Classical cooking class with olive oil tour
Cooking ClassesFOOD AND CULTURE THE BEST COMBINATION
Curious about the secrets of using olive oil in the kitchen? Ever wondered why Italian dishes are so delectable and the crucial role extra virgin olive oil plays? Eager to craft superb dishes with olive oil as the star ingredient? Embark on our cooking and olive oil experience, and watch your culinary skills transform forever.
Rita’s farm, the perfect setting for your cooking class
As most of the cooking traditions of Tuscany date back to the times in which the locals were mostly all farmers, the best setting for our cooking classes focusing on traditional foods is an original Tuscan farmhouse. Join us at Rita’s farm, an idyllic rural setting where you’ll delve into the world of olive trees and olive oil production. Guided by our expert, take a leisurely stroll through the olive groves and engage in a fascinating blind tasting of various olive oils to discern the nuances between a quality extra virgin olive oil and a commercial counterpart.
A cooking class with focus on extra virgin olive oil
We will enjoy together a private cooking class which focuses on how to use olive oil to prepare food, obtaining the best out of this precious ingredient in the Mediterranean diet. Fresh olive oil will be used to dress a typical salad or a typical soup, to prepare the base of a delicious meat or vegetarian sauce, and even for making a cake!
After the class the meal with the delicious olive-based dishes are served. With your private guide you’ll also visit an oil mill to complete the experience and learn more about the olive oil production. Vegetarian or vegan options available on request.
A guided visit to an olive mill
After lunch we will drive to an olive mill of the area to complete the experience and learn more about the production of extra virgin olive oil. Together with your guide you will visit the premises of the mill and you will learn in deep all the steps to produce the best extra virgin olive oil.
What you taste
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.
Buongiorno a tutti! My name is Anna from San Miniato, a historical town in Tuscany famous also for its delicious white truffles. I met Arianna and Massimo in the early 2000s, when we were all working at a local agriturismo: I was at the reception while they were starting their career as event organizers and food tour operators. As their company was expanding we had several occasions for cooperating until I finally joined the team more stably in 2022. I now deal with accountancy and coordination of all the chefs for the many services a day that we arrange. I spend most of my free time at sea as I now live in Livorno, a beautiful harbor town. 
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, especailly 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. 
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! 
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 Enlish 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! 
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! 
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! 
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! 
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. 
Giulietta is a sweet little donkey living at Rita's Farm. She is among the several pets on the farm together with Elsa the dog and Primo and Tuga the cats and a number of chickens and ducks 
The total rate for this activity varies according to the number of people in your party.
Check rates in the table below.
classical cooking class with olive oil tour– RATES 2025 – |
|
|---|---|
NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY |
TOTAL RATE |
| 2 persons | € 620 |
| 3 persons | € 680 |
| 4 persons | € 740 |
| 5 persons | € 800 |
| 6 persons | € 860 |
| 7 persons | € 920 |
| 8 persons | € 980 |
| Extra Adult | € 60 |
| Extra Teenager (12-17 yrs) | € 50 |
| Child (4-11 yrs) | € 40 |
| This cooking class is for private parties of max 12 people | |
Rates include
- local chef at your disposal
- English speaking tour leader. Also available in French, Spanish, German
- ingredients and printed material
- unlimited wines from the farm (white and red)
- private cooking class
- lunch served with the dishes prepared
- olive oil blind test
- visit to an olive mill
- tax
Rates do NOT include
- transportation
- Tips to the staff. Not obligatory but very much appreciated
This cooking class takes place at Rita's farm in the rural area of central Tuscany, among Pisa, San Gimignano and Volterra, 10 km from Selvatelle
MEET-UP LOCATION:
Unless differently specified, the meeting point with the guide is at our office in La Rosa or at an agreed meeting point
DURATION: 2 to 3 hours for cooking + time for lunch, 1 hour visit to an olive mill. Time for transportation not included.
AVAILABILITY:
Available all the year through, From Monday through Saturday. Timing is flexible. After a morning class lunch is served. After an afternoon class dinner is served.
LANGUAGE:
This class is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Russian or Italian 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.
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