Tuscany, Pisa
Proposed programme at Borgo di Colleoli
Day one - Saturday
Following welcome drinks and tempting canapés at the Palazzo, you will have time to familiarise yourself with your new surroundings and settle into your accommodation prior to the sumptuous dinner cooked for you by Valentina herself in honour of your arrival!
Day two - Sunday
Breakfast will be followed by the Tuscan Table, a display of local and seasonal produce, illustrated by an informative talk about how and where these ingredients fit into the Tuscan culinary picture
Lesson 1 - Preparing an Antipasto Lunch—and eating it! Recipes possibly including: frittata with seasonal vegetables, a selection of local cured meats, seasonal salads, a deliciously light tart of spinach and ricotta, a seafood salad, some succulent stuffed fresh mussels in a tomato and garlic sauce.
A siesta or a swim in the pool—or both—should refresh you sufficiently before returning to the kitchen for:
Lesson 2 - Fresh pasta and sauces. These could include: papardelle with crab, tortelloni with spinach and ricotta, pasta roll with mascarpone and wild mushrooms and walnuts, fresh hand-pounded pesto, the 3 tomato sauces every would-be Italian cook must master, etc.
Dinner will be the results of the lesson plus a further taste of the local wines—preferably under a star-studded sky and with a suitable dose of mirth!
Day three - Monday
Following breakfast we will visit a local wine producer for a tasting and after lunch there will be time for personal shopping and a visit to San Miniato.. Back to Borgo di Colleoli for dinner and a grappa and chocolate tasting.
Day four - Tuesday
Today is a cooking day!
Lesson 3 - Tuscan Classics (1): lighter dishes for lunch such as: panzanella, cecina, rice stuffed tomatoes, Tuscan rabbit stew etc.
Lesson 4 - Tuscan Classics (2): more sturdy dishes for dinner such as: arista di maiale, crostini with cavolo nero, ribollita, zuccotto etc. Over lunch and dinner we will match local wines with the dishes prepared.
Day five - Wednesday
Breakfast and then departure for the local market for a guided tour and shopping for the afternoon lesson; lunch out and then return to base for:
Lesson 5 - Cooking up the market purchases for dinner à la surprise!
Day six - Thursday
Breakfast and time for yourself until you join Valentina in the kitchen for her signature dish and subsequently—your lunch:
Lesson 6 - Risotto MasterclassIn the afternoon you will be able to prepare for the evening’s dinner party:
Lesson 7 - Our guests own interpretations of favourite Tuscan dishesThis will be a night to celebrate the newly learned skills of the week, the newly found friendships, more samplings of the local wine—in general a excellent recipe to be served together with fun and frivolity to round off the week!
Day seven - Friday
Following breakfast, a few more tips on knife skills, an olive oil tasting and the chance to ask Valentina any last minute questions. A light lunch and then we will leave Borgo di Colleoli in time to return to Pisa airport for your recommended flight. Tears and farewells!
