Hands-on Cooking Classes in Tuscany, Italy at Villa Montecastelli

Sample Program from 2009 Class:

Saturday
- Arrival in Italy, transfer to the Villa
- Welcome Prosecco snack
- Dinner at the Villa

Sunday
- Welcome and orientation
- Cooking Class
·       Brodo - the importance of having a good stock around
·       Cooking beans
·       Zucchini frittata lesson                      
·       Fegatini di pollo
·       Panzanella
- Light lunch
- Cooking Class
·       Pasta fresca con pomodori - lesson in making fresh summer tomato  

        sauce
·       Salcicce all' uccelletto
·       Arista di Maiale - lesson in preparing a roast
·       Saltate of fresh garden greens
·       Pattate Arrosto
- Dinner at the Villa

Monday
- Cooking Class
·       Ribolitta - how to make the classic tuscan soup
·       Knife skills - cutting vegetables for soup
·       Insalata verde - lesson in making vinaigrette
·       Acciuga Marinata
·       Soffritto, the building block of Italian cooking - what is it, how and why do 

        you use it
- Light lunch
- Wine Class
- Dinner at the Villa

Tuesday
- Cooking Class
·       Insalata di calamari con ceci
·       Uova con pomodoro
·       Prep soffritto for cacciucco
- Light lunch at winery
- Cooking Class
- Dinner at the Villa

Wednesday
- Wine Tour in Montalcino
- Light lunch at 'Osticcio'
- Afternoon free (touring Siena)
- Dinner -  your night - on your own or out

Thursday
- All day trip to Florence
- Possible visit Uffizi, markets, wine bars, café.....
- Dinner at Ristorante Casalta (close to the Villa Montecastello)

Friday
- Cooking Class
·       Lesson in making classic fish stew of Livorno
·       Lesson in making risotto with garden vegetables
·       Fagioli in umido - cooking vegetables in a moist environment using

        versatile techniques
- Light lunch
- Dinner at Villa - Pizza night!

Saturday
-Departure for airports