"This cooking class was wonderful. I learned to make the best, fresh ravioli that I have ever eaten!"
Thanks again for the class.
Toby
We enjoyed the cooking class immensely. We have tried several of the recipes at home and they are wonderful. Mastering the art of making pasta is one goal that we have! There wouldn't be anything we would change and thought that the Chef Simone was wonderful, patient and gave very helpful hints.
The cooking class was one of the highlights of our stay in Florence!
Bonnie Wilson and Fred Bell
It seems like a lifetime ago I was cooking in Italy. You can use my name, initial for anything. I do not think there is any room for improvement. It was an experience of a lifetime. It really made our trip complete.
Ciao,
Ivy Feuerstadt
I thoroughly enjoyed my day with Good Tastes of Tuscany. The setting was exceptional; the kitchen splendid and the chef, Riberto, was enthusiastic, well-prepared and completely professional while at the same time affirming of his apprentices. We ate our own cooking and enjoyed it! That is the test of a good meal!
Cassie
We had a FANTASTIC time at the Tuscany Cooking Class. The class catered to beginner and experienced chefs alike and featured recipes for food that someone would cook on a regular basis. The chefs/teachers were very friendly, patient and informative throughout the entire day. We would definitely recommend this course for the new or experienced chef!
Chris and Stefani Forsythe
Our experience at your cooking school was very wonderful - in fact, it was exactly what I had pictured it to be in my mind!! We loved that it was completely hands on, with many opportunities to ask questions along the way. The recipes were delicious, the chef and his wife could not have been nicer and in all, we had a perfect day at the school. We have told many friends about it and will be talking about it and recalling it for a very long time. And, yes, we are enjoying trying out the recipes in our own kitchen.
Ciao,
Margie and Herb Gross
We did have a great time at the cooking class. It was a really fun way to learn about Tuscan cookery with the chef Alberto and the other people in class making it a very friendly and sociable experience too! We have recreated some of the dishes since we got back home and they've gone down really well with our friends and family! In fact some of our friends are visiting Florence later this year (September/October) and we're trying to encourage them to go to the cooking class!
Take care,
Paul & Phil Ash
I really loved the class; I really don't have any feedback on improvements that could be made. The Chef was wonderful and it was one of the best meals I ate in Italy!
Have a wonderful day!
Angie
My son and I enjoyed very much our stay with you. It was perfect.
1. We tried a few restaurants in Signa, they were good. There was one, however, where we found the food mediocre and the service lacking. That was, if I remember correctly, Officina del gusto.
2. As to the stay, we stayed in villa agnoli 2 which was ample room for two persons. It was well equipped, tasteful, great view. Appreciated acces to computer since I had to check my mail for confirmations for our further trip. Great also to have groceries waiting for us.
3. The drivers were OK. The organization was very good. I appreciated a lot the helpfulness of Elizabeth who also took me to the pharmacy, called her doctor, etc. Great relaxed atmosphere, nothing was too difficult.
4. We enjoyed the cooking classes a lot. Good to have different styles of chefs, some relaxed. I appreciated Simone who gave information about what happened with different techniques, for example when you add water to the dough it is absorbed by the protein,etc. etc. We had pulp on the menu one day we is OK, but I would have liked to have fish one day as well (we stayed four days).
What could be improved? It is really hard to find something to improve.... It was just perfect and we plan on coming back later in the year when the seasons (and hence the products) change.
Best regards,
Birgitte Jansson
We had an absolute blast...I am soooo happy that we stayed put for a week, and got to know the locals and the town! Kenya and I had sooo much fun taking the cooking classes too! Kenya has already made homemade pasta (by herself, I must add!!!) and I had an opportunity to make the Panna Cotta for my co-workers...they were very impressed! Maurizio and Alberto had very different teaching styles, and that was perfect!!! I would definitely, and actually have, recommended Good Tastes of Tuscany to my family and friends...you are listed on my Facebook page, and tagged in several of my photos! : ) I will also post a review on Trip Advisor as well! : )
C Bell - USA
Dear Darren Saxon,
Now that we are home from our vacation (sadly) we just wanted to say how much we truly enjoyed the cooking class. Maurizo was awesome and we feel the experience was one of the high points of our entire trip! Thank you for such a wonderful experience.
Mike & Anna
Dear Darren Saxon,
Rachelle and I wanted to express our thanks for a truly unforgettable day at Villa Pandolfini. Our vacation in Tuscany was magical - every day was a fantastic voyage of discovery; a beautiful assault to all the senses. There was no better way to end our week than by taking our cooking class with Maurizio. It is a day we will remember for the rest of our lives. We left Italy longing for more and hope to return next year for an extended course. Thank you so much for a truly memorable and unique experience. We hope you enjoy the photographs.
Sincerely
Rose Grosso & Rachelle Tokar
31st Mar 2010 - My friend Rose and I have just completed our 3-day cooking course and we LOVED it. I expect Rose will write her own thing in due course (she is returning to a much busier life than me ... (I'm currently redundant!)) ... I had such a great time and learned such a lot ... I can't wait to get started on the things that Alberto and Simone taught us (we both bought fresh yeast before we left Florence earlier today and even now I'm searching out 0 and 00 flour - not easy in England, which doesn't apply any ratings to flour!). Both chefs were highly knowledgeable and passed their knowledge on to us skillfully and in a fun/relaxed way (particularly Alberto - he was our chef for two out of the three days, so we saw more of him - he was great and I hope you will pass our compliments on to him for his good teaching style, his enthusiasm and attentiveness - he really brought the recipes and Tuscan cooking culture to life). All the arrangements you put in place worked really well (pick up / drop off each day etc. etc.) - it was a truly memorable holiday.
Anyhow, I'm looking forward to hearing more about what the cookery school is up to (Rose and I will be saving our pennies to come again hopefully one day soon) Thanks to everyone for all their efforts on our behalf.
Kind regards
Louise Hunt
Tenterden, UK
11th Mar 2010 - My husband and I absolutely LOVED the cooking class and cannot wait to invite our friends and family over to our home for an authentic Italian meal. Simone was very friendly and knowledgeable, and answered all of our questions. I was especially excited to learn to make homemade pasta and my favorite dessert... tiramisu.
Thank you for offering such a wonderful opportunity to us on such short notice. Best wishes to all!
Vicki L. Jones
Dear All
I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed participating in your Tuscan cooking experience. As a chef on board a corporate jet, I was looking forward to learning some new recipes I could cook on the plane, On the way home, I indeed did cook the stuffed onions with pecorino cheese and the Tuscan chicken with pine nuts,red onion, raisins, white wine and black olives. The owners loved the dishes and it was the perfect end to our Italian leg.
The market tour we took was very informative. I would suggest that everyone add that tour to the day. I learned so much from Simon. So many times in foreign countries the food is different and I always have many questions. Not only was this market spectacular, but I returned and bought almost all my catering from there for the trip home. The benefit of the tour is also knowing where to buy. Thank you for saving me time with that selection.
Of course coming during mushroom season was an added bonus. I cooked Porcini mushrooms and they were also appreciated by the owners.
I would love to come for a vacation and cook more Tuscan delights. I loved the ease and simplicity and the countryside. My owner's wife wanted a copy of your book. the Vice President of Jet Aviation would like one,too.I raved about the experience and would like to purchase 2 books to give to them if possible.
Thank you again to all who worked so hard to make us feel welcome and teach us some great recipes. I look forward to returning either for business or pleasure soon!
Best Regards,
Jennie Paul Gardner
Executive Chef/Lead FA, Jet Aviation