Tuscan Family Recipes with an Expert Cook at Her Home in Florence - Day Trip — CALL

Traveling Spoon

OFFER ID 1315475

Mirella lives with her husband Stefano (her partner in life and in the kitchen!) in a small town called Antella located in the South of Florence. The town is in the Chiantigiana area and is surrounded by the Chianti Hills. Mirella's love for food and cooking comes from her paternal grandmother (nonna) who she used to help in the kitchen as a young child. As an adult she began trying out her nonna's recipes for herself. Her grandmother was a highly-skilled chef and an expert in the history of Florentine cuisine from the Renaissance period. After Mirella completed her schooling, she decided to follow her passion and enrolled at the Istituto Alberghiero in Florence, a school which trains you to work in restaurants and hotels. Over the years she has worked in several restaurants, hotels and schools. Now, Mirella organizes cooking courses and summer camps for students, teaches simple cake baking and organizes visits to nearby farms where you can learn about milking cows and cheese making - on top of hosting travelers to teach them about authentic Italian cooking! Join Mirella for an in-home meal. Mirella’s approach to cooking has been influenced by her Florentine, Tuscan and proudly peasant roots; peasants couldn’t afford to throw anything away and so they invented the most ingenious ways of recycling yesterday’s leftovers, like “la ribollita”, the famous Tuscan vegetable stew made with dried bread. Her cooking is also greatly influenced by Renaissance cooking, especially the dishes served at the Medici court. Mirella has a different menu for every season, as she prefers using seasonal ingredients in her cooking. Some of the dishes you might eat during the winter are bruschetta with sausage and stracchino cheese, ribollita (stew) or Florentine pork with peas. In spring you may be served a vegetable tart, penne with ragù sauce (meat-based sauce), peasant’s meatballs with seasonal vegetables and cioccolatissimo (extra rich chocolate dessert). The summer may include dishes such as bruschetta with tomato and basil, fresh cheeses and honey, pappa al pomodoro (made with dry bread, tomatoes and olive oil), hunter’s chicken with roast potatoes and tiramisù. In autumn you may be treated to eggs with caper salsa, pecorino cheese and salamino grapes, pumpkin risotto, pork with prunes and pinenuts, and chocolate flan. If you book a cooking experience, join Mirella in her kitchen for a hands-on cooking lesson where she will teach you how to make 3-4 of the dishes you will eating later, such as a pasta, pappa al pomodoro (made with dry bread, tomatoes and olive oil) in the summer, ribollita (stew) in the winter, various bruschette, pasta sauces and other seasonal recipes. Mirella also offers an optional market tour add-on. Please note, Mirella speaks very limited English, so either a family friend or her son will join you for the experience as a translator. Also please note the price of your experience includes alcohol.

0 nights | Call for pricing

Featured Destinations
Florence

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges
05/01/2019 - 12/31/2024
Call for pricing


* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
Call for pricing
Length
0 Nights
Air City
Call for airfares from your city.
Vacation Rating
Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
Remarks
Pricing is per person. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and children 4 and under are free. Please note number and ages of children at time of booking. Please note that all experiences are private and fully customizable. If your travelers have particular preferences or dietary restrictions please note this at the time of booking. Additional terms and conditions apply.
Note: This is a DAY TOUR with no hotel accommodations included. Advertised rate is meal only; additional tour options are available and can be combined. Price may vary by date of travel, currency rate fluctuations and tour option; please inquire for the best prices for your preferred travel dates. 2-6 guests.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID
1315475

Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.

Sunrise Travel Center

2150 Route 35 Suite 250
Sea Girt, NJ 08750
USA

(732) 449-2200