Montecatini Alto: Cook & Taste Experience
Description
Your experience begins with a welcome drink and a meeting with the Chef, who will guide you through the stories and secrets behind two icons of Italian cuisine: Carbonara and Tiramisù. The atmosphere will be enriched by a small appetizer platter paired with a glass of Tuscan wine, introduced through a storytelling moment that will take you across the historic winemaking areas and the excellence of the territory. Then it’s time to put on your apron and step into the kitchen. Here, carefully selected ingredients – from guanciale and fresh eggs to mascarpone and other local products – will take center stage. The Chef will lead you step by step in preparing the grandmother’s tiramisù (or, alternatively, a cheesecake) and what we like to call “the best carbonara in the world.” The experience concludes around the table, where you will taste your own creations: the carbonara paired with a glass of sparkling wine, followed by dessert accompanied by a glass of Vinsanto.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Take a pleasant walk from your accommodation to the Funicolare Station and ride up to Montecatini Alto — the best way to get there — , the charming medieval part of Montecatini set on top of a hill, offering a breathtaking panoramic view.
Gastronomic Experience The experience starts with a warm welcome, a complimentary drink, and a personal meet-and-greet with the chef, who introduces the iconic Carbonara and Grandma’s Dessert. Then, join a hands-on cooking session of about 1h15', to prepare these traditional dishes, learning about the key ingredients and family recipes. Afterwards, enjoy a typical Tuscan appetizer and a guided tasting of local wines. Finally, savor your freshly made Carbonara paired with sparkling wine, followed by homemade tiramisù with a sweet glass of Vinsanto.
Make the most of your day and enjoy a visit to the village, with its medieval charm and breathtaking views. At the end, hop on Gigio or Gigia — that’s actually the name of the funicular carriages - and in ten minutes you will be in Montecatini Terme again!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Number of participants: minimum 2 adults
Reviews(5)
We had a great experience! Those at Casa Gala we extremely friendly and entertaining! The carbonara and tiramisu was delicious!!
Dear Jennifer, thank you for your lovely review! We're delighted you enjoyed the warm atmosphere and had fun discovering our culinary traditions. We hope you'll come back soon for another of our Tuscany Daily Tours!
We were on a trip a deal tour and a group of us decided to go together. It was a fun day learning the traditional ways of cooking, eating, laughing and having fun. Our hosts were great and we had a beautiful day. Highly recommend.
Thank you for your lovely review! We're delighted you enjoyed sharing our traditions, recipes, and way of life—making guests feel part of an authentic Tuscan kitchen is exactly what we hope to achieve. We hope you'll come back soon for another of our Tuscany Daily Tours! 😊🍝🍷
Chef Simone is so personable. He truly loves what he does. He treated us like family. My niece and I wanted a true Tuscany activity and this was it. Got to be in the kitchen before service. Learned the Italian simplicity to cooking pasta and tiramisu. Lovely afternoon with great people.
Dear Ms Katherine, we're so grateful you've enjoyed your experience with Chef Simone. We hope every visitors can feel a little bit of authentic Tuscany when they're here. We'll make sure he'll read your kind words!
Excellent! Chef is very passionate about what he does and the knowledge he transfers! His attention to detail, not only for what he does, but what he hopes you do, is amazing. And, he’s funny, engaging and makes you want to know the what’s and why of each step. He involves and engages you to help you learn, and enjoy the experience. But it’s his passion for what he does that you learn from. The ease of preparation for standard dishes was tranferred to us in an easy to understand and replicate way - quality of what we prepared was fantastic, and something we could easily replicate at home. But mostly, the chef was what made this experience so worth while. Oh, and his team (mom included!), also contributed to this great experience!
Dear Pat, we're so glad you have enjoyed this experience so much! We know the chef is amazing, but understanding travelers as you appreciated him so much it's our real success. Hope you'll come back for another of our Tuscany Daily Tours and replicate those dishes at home!
This cooking class and tasting experience took place at Casa Gala Restaurant. The restaurant itself is adorable with a wonderful ambiance. It is owned and operated by the nicest family, they truly make you feel welcome and cared for! Be sure to arrive with a big appetite, the experience begins with a Prosecco aperitif and antipasti - so delicious! Afterward, Chef Simone taught us about the history of carbonara as we cooked together. He is a skilled and passionate chef, we loved learning from him! We enjoyed our carbonara along with a bottle of white wine. We ended the night by learning to make tiramisu from Chef Simone’s mother, she was clearly the dessert master! We had a great time from start to finish and would definitely recommend this experience! We rate this 11/10
Dear Jenna, Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful review! We’re delighted you enjoyed the warm atmosphere, Chef Simone’s passion, and the family touch that made the experience special from start to finish. Knowing you’d rate it 11/10 truly means the world to us! Can't wait to have you back with us for another of our Tuscany Daily Tours!
