Availability: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays Duration: From 2 to 3 hours for preparation + time for lunch or dinner
Did you know that Tuscan cuisine can be naturally vegan?
Discover the full-vegan meals our chefs prepare at your Tuscan home.
In the past cultivating the land was a way of life and the necessity of sustainability led to the creation of a vibrant vegetarian and vegan culinary legacy. It’s about timeless tastes: we bring age-old recipes to life in a modern context. Wine included.
A private chef coming to your villa!
Visiting Tuscany? Join one of our chef services if you really want to enjoy the best Tuscan cuisine. Arianna & Friends offers private dinners provided directly at your villa. Our chefs create culinary treats based on traditional vegan recipes, utilizing carefully chosen fresh, seasonal ingredients.
The cook, an authentic Tuscan Mamma or Granny with a big passion for cooking, will create for you the same dishes she prepares for her family, making you feel like home.
The service is available for lunch or dinner, any time. The cook will bring all ingredients into your kitchen and prepare the whole meal following family recipes and recipes of the Tuscan tradition.
All is made on site using the equipment provided by the villa and bringing any extra tool, if necessary.
Booking a private chef service with us you'll experience authentic Tuscan cuisine, enjoy meals that reflect the delicious, genuine flavors of the region, nothing luxurious or extravagant, but rather warm, honest, and lovingly prepared food.
We are happy to share with you a friendly and down-to-earth food experience that gives to you a true taste of Tuscany.
Savor the experience, and select any 4 dishes from the following options.:
Antipasti: Panzanella: A symphony of flavors in a traditional bread and vegetable salad. Verdure Grigliate:Grilled vegetables adorned with a parsley, garlic, and chili pepper topping, served on rustic bread. Verdure Fritte: Crispy deep-fried vegetables that redefine indulgence. Crostini ai Funghi caldi e freddi:Mushroom bruschetta, two delicious versions and two types of mushrooms Bruschetta doppia al Pomodoro: Classic tomato bruschetta in two versions: with garlic and origano and also with onion and basil Crostone cavolo nero e fagioli: Rustic bread with Tuscan kale and cannellini beans (only in the spring and fall) Main Courses: Pappa al Pomodoro: Thick bread and tomato soup with basil Minestra di Ceci alla Pisana: Chickpea soup Pisan style Minestra di Fagioli:Traditional bean soup Risotto o Pasta ai Funghi: Mushroom risotto, or Dried pasta like penne or spaghetti with mushroom sauce Risotto o Pasta Zucchini e Pinoli:Zucchini and pine nut risotto, or Dried pasta like penne or spaghetti with zucchini and pine nut sauce Risotto o Pasta agli asparagi:Asparagus risotto, or Dried pasta like penne or spaghetti with asparagus sauce Pasta al sugo povero: Dried pasta like penne or spaghetti with the farmer's sauce Fagioli Rifatti:Cannellini beans in a rich tomato sauce Fagiolini in Umido: Green beans cooked in a savory vegetable stew Desserts: Dolce all’Olio: Olive oil cake Biscotti alle Noci:Nut biscuits Frittelle di Farina di Castagne:Fried chestnut flour pancakes
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL MEAL SERVICES
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM US
At Arianna & Friends, our cooks are not just culinary experts; they are friendly local individuals who bring the warmth of family cooking to your table. Rather than serving elaborate dishes, they craft meals using cherished traditional recipes, creating an experience reminiscent of home. Our cooks arrive equipped with fresh ingredients, prepare the meal on-site, serve, and conduct a thorough cleanup, leaving your kitchen and dining space as they found it. Bread is always included, as well as a salad along with the second main courses when they don't include vegetables already.
We provide in-home chef/cooking services and bring our own utensils and tools. However, we utilize the villa’s resources to set the table and serve the food. Tables, chairs, cutlery, glasses, or plates are not included. Additional arrangements can be made at an extra cost with an external provider.
WHAT WE ASK OF YOU
• Access and Timing: Please, ensure permission for our cooks to access the villa and kitchen. Please, ask the villa manager/owner BEFORE booking the service. Confirm that the villa is accessible at the agreed-upon time to avoid additional fees for waiting time. You find this information in the confirmation voucher. • Preparation: Please, Leave the kitchen clean and free from personal items for prompt service. Additional cleaning time will incur an extra fee. • Table Settings: Provide the correct number of table settings for your party size (chairs, cutlery, glasses, tableware). We will utilize only what is available. • Punctuality: Please, be at the table on time; delays will result in extra charges. • Service Gaps: if you book a full formula service, where the staff serves the food at the table, we plan for a 10-20 minute gap between the serving of one course and the serving of the next one, to keep a relaxed and natural service. Delays from your side due to unplanned situations will be charged extra. • Extended Services:Please, inform us in advance if you plan to have a long dinner with additional activities such as speeches, singing and dancing. We’ll provide a personalized quotation for extended service hours. • Children’s Meals:If serving children first, expect an extra hour of service, charged accordingly. • Menu choice: You are asked to choose a single menu for the entire group. Each course counts as one dish. For example, a three-course meal means choosing three dishes. • Different menu choice: Our menus are intended to be the same for the entire group. We are happy to accommodate genuine allergies and dietary restrictions if communicated in advance. Multiple variations, personal preferences, or special requests may involve an extra charge, as they require dedicated preparation and additional staff to maintain our standards of service and quality. Any additional charge will depend on the complexity and number of alternative dishes required. • Allergies and Restrictions: Communicate any food restrictions or allergies at the time of booking. Last-minute changes are not possible.
Extra Charges: Delays result in a €15/half-hour (€30/hour) charge per staff member
If your party consists of 1 to 4 people, there will be 1 or 2 staff members, depending on the chosen menu. For parties of 5 to 15 people, 2 to 3 staff members will assist you. For groups of 16 to 30 people, the team will include 3 to 5 staff members.
This is a list of specialties that you are likely to sample as part of menu of the chef service. Please, note that these are just some examples of what can be prepared. A full list of options is available for you to choose from. Our booking staff will send you detailed information.
Kale is a great topping for a bruschetta after sauteing in extra virgin olive oil and garlic. It is seasoned with black pepper and it can join cannellini beans. Probably the most delicious produce of Tuscan autumns, it is one of the favorite recipes of all lovers of brand new extra virgin olive oils as […]
Cecina is a very good thin pie baked in wood ovens and made of chick-pea flour. One of the typical street foods of Pisa and Livorno in Tuscany, it is found in similar versions in other Mediterranean harbor towns like Genua or Marseille in France. It is always called in a different way. Remember that […]
A great Super Food from Tuscany: the Farro. The spelt salad is a delicious salad based on boiled farro (Italian for a grain called “spelt”, similar to barley) and dressed with seasonal fresh vegetables like tomatoes, pickled artichokes and carrots, olives and capers.
One of the most delicious fresh Summer salads of Tuscany, based on bread and fresh vegetables like cucumbers, onion, tomatoes and basil and dressed with extra virgin olive oil and Tuscan vinegar. Originally a way to reuse old bread, it has recently become one of the most iconic super-foods of Tuscany.
One of the most delicious specialties of Tuscany: a base of red tomato sauce and garlic and stale bread make a thick bread soup, dressed with extra virgin olive oil and finished with leaves of basil or sage. It is fundamental for the bread to be really hard and a fresh vegetable stock is ideal […]
A great gluten-free recipe particularly appreciated by the Tuscans in the Fall and Winter. Mushroom risotto can be prepared on a base of chanterelles, portobello, champingons and of course porcini mushrooms. During the proper season people also enjoy truffle based risotto.
The best risotto for the Summer months: Risotto agli Zucchini e Fiori di Zucca. Thinly sliced zucchini and zucchini blossoms on a base of parsley, garlic and extra virgin olive oils, rice slowly stewed with the help of vegetable stock and finally dressed with Parmesan cheese and some pinenuts: divine!
Focaccia is a typical flat bread which is like the base of a pizza with no topping. Usually it is added with olive oil and rosemary and it is served with cold meats and cheese.
Zuppa alla frantoiana means vegetable soup of the olive oil maker. It is a delicious soup made of sauted vegetables like carrots, potatoes, beans, kale and cabbage on which the final touch is freshly squeezed extra virgin olive oil. It was traditionally the soup that authentic oil mills in Tuscany were preparing for their guests […]
The Tuscan soil provides a wide variety of red wines, from easy-to-drink young table wines to full-body and robust riservas. Tuscan red wines are often based on Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Ciliegiolo or Colorino grapes and sometimes on international grapes like Merlot, Cabernet or Syrah. The most curious experiements are recently involving Alicante and Tempranillo!
Tuscan white wines are often based on a typical grape called Vermentino, which provides strong minerality and freshness to the wines made with it. The area of San Gimignano provides the one and only white wine DOCG in Tuscany: Vernaccia. Other very common grapes for white wines in Tuscany are Trebbiano and Malvasia.
A salad of mixed seasonal vegetables including lettuce, radicchio and carrots. In Tuscany green or mixed lettuce salads are usually dressed with extra virgin olive oil, white wine vinegar and salt. We serve salad as a side dish accompanying the main course, like meat or fish based dishes. It never comes before pasta though.
One of the most delicious tomato-based sauces for a pasta is sorrentina, a great recipe with black olives and red onions. The origin of this recipe is very poor but it is now considered one of the most delicate pasta dishes in Italy.
For this service you will meet some of the Tuscan friends involved in the preparation of your meal. Please, see below which friends you are likely to encounter.
Anna
friend
Anna
Chef Services and Cooking Classes Coordinator
Buongiorno a tutti! My name is Anna, and I come from San Miniato, a historic Tuscan town also famous for its delicious white truffles. I first met Arianna in early 2000s, when I was working at a local agriturismo and she was organizing her very first cooking classes there. At the time, I was working at the reception, witnessing the early steps of what would later become Arianna & Friends as event organizers and food tour operators. I had the chance to see the company grow from the very beginning.
As Arianna & Friends continued to expand, we had several opportunities to collaborate over the years, until I officially joined the team on a more permanent basis in 2022. Today, I take care of the company’s accounting and coordinate all the chefs involved in our in-home chef services and cooking classes.
I especially enjoy organizing small weddings and private celebrations, helping our guests create intimate and authentic experiences they will always remember.
I am a patient and creative person, and I enjoy taking care of projects with calm and dedication. When I’m not working, I love spending time by the sea, as I now live in Livorno, a beautiful harbor town.
See you soon in Tuscany
Carlo
friend
Carlo
Mi chiamo Carlo, the only "boy" among the chefs of Arianna & Friends. I am a cousin of Lorena, who has worked with the company for long now and who introduced me to them back in 2022. I live in Pontedera, home of Vespa, and I have been cooking all my life, since preparing delicious food has always been my great passion. In my working age I was an operator for an insurance company, so I know plenty of local people and I am very friendly and talkative. I then retired and decided to dedicate myself to the things I like the most: cooking and joining friends. I have limited English but miraculously all our guests can easily understand me through my body language and face expressions. I will be waiting for you for great barbecue dinners and traditional dishes of all kinds!
Elisabetta
friend
Elisabetta
Hi everybody, ciao a tutti. I am Elisabetta and I am the youngest one among the chefs of Arianna & Friends. I have been working with the company for several years, initially just as a sous-chef and eventually as a proper chef. I have accumulated many years of experience while learning from all my other colleague chefs, but I also added my personal taste and knowledge to the whole. I am really happy to be part of this team and to be able to meet people from all over the world. In my free time I enjoy the company of my lovely puppy for long walks or just hanging around for shopping. Ciao a presto!
Silvia
friend
Silvia
Ciao, I'm Silvia, one of the youngest cooks at Arianna & Friends'. Cooking is my real passion and I like to prepare any traditional dish both for visitors and for my family. I also love baking pizza as well as trying innovative food and special contemporary techniques, especially in my kitchen at home. When I started working for this company in 2018, I met an incredible team of collaborators and with them I finally feel joy and serenity in what I do. Any time I work as a cook I can breath freedom and this makes me happy.
As I really love the sea, in my free time I like being at the beach. I have a passion for travelling and being in the company of my friends. I could define myself as a "free spirit" with a big attraction to ... hats !!!
Looking forward to meet you all!
Ester
friend
Ester
Ciao, I'm Ester, one of the cooks of Arianna & Friends'. I've been working with them since the beginning of their adventure in 2007.
I love cooking together with people from all over the world, especially with young kids.
What I prefer to cook is pasta dishes, pizza and desserts, like for example the stunning cake I made to celebrate my 50th wedding anniversary.
I live, like Davide (my nephew), in the little village of Lajatico, birthplace of Andrea Bocelli and from my home I can hear his voice and see something when Teatro del Silenzio takes place in July.
I live on a farm and I have chickens, rabbits, a large vegetable garden. I make my own olive oil and wine together with my family.
I hope to be able to cook with many of you in the years to come and teach you a lot of our typical Tuscan food.
Margherita
friend
Margherita
Eccomi! My name is Margherita, mother of 2, who lives in Santa Croce sull'Arno. I was born and raised in the fantastic wine region of Fiano, Greco and Taurasi, namely some the best wines from the South of Italy. I have been living in Tuscany for decades and I have always cooked both for my families and for several restaurants. My very mild and sweet personality is able to create a very relaxed working ambience and my guests really appreciate this atmosphere. I am a curious person who likes learning and I am ready to share my knowledge with all visitors who take on a cooking class or a chef service. Grazie a tutti!
Mariagrazia
friend
Mariagrazia
Maria Grazia, in our team called MG, is a very positive thinking lady who works as a sous-chefs at Arianna & Friends, when she is not busy helping children get born. In fact she is also a professional
obstetrician! A nice irony in her character, combined with an intrinsic calm when working, create
an incredible effect during the services provided.
Paola
friend
Paola
Hi everybody! I am Paola, a talented cook who is never tired. I have been cooking all my life both privately and in the kitchens of a series of restaurants in the area I live in, near the central town of Empoli. I joined Arianna & Friends in early 2022 as the whole world was recovering from the difficult years of the pandemic and as the company was quickly restarting its operativity. I was very glad that I could join such a dynamic and friendly team and share with them all my knowledge and passion. I deal with cooking classes and chef services in all the region together with the various story-tellers and chef assistants who participate in the service. In my free time I enjoy cycling in the spectacular Tuscan hills that surround my home town. I can't wait to cook for you an unforgettable meal!
The total rate for this service varies according to the number of people in your party,
the distance of your villa from our premises in Terricciola (Pisa area) Check rates in the table below.
private vegan meal prepared at your villa
– RATES 2026 –
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY
TOTAL RATE
2 persons
€ 300
3 persons
€ 350
4 persons
€ 400
5 persons
€ 450
6 persons
€ 500
7 persons
€ 550
8 persons
€ 600
Extra Adult
€ 50
Extra Teenager (12-17 yrs)
€ 40
Child (4-11 yrs)
€ 30
VILLA LOCATION
TRAVEL COSTS (per party, not per person)
• No fee if your villa is within a 25-minute drive from our office in Terricciola (e.g., Palaia, Lari, Peccioli, Terricciola, Chianni, Pontedera, Molino d'Era). • € 70 for a 30–45 minute drive (e.g., Volterra, Montaione, San Miniato, Fucecchio, Gambassi, Castelfalfi, Pisa, Fauglia, Buti, Vicopisano). • € 120 for a 50–70 minute drive (e.g., Vinci, Lucca outside the walls, Livorno, Rosignano, San Casciano V. Pesa, Viareggio, Montespertoli, San Gimignano, Colle V. Elsa, Pomarance area). • € 160 for a 75–90 minute drive (e.g., Lucca inside the walls, northern Lucca area, some Chianti villages, Siena, Follonica, Fiesole, Florence outskirts, Sesto Fiorentino). • € 180 for Florence center including parking fees • For locations more than 90 minutes away (e.g., remote Chianti villages, Arezzo area, southern coast), please request a custom estimate. An overnight stay may be required for the staff, which involves an additional fee.
• For parties over 20 people, travel fees may increase depending on the number of staff needed to ensure the best service. The exact cost will be confirmed at the time of booking.
Rates include
A private cook and assistant (for groups starting from 5 people)
All food
1 bottle of wine every 4 people. For parties of 2 or 3 people, 1 bottle of wine.
Served dinner or lunch
Final cleaning of the kitchen
Taxes
Please note that if your party is made of up to 4 people, the service is carried our by our chef only.
If your party is made of 5 people or more, the service is carried out by our chef and an assistant/waiter.
Rates do NOT include
Extra courses beside the scheduled ones
Birthday cake baked at local pastry shops available at an extra cost
Extra wines on top of the wine provided (1 bottle every 4 people)
Surcharge for travel costs
Tips to the staff. Not included, not obligatory but very much appreciated
ACCESSIBILITY:
This activity does not present any particular physical challenges. However, if you have any accessibility needs — whether mobility-related, sensory, cognitive, or any other requirements — please let us know in advance and we will do our best to accommodate you. LOCATION OF ACTIVITY:
This service is delivered to your villa in any location in Tuscany within 25 minutes driving from our premises in Terricciola, Pisa area. For destinations located more than 30 minutes from our premises a surcharge applies, depending on distance and cost of transportation for our chef. See more details in the rate table. MEET-UP LOCATION:
Our chef, with or without assistant, meet you directly at your villa at an agreed meeting time. Please, provide us with full details on the location of your accommodation. TYPE OF SERVICE:
We offer a special dinner prepared at your accommodation focused on vegan recipes DURATION OF SERVICE:
This program takes about 2/3 for the preparetion + the serving and the kitchen cleaning. AVAILABILITY:
Available all the year through EXCEPT FOR 1st January, 15th August, 24th, 25th and 26th December. LANGUAGE:
Our chefs speak limited English. For parties of 5 people or more, an English speaking assistant is present too. FOOD RESTRICTIONS:
The foods served during this tour might contain gluten, lactose, nuts and alcohol. If you have any food restriction, please inform us during the booking process PERMISSIONS:
We arrange our private chef service at any villa after asking the owners/housekeepers for their permission. This is also helpful in order for us to check the existence of tools and equipments in the villa for the preparation of the meals.
Cooking Classes 
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