Villa Castelletti Cooking Course Vacation – (Half week)
*Note:
the half-week itinerary is for the first half of the week including 3
hands-on cooking courses and 2 guided excursions.
The half-week trip includes:
- 3 nights at Villa Castelletti, near Florence, a noble estate. The accommodations are in upscale private apartments in part of the estate’s hamlet.
- All meals as indicated in the itinerary. All lunches and dinners
in authentic trattorias.
Small groups: 6-10 people. - 3 hands-on cooking courses in “La Cucina Povera Toscana” – Tuscan country cooking. 3 on the Villa Castelletti estate and 1 in Florence.
- 2 guided excursions to the enchanting towns of Florence, Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano and Vinci (birthplace of Leonardo Da Vinci).
- 2 Wine Tours with wine tasting (Carmignano & Chianti Classico regions). 2 visits wine Estates, 1 in Carmignano, 2 in Chianti Classico(both also olive oil producers).
- Visits to Olive oil farm with tasting & lunch.
- All transportation (to and from Florence).
- Free time to shop in each town.
WHERE YOU WILL STAY: Signa (Province of Florence) – On a luxurious
wine producing estate located a few kilometers West of Florence.
Florence is a mere 10-15 minute drive away. Located near Lucca and Pisa,
and about three and a half hours North of Rome.
WHERE YOU WILL SLEEP: “Il Borgo di Villa Castelletti”, is made up
of a series of farmhouses, the Borgo was built in XVII century; the
first building, "La Burraja", was originally the factory used for
producing bricks to construct the main Villa and then was later used to
produce butter. The original style of an "old Tuscan country house" has
been preserved intact, ever adding to the fascinating atmosphere of
ancient walls within which past generations lived in close contact with
the land.
COOKING COURSES: The main chef and cooking course instructor at
Villa Castelletti is Roberto Bondiali and Elivio Raugei is Roberto’s
Sous-chef. Roberto Bondioli was born in Lucca and today he lives in the
picturesque town of Poggio alla Malva in the Carmignano region. Roberto
began his studies at the Chefs Institute of Montecatini. There, he
completed his five year study program and was rewarded the diploma of
first and second level chef. He decided to continue his studies for an
extra five years, specializing in Medieval Italian Cooking. Roberto has
two very important passions, which are closely linked: his creativity as
a chef and that as a well-known contemporary artist. Roberto considers
the work of a chef to be very closely connected to that of an artist -
constant experimentation with both old and the new, and continuous study
and practice to enrich these two passions. He now works with his own
sous-chef Elvio in the “Tre Corone” restaurant at Villa Castelletti and
he participates in the Italian cuisine magazines ‘Buon Appetito’
section. He has created some unique dishes on the menu, like his famous
‘Ravioli di Barbossa in Salsa di burro e Semi di Papavero’.
Cooking courses are taught in the spacious kitchen area of the estate’s
quaint Tre Corone restaurant. On day 5 (only for One week course) of the
itinerary, we will take you to have a special cooking course in the
heart of Florence. When available, it is with Sharon Oddson and Mims at
the famous Trattoria GARGA restaurant, which was written up in Bon
Appetite’s 2000 Special Millennium Edition on Tuscany.
EXCURSIONS: 2 guided excursions to extraordinary cities and
regions including: Florence, Lucca, Pisa, San Gimignano, the Chianti &
Carmignano wine regions, wine tasting at a famous Carmignano wine
estate, wine tasting opportunities in the Chianti region and a visit to
the charming hometown of the great Leonardo Da Vinci.
* We would like to emphasize that for larger custom groups we are
quite flexible with regard to the itinerary and the excursions.
Sometimes we can switch around different excursions based on local
events and activities, new excursions (not mentioned above) can be added
if they’re of interest to you. The most important thing is to
communicate your specific interests, which will be given priority if
possible and if they are in the best interest of the overall group.
Sample Itinerary
-
DAY 1 - Pick-up in Florence and arrival at Villa Castelletti
We will pick you up in Florence and take you to Villa Castelletti where you will be welcomed at the Borgo (Hamlet) - your vacation home next to the main Villa. After settling in, Linda will show you around the entire estate, which will be your home for the week! You will have time to relax in your lovely apartment before enjoying a welcome drink with the staff at the Borgo. We will dine at the restaurant on the Villa Castelletti estate where Roberto, your cooking teacher for the week, will prepare your first Tuscan meal at the “Tre Corone” restaurant where you will be taking your hands on cooking classes throughout the week.
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DAY 2 - A perfect morning in Lucca – Wine Appreciation in Carmignano
In the morning, after Breakfast either in your apartments or out in the breakfast room, you will be off to beautiful Lucca, a town West of Villa Castelletti. You will enjoy a walking tour around the heart of Lucca, which is considered to be one of the most picturesque of all the fortified (medieval wall) towns in Tuscany. After our informative tour, you will have free time to shop, take a walk around the 16th century intact walls, visit museums and churches or simply sit in one of the many cafe’s that line this Roman city. You will enjoy a light lunch in one of the many Trattoria’s in Lucca. Early evening transfer to the heart of the Carmignano region where you will meet Francesco, Sommelier and owner of ‘Super i canto’ a wine bar in the town center. You will be introduced to the wines of Carmignano accompanied by a tasting menu
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DAY 3 - A ‘Nobile’ Winery and Medieval Towers in the heart of Chianti
After breakfast, you will take a walk up to the restaurant where you will enjoy a cooking course followed by lunch. In the afternoon, you will visit a famous winery owned by a Florentine Nobile (noble) family, wine makers for twenty six generations! The Wine cellars are situated below an Abbey consecrated in eight hundred A.D. Massimo, the estate’s wine-maker, will take you on an informative tour followed by a tasting. After your tour, you will continue on with a drive through the Chianti region situated between Florence and Siena. Here there is an ancient Roman road which will take us to the medieval town known as San Gimignano. You will discover why San Gimignano is the only remaining medieval town which has been called the “Manhattan of Tuscany” and witness firsthand its ten (originally there were seventy two) towers! You will have a chance to shop while strolling along the magical windy streets, which are packed with local artisans’ stores that specialize in ceramics , leather goods and wooden crafts. Enjoy dinner at a local wine bar where you will try the white wine of San Gimignano called Vernaccia.
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DAY 4 - Cooking in the Heart of Florence
On this special day, we will meet up with Sharon, who is the restaurant owner and Chef of the famous Trattoria Garga (located in the heart of Florence not far from the Ponte Vecchio), at the main central market in Florence. Sharon will take us on a gastronomic tour teaching us about the main organic ingredients of Tuscan Cuisine which we will later use to prepare our cooking course. After this eye-opening outdoor market tour, we will make our way to Sharon’s cooking school and enjoy a hands-on cooking extravaganza (cooking course followed by lunch)! After lunch, you can shop and discover the historical treasures of Florence. In the evening, we will transfer back to Villa Castelletti for a light, quiet and restful dinner or you can choose to remain in Florence for a free evening on your own terms!
* During the spring and fall, you may participate to local
“Sagre” – food festivals which take place in medieval villages and towns
around the provinces of Florence & Lucca.
© Copyright 2006-2012 Tuscan Way
Isabel Innocenti
Tuscan Way - La Via dei Sensi
2829 Bird Avenue, Suite 5, PMB 242
Coconut Grove, Florida 33133 USA
Tel: 800-766-2390 or 305-598-8368
Fax: 800-767-9699 or 305-598-8369
Email:
inquire@tuscanway.com