The Tuscan chef is a private culinary school offering a selection of cooking vacations throughout the year. Courses are hands-on under the guidance of professional Italian chef, Valter Roman, and also feature guest chefs from around the world including Alvaro Maccioni of La Famiglia and Grano restaurants in London. Courses are fun, informative and full of tips and tricks of the trade. You will discover and explore the tastes and textures of some of the finest ingredients from fresh home-made pasta and plump potato gnocchi with their various complimenting sauces to truffles, fragrant garden Italian herbs, porcini mushrooms and wild asparagus, freshly pressed olive oil, creamy pecorino cheeses and classic Italian wines.
At the Tuscan Chef you will be studying under one of our favorite chefs, Valter Roman. Valter started in the profession at the age of 15 as soon as he had qualified at chef’s college working in a hotel kitchen on the border between Austria and Italy. Valter studied professionally at the “Istituto Alberghiero di Casargo,” a culinary institute on the border between Italy and Austria. Over the years and throughout his travels he has worked alongside and trained with many chefs, building up his own particular style of cooking. In London, Valter met Ugo Amato, a renowned pastry chef, who influenced and encouraged him to specialize in pastry; working together for 2 years in the preparation of some of the most amazing creations, including cakes and pastries for the British royal family.
Kitchen studies are enhanced and complimented by a special touring program to some of the most enchanting and personally selected towns, markets, vineyards and other hidden treasures of Tuscany. Also, One-Day Courses, Weekend courses, and Short Courses are available.
Course Description
Sunday - Transfers from Pisa or Florence airports/train stations for arrival at Villa al Boschiglia in Vorno on the outskirts of Lucca around midday for a welcome buffet lunch prepared by your Italian chef for the week, Valter Roman. Buffet lunch - meet your hosts and cooking colleagues, followed by a tour of the estate and free time to settle in and relax before the first hands-on cooking lesson. Orientation and hands-on cooking lesson with preparation of dinner. Welcome aperitivi and dinner.
Monday - Breakfast available. Join us for a leisurely stroll around the ancient walls of Lucca (2 1/2 miles). Pasta and its Sauces – an especially themed cooking lesson. Lunch alfresco followed by a short guided tour of Pisa and its Leaning Tower. Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner. Aperitivi and dinner.
Tuesday - Breakfast available. Depart for a Chianti adventure (1 1/2 hours drive) stopping off at an enchanting market town as well as renowned vineyard for wine-tasting and lunch followed by a further vineyard and distillery visit. Leave Chianti and return home for an informal pizza supper in the lively village trattoria, just a short walk from the villa.
Wednesday - Breakfast available. Chef's tour of the bustling market town of Pistoia to choose fresh produce for dinner followed by a kitchen challenge where students and chefs work together to prepare a buffet lunch with items found at the market. Lunch followed by free time to relax and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the villa. Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of a special wine-tasting dinner. Introduction to the wines of Tuscany by our wine sommelier followed by dinner with wine tastings to accompany each course.
Thursday - Breakfast available. Guided tour through Lucca followed by a specially selected tasting menu for lunch at Valter's restaurant, The Gazebo at Locanda L'Elisa. After lunch there's plenty of time to discover Lucca for you with great shopping along Via Filungo or to return to the peaceful haven of Villa al Boschiglia for an afternoon of relaxation. You may even wish to arrange a massage, manicure or pedicure by our beauty specialist. Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner. Aperitivi and dinner.
Friday - Breakfast available. Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of lunch. Lunch followed by a free afternoon to relax or do some last minute shopping in Lucca. Hands-on cooking lesson and preparation of dinner. Farewell Drinks and Graduation Ceremony and a celebration dinner.
Saturday - Breakfast available. Transfers to your next onward destination after breakfast.
Other activities
When you’re not in the kitchen, our personally selected tour of Tuscany may include any of the following:
- The medieval walled town of Lucca with plenty of time to discover the great shopping along Via Fillungo;
- A chef’s tour of a bustling market town to select the freshest and best of local produce for dinner;
- Renaissance Florence with a tour of the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio, Duomo and Giotto’s Tower, all complimented by Italian shopping on Via Tournabuoni;
- A visit to a local Lucchese press to watch the whole process of olive oil being made followed by a tasting (November-January);
- A boat trip along the Ligurian coast and the world heritage site of the five cliff-clinging villages of the Cinque Terre with a visit to a local vineyard and a picnic lunch;
- A pampered morning at one of the world renowned health spas in Montecatini;
- Time out on the golf course (with the chef!);
- An outlet shopping experience which includes Prada and the new Gucci Mall featuring a host of Italian designer names;
- A visit to Vinci to see the Leonardo da Vinci museum with its life-size scale models of some of his incredible inventions. Stop off also at the Fratelli Taccini studio with a showroom full of unique ceramics, vases, plates, jars, sculptures available for purchase;
- A tour of Siena, the one-time capital of Tuscany and one of the most beautiful citires in Italy. This trip may also include a stroll around the small town of San Gimignano with its medieval towers (of the original 76, just 14 have survived) and charming piazza;
- A visit to see the Bernardini family sin residence at Villa Bernardini, a stunning Lucchese villa dating back to 1615. Tour the villa and it's beautiful gardens before heading off on a 2 hour walk through the hills to a hidden-away restaurant where a special lunch has been arranged.
Accommodation and facilities
Six-day residential courses are held in a 17th century historic villa surrounded by wild and stunning olive grove terraces reaching out over Monte Pisano with views across lavender and lemon scented Italian gardens towards the enchanting walled town of Lucca. Villa Boschiglia's recent restoration has respected original layout and decor and has been restored to its former glory as an elegant and exclusive retreat with luxuriously appointed junior suites each with private en-suite bath and shower facilities.
Alongside the Tuscan kitchen and grand dining room, the gracious Italian living includes a formal drawing room with piano, guest office with telephone, fax, computer and internet facilities, a library, and a TV lounge with satellite, video, DVD and music system linked to surround sound. Outdoors there is an iron-wrought Italian Gazebo overlooking the swimming pool for al fresco dining.
Testimonials:
"I have been regaling my husband about our stay with you. He is looking forward to my practicing what I have learned this past week. I had a marvelous time, learned so much, and all the experiences of Lucca, Pistoia, Chianti, Pisa were so special. I could not stop raving about your beautiful villa, warm hospitality and delicious food. I am spoiled forever!" JB, Conneticut
"As for the chef ... Bravissimo! Valter is not only a great chef but he is also an excellent and patient teacher! He is charming and entertaining and has created a perfect menu which covers foods that everyone would be interested in. We learned so many things that you can’t get from a cookbook." L&J, New York
"My week in Lucca is impossible to describe in one word. It exceeded all of my expectations. Your warm hospitality made it all the more memorable. I felt like part of a big family. Thank you!" D, Richmond
"The week was outstanding. Valter had such personality and ability that he made the week fabulous. We would recommend the week to all." B&S Allen, Florida
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price includes:
- 6 nights accommodation at Villa Boschiglia;
- All meals and house wine at the Villa;
- Cooking school tuition;
- Pre-arranged restaurant meals;
- Transport for all arranged outings, guided tours & entrances to museums as arranged, wine tours/tastings;
- Transfers to and from Pisa or Florence airports or Lucca train station.
€300 per person less for non-cooking guest.
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Cooking School
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