This year we are moving to Tuscany with brand new and exciting programmes and all new recipes! There are three cookery courses:

The first cookery course will be on the Bank Holiday weekend of the 28th - 31st May for singles aged 30 to 45. This course is organised in partnership with the JCC (Jewish Community Centre for London) and the price is £950 per person. Full details and a booking form can be found on the JCC website www.jewishcommunitycentre.org.uk/Food_Discover_Italy.html

There are then two 5-day cookery courses open to everyone. The first course will take place on the 20th - 25th June 2010 and the second course on the 27th June - 2nd July. The programme for the two courses is almost identical, with the only difference that on the 2nd July there is the famous Palio in Siena, so we will try to get a glimpse of the preparation a couple of days before, and those interested can stay longer and enjoy the wonderful show.

We will be staying in a charming hamlet (Borgo) in the gorgeous Sienese countryside, surrounded by a typical Tuscan landscape. Situated just 7 miles outside Siena, the small hamlet offers views of the Chianti vineyards, olive trees, woods of oak and colourful broom. The Borgo has been renovated in a cosy and tasteful style and offers accommodation in double bedrooms and charming apartments, each with en-suite bathroom. It has great communal living spaces and an outdoor swimming pool.

The trip will be a complete food experience, with at least one hands-on cookery class per day. We will visit Siena and its small and elegant Synagogue, visit exclusive and beautiful villas, castles and estates in the surrounding countryside. We will do a Chianti Classico wine tasting, go to an organic goats cheese farm, and much more... There will also be plenty of time for you to relax. Yoga, shiatsu, massages and horse riding can be arranged on request. The atmosphere is, as usual, expected to be friendly and informal.

The price for the 5-day courses is £1,250 per person and includes 5 nights accommodation + breakfast, 5 cookery classes (ask for the full programme for details), tutored wine and cheese tasting, all meals, field trips with an English speaking guide and transportation throughout the stay, including a transfer from and to Pisa International Airport. The price excludes flights (I suggest flying to Pisa), and is based on a double bedroom sharing basis. For single use of a double bedroom the cost is an extra £100.

Each cookery course is limited to 12 people. However, you are welcome to bring non-cooking partners, who will have plenty to keep themselves entertained. The cost of the non-cooking partner is £900. The overnight stay and all the excursions and meals not connected to the cookery courses are included for non-cooking partners; however the 5 cookery classes and consequent meals are excluded.

All cookery classes and meals for both courses will be vegetarian and fish based, with the exception of one class where there will be kosher meat from Florence. The premises however won't be kosher.

To book, or to receive a detailed itinerary programme, please email Silvia directly on silvia@cookingforthesoul.com or call her on +44 (0)7867 802169.

Silvia can also organise cookery courses ad hoc. So if you would like to organise your own group of friends and do a private cookery trip and course in Italy, Silvia will be delighted to organise it with and for you on specifically tailored dates. Birthdays, anniversary, hen weekends or simply a cookery holiday in Italy because you love cooking!

Below are some pictures from the courses of 2008 & 2009 with a few reviews.

Location and People

Fresh Pasta

Other hands-on classes

Truffle hunt and pizza making

Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge

Reviews

“This course was the culmination of all my expectations about what a cookery course should be. Great food, great wine, a great company and many laughs. Really loved it.” - Judith

“This was such fun from the start. I loved the beautiful farmhouse with its traditional kitchen, where we made delicious food, then ate it on long tables all together in the shade of the dining hall. Silvia was a marvellous teacher, so thoughtful...Nothing was too much trouble, and her attention to detail was amazing. Thank you Silvia for introducing me to the region and its wonderful dishes - all kosher too!” - Sandra

“As one of the two men on the course, I fully participated and learnt so much as well as having had great time. The right mix of cooking, eating, drinking, relaxing and sightseeing. Great teachers, great mix of participants.” - Leslie

“I want to say how much I enjoyed our recent course in Amelia...You gave us a wonderful insight into good Italian cooking and the diversity of other superb cooks who brought with them great ideas for us to indulge in. I enjoyed each class and not just the joy of watching but hands on and getting the feel of the ingredients, the fun of making pasta to the fish dish, all so interesting and utterly delicious...You thought of absolutely everything to make our stay so special. To go on a course like this has always been my dream - now it is a memory but I can recollect little snippets each day as I cook with a smile on my face.” - Loraine

“Silvia is inspirational both as a teacher and as a cook. Her thoughtfulness made it a delightful experience. Even if you have never been in a kitchen before you will enjoy it!... And it was excellent value for the cost.” - Raymond

“I have always wanted to attend a cookery course in Italy, but was never able to do so because of Kosher issues. This course was perfect, consisting of mainly vegetarian and fish dishes, with one kosher meat meal. The location was idyllic, the instructors all with different styles and yet passionate about food, and the entire experience was a joy from beginning to end.” - Brenda

“In all, a wonderful adventure, never to be forgotten. Thank you Silvia for making it possible to see real people cooking real food in Italy…and Kosher! Your wonderful and patient teaching has continued to inspire me. Taking us into people’s homes, being treated to their generous hospitality and learning from them was one of the many highlights of the course for me. When I think about it all, the beautiful Umbrian scenery with its magnificent olive groves and vineyards, the delicious food and wonderful company. I wonder if my dream was even half as good as what I experienced in real life. It wasn’t just about the cooking, it was about the love of cooking which has left its mark on me.” - Sue

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