Traditional Cooking Class in Florence Countryside with Fabio
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
This is not your typical Italian cooking class. This is a chance to immerse yourself in a private cooking class with a delightful man passionate about regional Italian cuisine and share an authentic meal with a couple that has been married for 30 years and are still crazy in love!
Fabio lives on a hill in the countryside surrounded by olive trees. Fabio and Christiane (when she is home) welcome you into their colorful home with a refreshing drink. Fabio will explain how they pick olives and how olive oil is made. Next, join Fabio in his kitchen for a 2.5 hour hands-on cooking class. Learn to make fresh pasta, sauce, a main and dessert. Depending on the season, you might help Fabio make tagliatelle con ragù or squid risotto with wild fennel and orange peel, and cod with leeks and purple cabbage or pork chop with almonds. For dessert, enjoy castagnaccio, chestnut flour cake, a regional favorite or panna cotta with strawberry coulis in the summer over a pot of freshly brewed coffee.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Fabio's home is about 10km from the city center. He or someone appointed by him will pick you up from a central meeting location (Via dei Renai 37, Firenze) and drop you off at the same place at the end of your experience. The cost for return transportation from the central meeting location is included in the price. Please include your WhatsApp number or local contact number in your booking so that it is easy to communicate, in case of traffic or other delays.
Fabio can accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free and gluten-free diets in his Italian cooking class, so please inform him in advance if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies.
Please note that, as is common in many Italian homes, this residence does not have air conditioning.
Fabio's car can only accommodate six guests. If there are more in your group, email us
What To Expect
You will be picked up in a private car from a central Florence location and driven to your host Fabio’s cozy countryside home nestled in the hills just outside the city. Fabio and his partner Christiane welcome you warmly, sharing stories of Florentine life and how they harvest olives for their own oil. Begin your 2-3 hour, private, hands-on Italian cooking class by learning to make pasta from scratch using traditional machines. Fabio will then guide you through crafting a seasonal sauce—either a fresh vegetable blend or Sicilian-style sauce. Next, prepare a local dish like a pork fillet with almonds or Fabio’s favorite, baccalà con porri e cavolo viola (pan-stewed cod with leeks and purple cabbage). Enjoy your meal with local wine and finish with a seasonal dessert like winter castagnaccio (chestnut flour cake) or summer panna cotta with strawberry coulis. Enjoy each flavorful creation in this unique Tuscan culinary experience! Your immersive food experience with this lovely local couple is a Florentine treat.
Sample Menu
starter
Seasonal welcome drink
main
First Course (Primo)
Homemade pasta with a vegetarian, meat, or fish sauce, or Gnudi (Tuscan “naked ravioli” with ricotta and spinach)
main
Main course (Secondo)
Tuscan slow-stewed beef with garlic, black pepper, and red wine or Pork fillet in almonds and aromatic herbs
dessert
Crostata with jam, Biscotti di Prato (traditional cookies), or Fabio’s apple pie
Options
Cooking + dinner
Cooking + lunch
What‘s Included
Alcoholic Beverages
Pick-up and drop-off from central Florence meeting spot
Private Cooking Class with your host Fabio
Hotel pick up and drop off
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
71 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Wow! What an amazing hands on cooking experience in a beautiful hillside setting.
MarcyAg82,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00What an amazing experience. Set high on a hill outside Florence, Fabio’s home and kitchen look as though they were made for a movie. Picturesque house and surrounding yard and garden are the perfect setting for this experience. Fabio checked with us the week before to make sure we were learning things we wanted to and let us help set the menu. We selected lasagna with meat sauce and risotto and Fabio added his special apple cake. This class is hands on, making pasta and sauces from scratch. You can help prepare and cook as much as you want. I made the pasta for the lasagna and we made fresh vegetable stock to use in the risotto. What a learning experience. We are accomplished cooks, but still learned many new things. Fabio and his wife Cristiana are such gracious hosts. He opened excellent bottles of wine to enjoy with our dinner out under the pergola while witnessing a spectacular sunset. Food, conversation, wine were all delightful. I highly recommend this experience!
Once in a Lifetime Experience
952chelseav,Jun 1, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Today was truly one of the best days of my life, and it was all thanks to Fabio, his wife, and their incredible hospitality. It was an experience of a lifetime that I will remember for years to come.
Amazing experience
S4930NNmichelles,May 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fabio and Christiane were so welcoming and great to spend the day getting to know. The meal we prepared was so delicious, and the scenery unbelievable. One of our favorite things we did on the whole trip.
Wonderful Cooking and Dinner Experience
Robert W,May 14, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent Experience. The food we made with Fabio was outstanding. Fabio and his wife were excellent hosts and made sure that they worked around my wife's food restrictions. Hightly recommend the experrience!
Great Evening with Fabio
Stay684738,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience - Fabio and his wife were lovely and it was a great home to enjoy an authentic Florentine meal in.
Cooking with Fabio
716robertz,Apr 14, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great experience cooking with Fabio and his wife. We prepared from scratch locally sourced food and then shared the food together. I learned some new cooking , the conversation was engaging, and the food was delicious. I highly recommend this experience!
Must do in Florence, Italy
895nadinez,Apr 13, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Fabio and Christiane were fabulous hosts. We truly enjoyed preparing a meal together with fresh or locally sourced ingredients. The meal was delicious and the conversation was engaging. I would highly recommend this experience.
Much more than a cooking class...
Dream752983,Jan 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Instead of simply learning to make pasta in a large class setting in the city, we desired something more customized, private, and authentic. Fabio and Christiane exceeded every expectation and delivered an experience we will never forget. Fabio customized our dinner (fish) with ease and yes we learned to make pasta. But this wasn't a class - this was an invitation into their home to share backgrounds, stories, experiences while cooking food. We also shared some wine but most importantly created memories that will last with us forever. There were 4 of us plus Fabio and Christiane which was the perfect size to fit the space. Meeting locations, menu creation, and overall communication was excellent. We promise to return to pick olives with Fabio and Christiane sometime soon.
Countryside cooking experience with Fabio and Christiane
roycer150,Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The cooking Experience with Fabio and Christiane was wonderful. We had a great time and learned a lot about cooking traditional Italian foods. The view from the country side was amazing and the wine was delicious. This was definitely the highlight of our vacation in Italy!
A truly enjoyable experience with Fabio
thomascN9039OM,Oct 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This experience was one of the highlights of our trip. Fabio and Christiana welcomed us into their home and shared their culinary expertise as we cooked and ate a delicious midday meal together. We appreciated him contacting us in advance to discuss the menu options. A truly enjoyable experience from beginning to end.
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