Reader story from Mary and Bill Cervini, who spent five days at Toscana Saporita Cooking School in April, 2010:
Dreams do come true at Toscana Saporita Cooking School
Upon arrival at Toscana Saporita Cooking School, we were greeted with 70 acres of beautiful Italian country side. The school is located on a 15th century estate in Camporomane, Massarosa, province of Lucca.
Sandra Rosy Lotti the chef/owner is a bright, witty, master chef. She was our daily entertainment. Chefs Anthony and Alessio also taught how to make traditional Tuscan meals. Elena was our tour guide for our daily afternoon adventures to Pisa, Lucca, Viareggio and Pietrasanta where we saw the marble sculptors carving exquisite statues. Last but not least waIlara our dishwasher who saved the day.
Our Daily routine
- 9:30 breakfast with hot, steaming croissants
- 10:00 to 2:30 cooking class and lunch with wine
- 3:00 tour of a Tuscan town
- 8:00 dinner prepared by chefs, gourmet food with wine
Yummy, wow and awesome were the only words in my vocabulary during lunch and dinner. Don't stress out if you gain a few pounds because the delicious and abundant food is a once in a life time experience. Dietary restrictions are also taken into consideration.
Cooking Class
Many days were spent up to our elbows in flour--what fun! We made tri-colored pasta for our ravioli served with sage butter sauce, frittata stuffed turkey breast, octopus potato salad, apple pear tarts, tiramisu, and of course gelato. I asked Sandra why Italian gelato tastes different than US gelato. She said they have more butter fat in their cream. This is a very small example of a hands on cooking experience that went beyond my wildest dreams.
Students arrive on Sunday, classes start on Monday and end on Friday. Friday night we received our diplomas with a DVD of Sandra's cookbook. The accommodations are at the estate.
I would highly recommend the school for its small class size, English speaking, and hands on fun. I enjoyed being part of a family versus student and teacher. This cooking school had everything I was looking for and more. I suggest having a pad and pencil ready in the kitchen, so you can jot down tips and any questions. You definitely need a camera for the pictures of the culinary delights. Also you might want to ask for a daily menu with the recipes to help you remember everything when you're back home.
Photos of the Cooking Class
Take a closer look at the cooking classes with these Tuscany Cooking School Photos submitted by Mary and Bill Cervini.
Toscana Saporita Cooking School
Website: Toscana Saporita Cooking School
