Florence Cooking Class in a Gorgeous Countryside Home with Maria

Our cooking class in the hills of Florence was a highlight of our trip. Maria Christina was incredibly welcoming, kind, and patient, making the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. She taught us how to make fresh gluten-free pasta, homemade sauce, beef filet, and tiramisu, guiding us every step of the way. Everything was delicious, but what made it truly special was her warmth and passion for teaching. An authentic and unforgettable experience—I highly recommend it!

My husband and I traveled to Italy to celebrate my 40th birthday, and the day we spent cooking with Maria was actually on my birthday. Honestly, I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way to celebrate it. From the moment I met Maria, I instantly knew it was going to be a wonderful evening. She picked us up and drove us through the beautiful hills of Tuscany to her gorgeous countryside home, which felt like something out of a dream. During the class, we learned how to make fresh pasta, a delicious sauce, tiramisu, bruschetta, fried zucchini flowers (my favorite — and she even stopped on the way to her home to pick some up for me!), and more. Everything was absolutely delicious, but what made the experience truly special was Maria herself. She was kind, patient, knowledgeable, and so welcoming. She made us feel completely comfortable from the start and kept such great conversation throughout the evening. She even bought a bottle of sparkling wine to help celebrate my birthday, which was such a thoughtful touch. This was honestly one of the highlights of our trip and such a memorable experience. Thank you, Maria, for hosting us and sharing your home, your cooking, and your kindness with us. I truly hope that someday I’ll return to Italy and have the pleasure of cooking with you again! Gina

Marie was amazing. She welcomed us into her beautiful country home with open arms. The cooking class was so informative and the food delicious.

This was an absolute amazing experience. Maria was the nicest and best teacher and her home is beautiful. We made so much delicious food and seemed so easy. She provided tips, tricks and tools that we used and we got to enjoy eating it all with Maria out on her patio. It was such a great day. We started at the Market and that was the biggest market with all kinds of food, oils, grains, cheese etc. everything you could think of! The whole day was a highlight of our Florence trip for sure.

We had an incredible time learning to cook with Maria just outside the heart of Florence in the countryside. We met Maria at the market, and we picked up a few tips from her, as well as items for our meal. She then drove up to her home, which was built in the 1200s. It was an unforgettable afternoon, making authentic dishes in her beautiful kitchen and sitting outside on her terrace to eat our delicious meal. There is no doubt that when we come back to Florence, we will do it again, just to hang with her!

Skip the large pasta making/cooking classes in the city and join Cristina for this wonderful experience. This was one of the most authentic activities we have participated in during our trip. Cristina takes you to the “locals” market instead of the larger one for tourists. She takes great care to choose produce in season while also considering the guests’ preferences. Her home is beautiful and cozy in the countryside. She is a wonderful host and very knowledgable.

I highly recommend this tour for a unique opportunity to experience Florence and their daily lives where you feel part of the family and not just a tourist. We strolled through the market and Maria explained about all their fruits, vegetables and meats describing the best food for their Italian dishes. Before departing to her home we enjoyed the best cappuccino we have had on our trip. The drive to her home took us into the beautiful countryside and almost back in time to see her unique villa that she personally renovated. There she teaches you about Tuscan cuisine and you can cook alongside her or just enjoy the experience and marvelous food. Maria is a superb hostess and this tour is truly unique in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Myself and my two best friends of 50 years went on this excursion. Maria’s home is beautiful. We made fresh ravioli with fresh sheep ricotta and lemon zest, chicken with prosciutto and cheese. We made tiramisu for dessert. I would highly recommend this excursion. She provided us with each recipe. We drank the most delicious white and red wines. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, and it is not to be missed? Ciao!

Cooking with Maria is exactly as described! What a delightful day in the Italian countryside. We started off in the local market where Maria guided us around as she shopped for the produce for our menu. It all happened in real time. She said they had zucchini flowers and asked if we were interested in frying some up and of course we were! That was on my bucket list to try so it was a big YES from us. We browsed the market and met people. We went to the spice counter, tried lots of different things and bought what we were interested in (I got olive oil, a lemon extract for salads and some perfume made in Italy). We then shopped at the meat booth and cheese booth. The cheese vendor let us try several different cheeses. They were amazing. There was a truffle cheese that was out of this world. We headed out the market and loaded into Maria’s car. It was me, my dad, and another couple who we got to be friends with. Maria only takes 4 people max so it’s an intimate fun setting. Maria was very accommodating. My dad sometimes needs a wheelchair and we were able to bring it with us in the car. The drive out to her house was beautiful. She gave us a tour of her home. We cooked, we ate, drank coffee, drank wine, made pasta, made tiramisu. She accommodated the other guest as well who was gluten free. We made so many dishes. We set the table and then all shared dinner together. The cooking class with the market is as advertised. We started at 10am and we were dropped off at 5pm. She was a wonderful host and made our Italy trip very memorable. She also emailed all the recipes afterwards. I would highly recommend this experience if you are looking for authenticity, intimacy, Italian countryside, and a relaxed cooking environment. Thank you Maria!

We had the best time with Maria as we got to experience the market, a beautiful drive out of Florence, her stunning home in the country and delicious food she taught us to make. She gave us options while at the market and what we made was nothing short of delicious and filled with love! Eating our lunch on her terrace allowed us to soak in all the beauty and charm. We can’t recommend this experience more highly! Maria is a gem!