzo’s old walls. I laughed because my hands were already covered, but she just winked and handed me more anyway. The windows were open — you could hear a Vespa somewhere outside and someone singing, maybe from the bakery next door. We’d started with a little glass of white wine (local, of course), and she showed me how to make gnudi — those pillowy ricotta dumplings I’d only ever seen on menus before. The kitchen smelled like sage and something sweet I couldn’t place until later (it was orange peel for dessert). Honestly, I didn’t expect to feel so at home so quickly.

There were three of us at the table, each with our own little pile of flour and eggs. Francesca moved between us, showing how to pinch the dough or when to stop kneading (“just listen to it,” she said, tapping the counter). She told stories about her grandmother making cantucci for Christmas — apparently dipping them in Vin Santo isn’t just for tourists. There was this moment where she let me taste the sauce straight from the pan, right off the wooden spoon. It was simple but somehow perfect — like everything tasted a little more alive than back home. And yeah, my gnudi came out lopsided, but nobody cared.

Lunch happened around her old wooden table with mismatched chairs and a bottle of red that probably cost less than our bus tickets from Florence. We ate what we’d made: starter, pasta (mine survived), and a crumbly almond dessert that left sugar dust on my fingers. Francesca poured coffee while telling us about other Cesarine cooks across Italy — apparently there’s a whole network of these home kitchens you can book into. I still think about that meal whenever I smell sage butter or see sunlight hitting old tiles just right.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Private cooking class and tasting

• Arrive at Cesarina's home
• Learn secrets of Arezzo dishes
• Prepare seasonal starter
• Cook fresh pasta dishes
• Make Tuscan dessert
• Taste dishes with local wine

Top questions

Is this Arezzo cooking class private?

Yes, it’s a private experience held in your host’s own home.

What dishes do we make during the class?

You’ll prepare a seasonal starter, fresh pasta (like gnudi or pici), and a traditional Tuscan dessert such as cantucci or tiramisu.

Are drinks included with the meal?

Yes, water, local wines (red and white), and coffee are included.

How long does the cooking class last?

The exact duration isn’t specified but typically classes last several hours including lunch.

Do I need any prior cooking experience?

No experience is required; your host will guide you through each recipe step by step.

Is public transportation available nearby?

Yes, public transportation options are available near your host’s location in Arezzo.

Are sanitary measures in place during the class?

Yes, hosts provide hand sanitizer and paper towels; distancing is encouraged when possible.

What’s included

Your day includes all ingredients for three regional recipes, water, red and white local wines, coffee after lunch, careful attention to hygiene throughout your private cooking class in an Arezzo home — plus plenty of stories shared around the table before you head out again into town.