Private Tuscan Cooking Class in Florence Countryside Home

Make pasta by hand, cook a Tuscan main, and eat it in a home that has been feeding people the same way for three decades.

A private hands-on cooking class in the Tuscan countryside outside Florence where you learn to make fresh pasta, a seasonal sauce, a local main course and dessert, then share the meal with your host Fabio and his wife over local wine. The class runs 2.5 to 3 hours in Fabio's home on a hill surrounded by olive trees. Round-trip transportation from central Florence is included for groups up to three people, and you can choose between a lunch or dinner sitting. Dietary restrictions (vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free) are accommodated with advance notice.

The experience

Fabio's home sits on a hill about 10 kilometers outside Florence, surrounded by olive trees he and his wife harvest for their own oil. A private car picks you up from a central Florence meeting point and drives you out to the countryside. When you arrive, Fabio and Christiane welcome you with a refreshing drink and explain how they pick olives and make the oil that will flavor what you cook.

The cooking class itself runs 2.5 to 3 hours, and it is hands-on from the start. You learn to make fresh pasta from scratch, then move on to a seasonal sauce: either a vegetable blend or a meat-based ragù, depending on what is in season. Next comes a local main course: you might prepare pork fillet with almonds, pan-stewed cod with leeks and purple cabbage, or slow-stewed beef with garlic and red wine. For dessert, Fabio teaches you castagnaccio, a chestnut flour cake that is a regional favorite in winter, or panna cotta with strawberry coulis in summer. Everything is made using authentic Tuscan recipes and the ingredients Fabio uses at home.

When the cooking is done, you sit down at the table with Fabio and Christiane to eat what you made, paired with local wine. This is not a cooking demonstration where you watch and take notes. You are working in the kitchen, learning by doing, and then tasting the result in the warmth of a real Italian home. You can choose between a lunch or dinner sitting when you book. A car returns you to your central Florence meeting point at the end of the afternoon or evening.

What’s included

• Round-trip transportation from central Florence for groups up to three.
• 2.5 to 3 hours of hands-on cooking instruction in Fabio's kitchen.
• fresh pasta, a seasonal sauce, a local main course and dessert made from scratch.
• the meal you cooked, shared with Fabio and his wife.
• local wine with the meal.
• explanation of how Fabio and Christiane harvest and make their own olive oil.

Options for this experience

3 options

Cooking + lunchGuide in English or Italian · 10:00

Cooking + dinnerGuide in English or Italian · 16:30

Farm tour, cooking session and mealGuide in English or Italian · 09:00Tour of a local farm and neighborhood food shop, offering a more authentic Tuscan food experience.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 10:00 and 16:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Stroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Traveling Spoon

Is this one for you?Book the lunch sitting if you want to spend the afternoon cooking and eating in daylight. Choose dinner if you prefer an evening experience. If you have dietary restrictions, tell Fabio when you book so he can plan the menu around your needs. Groups of four or more will need either their own car to follow Fabio from the meeting point, or budget an extra €100 for a second vehicle he arranges.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What exactly do I learn to cook during the 2.5 to 3 hour class?

You make fresh pasta by hand, then prepare a seasonal sauce: either vegetable or meat-based depending on what is available. Next you cook a local main course such as pork fillet with almonds or pan-stewed cod with leeks and purple cabbage, and finish with a seasonal dessert like castagnaccio in winter or panna cotta with strawberry coulis in summer. Everything is made from scratch using Fabio's authentic Tuscan recipes.

Does the price include transportation from Florence to Fabio's home?

Yes, round-trip transportation from a central Florence meeting point (Via dei Renai 37) is included in the price for groups of up to three people. Fabio or someone he appoints will pick you up and drop you off at the same location. For groups of four to six people, you can either meet Fabio at a trattoria and follow him in your own car, or arrange a second vehicle through him for €100 paid directly to him.

What is included in the meal after the cooking class?

You eat the dishes you cooked together with Fabio and his wife, paired with local wine. The meal includes the pasta and sauce you prepared, the main course, and dessert, all shared at their table in the home.

Can Fabio accommodate dietary restrictions like vegetarian or gluten-free?

Yes, Fabio can prepare vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free versions of the dishes. You need to tell him about any dietary restrictions or allergies when you book so he can plan the menu in advance.

What should I know about Fabio's home before I book?

Fabio's countryside home does not have air conditioning, which is common in many Italian residences. The home is about 10 kilometers from Florence's city center, nestled in the hills and surrounded by olive trees. It is a working family home where Fabio and his wife have lived for decades.