Cookery Schools in Italy

Cookery schools in Italy are the perfect way to learn how to cook great food while at the same time exploring and enjoying the local beauty, traditional, culture and Italian cuisine.

We operate Italian cookery schools from the beautifully renovated old castle stables of Il Castello di Santa Cristina, a noble estate, owned by Count Atonio Caterini, set in a wonderful and peaceful location in the hills at the borders of the Tuscany, Umbria and Latvia provinces 120 km north of Rome and 150 km south of  Florence.

Our Tuscany cookery courses are endorsed by the local Slow Food Association this underlines the high quality of our cooking classes. The Slow Food association was founded in 1986 to counteract the growth of fast-food outlets and the decline in traditional Italian home cooking.

Attending one of our cooking classes in the wonderful XV111 century Santa Cristina Castle, will give you the opportunity to immerse yourself in the traditional culture and lifestyle of Italy and learn to prepare and cook real Italian dishes in a pleasant and informal environment.

Our cooking classes at Santa Cristina Castle are taught by Chandra Sina, a chef graduating from the school of Gualtiero Marchesi one of the world’s famous cooks . Chandra will give you a real hands-on lesson where you will learn the basics of Italian cooking and the techniques to make an impressive four courses meal, from home-made pasta to traditional desserts and everything in between.

All of the ingredients you will use are bought each morning from local farms and markets. If you wish you will be able to participate in the purchase of the necessary local produce for the lesson of the day. We’ll be working together with in-season fruit and vegetables as well as locally produced meat, fish and wines. During your time at Santa Cristina Castle you will learn about the ingredients and the traditions around the dishes as well as food presentation and with the help of our sommelier we’ll endeavour to find the wines that have the right fragrance colour and style for our dishes.

We recommend to you three different types of courses, all include theory, cooking sessions and enough time to relax and enjoy the castle’s properties and the surroundings.

Single day (1 lesson):- can be organized any weekday either for dinner or lunch. This lesson is for a minimum of five people and we need no less than 5 day’s notice to organize the class.

Single day (1 lesson):- can be organized any weekday either for dinner or lunch This lesson is for a minimum of five people and we need no less than 5 day’s notice to organize the class.

Single Day Dinner example:

Check-in at reception at 3:30 pm to meet Chef Chandra Sina and enjoy an aperitif with the other guests before taking a guided tour of the castle and museum. After the tour the one-day ‘Italian cooking class’ will begin and in three hours Chandra will explain the basics of traditional Italian cuisine and concentrate on traditionl Maremma dishes of the region.

Guests will learn how to prepare a complete menu under the supervision of the chef and at the end of the lesson guests will take their place at the table to enjoy the meal they have prepared and drink the carefully chosen wines.

Weekend (2 lessons) – example:

Arrival and check-in at reception on Friday evening, lessons take place Saturday and Sunday morning followed by lunch – this leaves the afternoon and evenings free for guest to enjoy the other facilities on offer in the castle grounds.

  • Friday - arrival at the castle before 6pm, check-in and collect the keys to your apartment and spend some time familiarizing with your surroundings. At 7pm Chef Chandra will explain the presentation of the next two days and there will be a tour of the castle and museum

  • Saturday - 10 am the first lesson begins the next three hours will be spent with your fellow students under the watchful eye of the chef who will, initially, explain the basics of traditional Italian cuisine. Then it’s your turn to follow his instruction for the preparation and cooking of a complete menu. At the end of the lesson pupils will enjoy the meal of the dishes they prepared

  • Free afternoon for relaxation, activities around the castle or exploring the surrounding area

  • Sunday - 10 am the second lesson begins with a more in-depth look at the basics necessary for the preparation of a special ‘Maremma’ menu and then you will all sit down to enjoy a well-earned Sunday lunch.

  • At the end of the meal, every student will be presented with a diploma and a CD containing all the recipes and the candid photographs of the cooking class taken over the weekend.

  • Check-out by 5 pm

Full Week (5 lessons) from Saturday to Saturday

  • Saturday - check-in at reception at 6 pm to meet Chef Chandra Sina and enjoy an aperitif with the other guests before taking a guided tour of the castle and museum. After the tour guests have the rest of the evening to enjoy the castle grounds

  • Sunday - 10am, the first lesson begins and the next three hours will be spent with your fellow students under the guidance of the chef who will, initially, explain the basics of traditional Italian cuisine. Then it’s your turn to follow his instruction for the preparation and cooking of a traditional Italian menu, you will then enjoy the well-earned Sunday lunch you have just cooked.

  • Free afternoon for relaxation, activities around the castle or exploring the surrounding area.

  • Monday - 10 am the second lesson will concentrate on the preparation of the first courses of Maremma traditional cuisine - pasta, soup and rice. Once again guests will follow, the preparation of a complete menu with tips and encouragement from the chef. As with all the lessons at the end of the session the group sits down together to enjoy the fruits of their new found combined culinary expertise
    Free afternoon for various extra activities

  • Tuesday am – Guests will be free to relax during the morning and early afternoon which are dedicated to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of the castle, its grounds and activities. At 4:30 the third lesson begins and is based on the preparation of the main courses of Maremma traditional cuisine red and white meat and game. The efforts of your third lesson will again find their way to the dining table for you to enjoy.

  • Wednesday - a free day, or if you prefer - after breakfast an accompanied visit to Orvieto for a tour of the Medieval part of the city, then leave by train for a trip to one of the ‘Arts Cities’, Rome, Siena, Florence. Return at the end of a cultural day out to the castle by organized transfer return from Orvieto.

  • Thursday - 10 am begins the fourth lesson this is particularly appreciated by those with a ‘sweet tooth! This lesson concentrates on the preparation of desserts of Maremma traditional cuisine. Naturally, the class will be expected to taste the delightful creations at lunch! The rest of the day is dedicated to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of the castle, relax or take up extra activities.

  • Friday: morning and early afternoon is free to relax and perhaps visit Lake Bolsena which is only a ten minute drive. At 4:30pm begins the final lesson in which you will prepare your last evening meal of a SPECIAL MENU of Maremma traditional cuisine to include fish, truffle, mushrooms and game you will use your new-found skills in the preparation of a complete menu under the guidance of the chef. At the end of the lesson pupils will take their places to enjoy a meal based on the dishes they have just prepared.
    At the end of the course, every student will receive a diploma and a CD with all the recipes and photos related with the cooking class they have attended

  • Saturday - check-out of Santa Cristina by 10am.