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A Classic Tuscan Table with Chef Claudio - BEST SELLER
Figline Valdarno, Tuscany
About the location: Tuscany…a landscape of wooded hills, olive groves, vineyards, and hill towns. Vistas that have barely changed since Renaissance artists first beheld them. On this culinary tour of Tuscany you will see and experience the treasures of this rich region, learning its cuisine and culture, and taking authentic Tuscan cooking school like lessons.
Your week in Tuscany takes place in the medieval town of Figline Valdarno, set in the triangle formed by the great cities of Florence, Arezzo and Siena. Your home will be the charming relais property of Chef Claudio.
Chef Claudio’s charming relais is located just 5 minutes outside of town, amidst the Chef’s own vineyards and olive groves. The setting is quite wonderful, with panoramic views of the valley. The five cottages are small, simple and rustic, but generating a country charm. The bathrooms are stylish, but also small. The rooms are air conditioned and equipped with hairdryers and telephones and two of the cottages have small bathtubs. Claudio’s restaurant is now also located at the property, and a beautiful pool completes the setting. If you are prefer luxury accommodations, this is not the place; but if you looking for a most authentic experience with an incredibly warm and welcoming Tuscan family, this is it! Please click here to see images of the chef’s property. (For groups of 10 or more, we offer accommodations at a lovely local hotel. See the photo gallery here).
About the unique cooking courses in Tuscany: The lessons are led by Chef Claudio Piantini. Claudio grew up in a typical Italian home, where the quality of food and cooking was very important. At the tender age of 14, Claudio worked secretly as a waiter in a fine restaurant and this was the beginning of an illustrious career. He recognized how the pleasures of good food could unite people from all different backgrounds. Following his formal chef training, he became a professional sommelier and managed a restaurant in Florence. His dream, of course, was to have his own restaurant, and he returned to his home town to open Torre Guelfa Restaurant, which immediately put his rising star on the culinary horizon. In 1995 The International Kitchen was fortunate to begin a collaboration with this wonderful, passionate and charming chef, whose delight in his art is totally contagious! During your Italian cooking school style lessons, you will learn classic dishes of Tuscan cuisine, known for its refined simplicity. You will prepare classic dishes such as ribollita and crostini, along with more unusual dishes such as castagnaccio. Whether you are an advanced cook, or an eager beginner, Claudio is able to manage every level, much like a conductor with each section of the orchestra. You will come away with a vast number of recipes from the hands of a true Tuscan chef, imparting his knowledge with infinite kindness, patience and generosity. We truly love Chef Claudio!
Price Per Person
2012 Pricing
High Season: March 25-October 13
$3195 – 6-night program
$300 single supplement
$2525 – 4-night program
$225 single supplement
Low Season: February-March 24; October 14-November
$2925 – 6-night program
$300 single supplement
$2425 – 4-night program
$225 single supplement
Non-cooking companion (high or low season):
$200 less, 6-night program
$100 less, 4-night program
Accommodations available at a lovely local hotel for groups of more than 10, please inquire for pricing.
For those interested in a purely culinary experience, please inquire about our 6-night Intensive Cooking “Stage”.
Inquire about Florence hotels and tours for pre or post travel.
Tour Dates
AVAILABLE ALL WEEKS, SUNDAY-SATURDAY, FEBRUARY THROUGH NOVEMBER, FOR A MINIMUM OF 2 PEOPLE
†Join a week others have confirmed OR ANY OTHER WEEK ON REQUEST.
May 20-26 (SOLD OUT)
May 28 – June 2†
July 1-5†
July 7-13† (Saturday to Friday program)
July 15-21† (SOLD OUT)
July 22-28†
July 29 – August 4†
September 16-22† (5-night itinerary also available; 1 room left)
*Low Season
What's Included
- Six nights in a double room at Claudio’s B&B Cottages
- Daily buffet breakfast
- All dinners, including wine, water and coffee
- Four hands-on cooking classes followed by meal with wine, water and coffee
- Market visit in Figline Valdarno
- Half day excursion to Arezzo, including 2-hour guided tour with licensed guide
- Half-day excursion to Chianti with wine and local product tasting
- Transportation to Siena and San Gimignano on Day Six
- All transportation throughout the program with English speaking driver-guide
- All taxes and service (gratuities not included)
- Arrival transfer from Florence airport (12:00 noon)* or train station (3:30 PM). (If you arrange a hotel stay in Florence through The International Kitchen for before or after your culinary week, we will do our best to pick you up from/drop you off at your hotel. Due to new traffic restrictions for central Florence taking effect June 21, 2011 it may not be possible to take you to the entrance of your hotel. A walk of 1 or 2 blocks might be necessary. We can only provide this service if your hotel is booked through The International Kitchen.) If you cannot make one of these transfers, we can arrange a private transfer for you for €120.
- Return transfer to Florence airport or train station at 11:00 AM on day of departure. If you need an earlier transfer, we can arrange a private transfer for you for €120 (€150 if pickup is before 8:00 AM).
*If you take the noon arrival transfer please be advised that lunch the day of arrival is not included. If you are arriving on an early flight, we recommend you meet the later transfer: you can take a taxi or bus to the Florence train station, check your bags, explore Florence for a few hours, have lunch and meet the train station transfer at 3:30 pm. If you take the noon transfer, you can request lunch at the B&B (cost to be paid locally). You must advise us of which transfer you will meet at least two weeks prior to your departure.
Other Regions in Italy
Images of Chef Claudio’s B&B
- Arrival transfer from the Florence airport or railway station to Figline Valdarno.
- Check in to your accommodation and get settled.
- Time to relax before your amazing welcome dinner.
- Dinner tonight will be around 8:00 pm.
- Overnight.
- Breakfast.
- After breakfast, participate in your first cooking class with Chef Claudio Piantini. The lesson will be held at Claudio‘s teaching kitchen at his B&B. During the class, which will last about 3 hours, you will learn to prepare many traditional and seasonal Tuscan dishes.
- Lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- This afternoon, enjoy a guided wine tasting at Claudio’s private cellar. You will learn to judge the color, flavor, and smoothness of the wines, and to distinguish between an aged Chianti Classico and a Supertuscan blend. Afterwards, learn how to combine the wines with Italian cheeses in the Chef’s Kitchen.
- Light dinner to follow.
- After breakfast, meet with Chef Claudio or assistant for a brief visit of the very authentic outdoor food market in Figline.
- Afterwards you will participate in your second cooking class with Chef Claudio, with lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- In the afternoon meet with your English-speaking driver-guide for a half-day excursion to the delightful town of Arezzo. The Renaissance architect and artist Vasari hails from this town, and the famous frescoes of Piero della Francesca can be found in the church of San Francesco. Enjoy a two-hour guided tour through the historical center and picturesque alleys where the Oscar-winning film “Life Is Beautiful” was filmed. Your visit of this beautiful but lesser-known Tuscany jewel will be led by a licensed guide who also took part in the restoration of the Piero della Francesca frescoes.
- Free time to shop or stroll around town, with dinner around 7:30 pm in a local pizzeria in Arezzo.
- Return to Figline following your meal and overnight.
- After breakfast, enjoy a special pizza class with Claudio, with lunch to follow based on your efforts.
- In the early afternoon departure with your English speaking driving guide for a half day excursion into the famous Chianti Classico region.
- Visit the charming village of Greve in Chianti with its covered archways and browse the quaint shops, visiting the famous Falorni butcher shop.
- Afterwards it is on to the nearby castle village of Montefioralle, with a spectacular view of the valley, a great “photo op.”
- Dinner today is at the delightful restaurant “Le Antiche Scuderie” (local wine included), surrounded by Tignanello and Solaia vineyards and owned by the Antinori family.
- Before dinner you will have the chance to walk through the cellars of Fattoria di Montecchio; the farm produces their own Chianti Classico, an interesting SuperTuscan and a significant production of olive oil.
- Return to Figline and overnight.
- Breakfast. (For those of you on the four-night program, return transfer to Florence airport or train station.)
- After breakfast, you will have your final cooking class with Chef Claudio, followed by lunch.
- Afternoon free for leisure activities. If you would like, we can arrange a trip to the Prada and other outlets (you can make arrangements with our Florence office once you are in Italy).
- Dinner tonight in downtown Figline, with roundtrip transfers from the Relais.
- Overnight.
- Breakfast.
- Afterwards, meet your driver-guide for a full-day excursion to Siena and San Gimignano discovering the beauties of these perfectly preserved medieval towns. You will be on your own in Siena and San Gimignano, although your driver-guide can make recommendations of places to see and where to eat.
- After lunch on your own, return to Figline in the late afternoon.
- Farewell dinner tonight at Relais Torre Guelfa.
- Overnight.
- Breakfast and return transfer to Florence airport or railway station.
