GROUP weekly cooking class: Pasta & Pizza Cooking Class

Availability:Thursdays
Duration:From 2 to 3 hours + time for lunch or dinner



Rates

My Tuscan Kitchen logo

Weekly shared cooking classes in Tuscany, in small groups 4-12 people
PASTA & PIZZA

Learn the secrets of the best Italian pasta and pizza, get to know local people, share this experience with other visitors, make new friends!

30-40 minutes from Pisa, the coast, San Gimignano and Volterra, you find our culinary school called My Tuscan Kitchen, at Rita’s farm near Montefoscoli, where we organize enjoyable hands-on shared classes.

 

DOWNLOAD DETAILS OF CLASSES, NEW 2024 CALENDAR & BOOKING FORM HERE

DOWNLOAD BOOKING FORM

DOWNLOAD DETAILS OF CLASSES, NEW 2025 CALENDAR & BOOKING FORM HERE

DOWNLOAD BOOKING FORM

Every Thursday Rita’s farm and My Tuscan kitchen school welcome you for a class with focus on Pasta and Pizza. What you’ll learn is how to make the perfect fresh pasta dough and a delicious pasta sauce, and how to make the perfect pizza dough and bake focaccia, pizzas and even a sweet pizza! We will use our 200-year-old wood burning oven on the property for baking the pizzas, if weather permits.

Calendar 2024, every Thursday from the 18th April to the 24th October. See below the details:

  • From April 18th to May 30th: class starts at 10:00 am
  • From June 6th to September 12th: class starts at 3:30 pm
  • From September 19th to October 24th: class starts at 10:00 am
  • Not available on July 18th and August 15th (moved to August 16th)

Meet Rita and her lovely family, the pets and the farm animals such as chickens and donkeys. Enjoy a shared experience with other guests who come from all over the world and learn about the history, culture and traditions of our land.

Food is culture, so while learning he recipes, you’ll also get information about they are related to the history of Tuscany and Italy.

Our local cooks, friendly mammas or nonnas from Tuscany, are happy to share with you all the secrets of the best Italian pizza and fresh pasta dish using their family recipes.

The atmosphere is familiar, cozy, easy going, and everybody is welcome to participate in the preparation of the food, like in a family. For those who don’t feel like cooking, no problem, you’ll enjoy all the explanations, the wines and the company, while waiting for the meal to be ready.

A mysterious Temple right next door
Just next to our cooking venue is the stunning Tempio a Minerva Medica a special place rich in history and mysterious legends. On the occasion of our cooking class you will have the chance to stop in front of it for a picture and learn about a few facts. You can learn more about it and enjoy a full guided visit of the temple by clicking here.


Some questions that will find an answer during the class:

What do the colors of the Margherita pizza stay for and who made the first pizza in the world? How to know when the pasta is al dente: shall I throw it toward the wall?

A truly fun and educational experience for the whole family. 🙂

Please note:

Menu is decided by our staff. Please, make sure you inform us about possible food restrictions or allergies in advance, so that we can guarantee a menu that suits everybody. Last minute changes are not possible.

Morning sessions end with lunch and afternoon sessions end with dinner. In both cases, you’ll eat what you prepared with your hands.

Meeting point is at Arianna & Friends office 15 minutes before the class starts. Please be in time. This is a self-drive service. If you need a driver, please ask for a quotation.

More: for a complete experience, be informed that every Tuesday we also organize a class with focus on typical Tuscan dishes and traditional recipes. Find more info in this page: TYPICAL TUSCAN COOKING CLASS

DOWNLOAD BOOKING FORM

 

 

This is a list of specialties that you are likely to sample as part of the program of this class. Please, note that the specialties of the menu prepared at the class may vary according to the season and the availability of the products in the day of the class.

In our cooking class we like telling you a lot about Tuscan farms and farmers' cooking traditions, introducing you to Tuscan people with their personal stories, careers and characters.
You will have one of our guides as a language assistants and coordinator with you during the whole class. Please, see below all the guides and language assistants who can be with you.
During this experience you will also meet one of our Tuscan cooks who give you the cooking class. Please, see below which cooks you are likely to encounter.

Cristiano

guide

Davide

guide

Rita

guide

Arianna

guide

Massimo

guide

Luca

guide

Silvia

friend

Ester

friend

Carlo

friend

Elisabetta

friend

Mariagrazia

friend

Paola

friend

Martina

friend

Marco

friend
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Rates
Rates Table

The rates for these activities vary according to the age of the participants.
Check rates in the table below.

Weekly shared cooking class:
Pasta & Pizza

SMALL GROUP COOKING CLASSES ON THURSDAYS morning or afternoon
FROM  APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER

– RATES 2024 –

Age of participant Rate per participant
Adults € 90
Teenagers (12 – 17 yrs) € 65
Children (4 – 11 yrs) € 35
Min 4 participants – Max 12 participants

Weekly shared cooking class:
Pasta & Pizza

SMALL GROUP COOKING CLASSES ON THURSDAYS morning or afternoon
FROM  APRIL THROUGH OCTOBER

– RATES 2025 –

Age of participant Rate per participant
Adults € 110
Teenagers (12 – 17 yrs) € 80
Children (4 – 11 yrs) € 50
Children (0 – 3 yrs) free of charge
Min 4 participants – Max 12 participants

Rates include

  • A local cook
  • An English speaking story teller
  • A visit to the farm, to the vineyards and olive groves
  • Full cooking class
  • Use of the 200 year old wood oven if weather permits
  • All food
  • Unlimited wines from the farm (white and red)
  • Printed material
  • Personal aprons as souvenirs
  • Served full lunch or dinner
  • Tax

Rates do NOT include

  • Transportation
  • Tips to the staff. This is not compulsory, but greatly appreciated

Transportation is not included in the rates above. For more info on transportation, please see the box “Transportation options”.

Here a message from Rachel who visited us in early June 2019:

Dear Arianna,

We just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our cooking class with Veronica and Laura on June 7th. They were incredible and the location at Rita’s farm was so beautiful and authentic Tuscana!  This was truly the highlight of our trip in Italy – a night our whole family will cherish and always remember!  Veronica was such an incredible guide – so thorough and informative and enjoyable to be with.

She mentioned providing us with the written recipes with measurements – in particular the pasta and pizza doughs. Could you please email us these when you have a chance

Thank you so much!!

Rachel

Here a kind message we receveid from Rachel in late Spring 2019:

I had the most wonderful experience cooking with Rita and Sylvia on Thursday May 2! I fell in love with the experience from the moment I arrived. I go on and on with all of my memories of the day – the farm, the temple, Rita and her personal story, Sylvia and her assistance, the others who joined us and even Romeo and Juliette. Even the the beautiful ingredients we had for making the pasta and pizza were photo worthy for me. I so much want to make these dishes again for friends and family here at home. Since I was so caught up in the in the experience of the day, I did not write down the details of the recipes. I remember Rita saying that we could contact her and the recipes would be emailed to us. I look forward to getting them from you. I must say that my time in the class is the highlight of my trip. Grazie, Grazie, Rachel

Here a message from Beverly, who visited in April 2019:

Hi Arianna, I want to thank you for arranging the pasta/pizza cooking class for me. My grandaughter and I had a wonderful time!!! Rita and Silvia were so much fun and so knowledgeable. Rita said if we contacted you that you would email us the recipes. Our class was on Thursday, April 10th. Again thank you so much, and I will recommend you to everone!!!

Here another message for the same cooking class of the previous testimonial! :))

Good Morning,

I just wanted to say what a wonderful afternoon we had at our pizza and pasta cooking class we had last Thursday, we all as a family very much enjoyed it. Rita’s hospitality was amazing and we loved hearing all about her way of life and farm.

 

She mentioned that you would email out the recipes to us if we asked, I would be very much grateful of this if possible.

 

Many thanks

 

The Phillips family

Here is the message of Paul and Emma who took part to our small group pizza making class on 24th August 2017:

Hello Moira, Rita and Veronica:

Our sincere apologies for the delay today and thank you for arranging such a nice day.

We really enjoyed it and special thanks to Rita and her team and family for hosting us.  It really is a memorable experience and we thank you all for making everything wonderful.

Thank you so much and you will definitely hear from us again.

Take care.

Best regards,

Paul and Emma

This is the feedback of Louise, who joined us for a private cooking class at our panoramic farmhouse:

We cannot thank Massimo and Esther enough for the most perfect afternoon last week – their care and attention, sense of fun and knowledge were amazing and they gave us a most memorable time. Pizza and pasta making in a glorious setting, informative and relaxed, oh to be and live like an Italian.
Thank you so much – it was perfect.
Louisa, Chris, Hamish, Hester and Jacob.

This is an email we received on 31st March from Pat & Suzie who took part to one of our cooking classes focusing on the pasta making.

Good evening!
My wife (Suzie) and I were lucky enough to enjoy a wonderful pasta lab on March 20th with Massimo and Ester; we had such a great time. I have sent a few pictures of our day; maybe you’ll want them for your web site, and hopefully you can share Ester’s first “selfie” with her!
If possible, I would really appreciate some help with the recipes we learned. I took so many notes, I can’t imagine how I missed anything!

We used 2 different flours for our pastas, one fine and one robust. When we made ravioli and tagliatelle, we mixed the flour 50/50. When we made gnocchi, I have written down to use only fine flour for the dough. But I seem to recall using the more robust flour if more was needed when we were kneading the dough. Is this correct, or do I always use the fine flour when making gnocchi?
Thanks if you can help and I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we enjoyed our day!
Pat & Suzie

Massimo,
Thanks for the great response! I really appreciate it. Please feel free to use the pictures on your web site, I think they capture the fun, beautiful setting, and of course, the great food!
I will definitely post some comments on your trip advisor page for others to read.
We are having friends stay with us in our home over the Easter weekend, and Saturday, Suzie and I are going to treat them to some home made ravioli and gnocchi, along with some of the excellent wines we brought home with us from Tuscany. Hopefully, we will make you and Ester proud of your students! I’ll let you know how we do.
Thanks again and all the best,
Pat

 

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This is an email we received from a family who took part to one of our cooking classes at My Tuscan Kitchen

For a wonderful evening! We have had a great time in Tuscany. Your cook, Signora Lorena and her great assistant Arianna, accompanied by the class of rookies, Lynnette and Mick , Billings , and new found friends from Washington D. C., Kristen and Johnny and Kristen’s parents.
Please send recipes!!!!!
Grazie

Mixing flour and eggs

Making dough for fresh pasta

Here the happiness of Helen, who took her two young children to our weekly cooking class with focus on pasta and pizza making:

Hi Veronica

We went on the pizza and pasta cookery class on 2nd June with our children and I thought I would send some photos through of you, Esther and the children.  They had a fabulous time and this class was one of the best things we did on our holiday!

Thanks very much for the food, education and for keeping both the children and us entertained!

I hope the pictures come through ok.

Best wishes

Helen

Small paddle and large paddle

Ester showing a young boy how to use a shovel to bake pizzas

Ester and Veronica by the wood burning oven

A moment of our weekly cooking class with focus on pizza and pasta

Veronica and a young boy

A weekly cooking class in Tuscany ideal for children

Veronica and a young girl

A weekly cooking with focus on pizza in Tuscany, ideal activity for kids

Veronica posing in front of the oven

Wood burning oven ready for pizzas

This are the words of Will after taking a cooking class taught by Ester with the help of Veronica with focus on pasta and pizza making:

Thanks so much for organising our amazing holiday. My son Thomas has not stopped talking about Esther, Veronica and massimo and the pizza and pasta!

Here is a photo of him in action should you wish to use it.

Thanks again

Regards

Will

A child and his tagliatelle

After making pasta a little boy shows how long tagliatelle were

These are the words of Valerie after a cooking class with Veronica where her kids learnt how to make pasta and pizza

Veronica,

No, thank you! The kids had a great time and talked about their arts all day long.  My husband and I were blown away at all you guys did.  It really wasn’t what we were expecting! It was so much more.  You guys went above and beyond.
We will be singing your praises on Trip Advisor and the like as soon as we get home and I get on my computer.  These iPads are so frustrating to type on!

Have a great rest of the week and thanks again,

Valerie

This is an email we received on from Raya, who enjoyed one of our small group cooking classes at My Tuscan Kitchen's cooking school

Hello Arianna Good morning From Tel -Aviv!
thank you very much for the Toscan cooking class on the 7/11/13 in the Agriturismo. Mrs. Ester was very good teacher and the translator( sory i forgot his name) was very good as well. I hope to come again for 2 step of cooking class in Toscany.
Thanks again
Raya

This is an email we received from Loretta and Julia, who participated to our cooking classes at My Tuscan Kitchen cookery school.

Arianna and Friends,

Julia and I want to thank you for an outstanding vacation!! It was just wonderful and everyone/everything was perfect! It was our first cooking vacation and we could not have imagined the fun and learning as well as great food that we helped to make!

The Tuscan Cooking Class was magnificent! We learned so much and we thoroughly enjoyed our fellow “future chefs”! Signora Carla and Arianna were fantastic as well as patient and fun to be with.

Making Tuscan desserts with Veronica at Mama’s Cakes was the greatest! The Traditional Tiramisu, Cenci, Cantuccini, and the Apple Cake was so much fun to make with Veronica’s guidance and sharing with the Pizza class was perfect!

Signora Ester and Massimo were wonderful in the Pasta Lab. We enjoyed everything about it and sharing the meals outside with our classmates was a special treat.

We can’t thank you enough for your wonderful hospitality. Both Julia and I plan to return someday and do it again.

I tell everyone I meet that they, too, should do this vacation. IT is wonderful and we thank you so much! Gracia!

One question: Can you send me the written recipes for all the dishes/desserts since my notes are not what they should be? Also, I have loads of pictures so if you want a few of the group preparing the meals, I can send them. Just let me know.

Thanks again,

Loretta and Julia

This is an email we received from Bill, who met Arianna for one of our winter private cookery lessons in Casciana Terme, near Pisa.

Hello Arianna and Friends
Hoping you have a great new year. Thank you so very much for arranging our cooking class in late November. It was amazing.
I would like to bring a small group next October to stay at the farm for about 3-4 days what types of accommodations are there and what prices per night with breakfast each morning?
Thanks again for everything

LOCATION OF THE COOKING VENUE:
This cooking class takes place on a farm by Montefoscoli, near the village of Peccioli, in central Tuscany, among Pisa, San Gimignano and Volterra.

MEET-UP LOCATION:
Unless differently specified, the meeting point with the language assistant directly at the premises of the cooking school. Detailed information and road instructions will be provided at the booking stage.

DURATION:
Our programs take3 hours for cooking and the rest for dinner/lunch and relaxation. Time for transportation not included.

AVAILABILITY:
The program "Pizza and Pasta Lab" is available every Thursday from May 5 through 27 October 2022.

LANGUAGE:
This class is available in English with no surcharge. German, French, Spanish, Russian or Italian are also possible upon booking with no surcharge.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL:
Easy

CHILD FRIENDLY:
Ideal for children

CLOTHING:
No particular clothing required.

FOOD RESTRICTIONS:
The foods served during this cooking class might contain gluten, lactose, nuts and alcohol. If you have any food restriction, please inform our personnel during the enquiry process.

TRANSPORTATION:
This program and its rates do not include transportation and are set on a self-driving base. For further information see the box "transportation options".

The destinations reached during this activity are in the Tuscan countryside, in areas off the beaten track that cannot be reached by public transport. We highly recommend renting a car or a scooter in order to reach them. As an alternative, we can offer a valued service by chauffeured car, van or minibus. Any cost of transportation is to be added to the rates displayed on the rate table of this page.

A cinquecento in front of San Gimignano
Chauffeured vans and sedans and luxury buses in Tuscany
A vespa in the medieval village of Peccioli
Rates