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Host: Maria

Florence, Italy

USD
$154-$308 per person

Unique Florence cooking class in a gorgeous countryside home

Host offerings
  • Rural farmhouse
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Maria

Maria is an architect who has specialized in bio-architecture and restoration. She is now retired and has dedicated her time to enjoying her passion for painting and cooking. She learned to cook at a young age when living in Sardinia, where it is tradition to hand-down family recipes from one generation to the next. Maria’s mother was an exceptional cook, and it is from her that she learned to cook traditional Italian food. She is not only passionate about cooking, but also enjoys hosting as well. Maria looks forward to meeting people from all over the world, hosting them in her country house and cooking her favorite recipes together. When asked why she would like to be a Traveling Spoon host, this is what Maria had to say, “I love to cook and I love people. I would really like to share my recipes and spend time together with the guest in my country house – cooking and sharing good food”.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-4 guests) Join Maria and her husband in their beautiful Tuscan countryside farmhouse to share stories and enjoy a traditional meal cooked using family recipes. You can expect to share a home-cooked Italian meal using Maria's grandmother’s recipes. A few traditional Tuscan dishes that you might be served are bruschetta with tomatoes and basil or black cabbage and ravioli with ricotta and spinach or tagliatelle with ragu or broccoli pesto or arrabbiata. End your meal with a dessert such as tiramisu or ice cream with cake. Two glasses of local wine will be served with your traditional Tuscan meal.

Cooking experience: (2-4 guests) Maria meets you in a central Florence location and drives you to her beautiful 12th century countryside home for your Tuscan pasta making class. If you are a group of 5+ people, please make your own way to Maria's home located a 20-min drive north of Florence. During your hands-on Florence cooking class, learn to make authentic Italian classics from scratch including handmade pasta, bruschetta and dessert such as tiramisu. All the recipes you will learn are Maria's grandmother's recipes - Maria also shares tips and tricks that she learned from her. You can choose to make fresh pasta such as ravioli or tagliatelle with a sauce of your choice, so please let Maria know your preference in advance. After your Italian cooking class, join Maria at the dining table to enjoy the dishes you helped prepare over wine. Two glasses of Italian wine are included in your experience.

Market visit: (2-4 guests) After you've been picked up from a central Florence location, visit the San Lorenzo market with your host. When in Florence a visit to San Lorenzo market is unmissable. Enjoy a guided tour of this central market while you learn about local fruits, vegetables, meat and cheese. Here you will find butchers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetable vendors and small specialty shops selling local olive oils, meats, cheeses and much more. During your walking market tour, Maria introduces you to her favorite vendors and shows you how to pick fresh produce while explaining how these ingredients are used in Italian cooking. If you are a group of 5+ guests, please make your own way to Maria's home after your market tour for your cooking class.

Notes: Maria can accommodate lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diets on request. Please let her know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, while booking your Florence cooking class online.

Round-trip transfers from the Florence city (Forno Sale Grosso) are included only for guests 4 or fewer as Maria's car can only accommodate a max of 4. 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. For guests 5+ please make your own way to Maria's home and back.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Appetizer: Tuscan salami, ham and cheese or Bruschetta with tomatoes and basil or Bruschetta with black cabbage
  • Main: Ravioli with ricotta and spinach or Tagliatelle with ragu, broccoli pesto, arrabbiata or butter and sage with parmesan cream
  • Dessert: Tiramisu, Biscuits with jam or Ice cream with cake
  • Local wine

Traveler reviews

5.0 (30)
Maria was great! She walked us around the market and then drove us to her home where we prepared a meal together. She spoke English very well and we had a great time chatting.
- charles October 16, 2024
We enjoyed our market tour and cooking class. The results were delicious! Maria was a great host and spoke very good English.
- Charles October 16, 2024
Cristina has assembled a very nice vegan menu for us. We started with bruschetta, followed by selfmade tagliatelle with broccoli sauce and finnished with peach cake. Cristina was very welcoming and we immediately felt alsmost like home. We learned some new techniques and had a loveley evening in cristinas amazing house from the 12th century in the middle of nowhere.
- Michael October 07, 2024
Unbelievably wonderful experience. My wife did the market, which she loved, then the ride up to her home in Florence's surrounding hills was phenomenal. Her house was 12th century and the road she lived on was the route to Bologna during that period. Very rural and fascinating. The food was made very well and was excellent. Tagliatelle with white sage sauce, roast beef, bruschetta with black cabbage and tiramisu. She would have fed us more, but we said that was enough. Oh, and wine. Again, unbelievable experience.
- Dion_F October 06, 2024
Cristina was right on time at our meeting place. We were excited to start our drive north, into the hills away from the city. It was a beautiful drive, past both fabulous enormous villas and more modern housing. She drove us down her private street, former main road to Bologna, to her renovated 12th century home. It is a marvel. She is truly artistic and talented as an architect specializing in historic renovations. The cooking. Our menu was fresh pasta, tomato sauce, black cabbage (kale) with sun dried tomatoes and burrata on bruschetta, caprese salad and finished with tiramisu. This was all made fresh with each of us taking a role. We are both experienced cooks but we did enjoy some time saving tips and the meal was fabulous. Cristina and her beautiful home was one of the highlights of our 30 day trip.
- W4978 October 06, 2024
My husband and I were on a combined Birthday/Anniversary 2 week trip to Italy, and all I wanted to do was a cooking class. (Husband not so keen, but....it was my Birthday). I found Maria's class through Viator, and it sounded perfect. And it was. We met at a Piazza about a mile from our hotel and drove to a grocery store to get some last minute items. Maria is a retired architect, so, as we drove up into the Tuscany hills, I was really excited to see what she'd done with a 12th century farmhouse that she and her husband initially purchased without electricity or running water. The house was stunning. I cannot put it into words adequately - and, so we were off to an amazing start. Then the cooking - Maria had my husband and I sit at her farmhouse kitchen table as she talked us through making fresh pasta with a white sage sauce, bruschetta, roast beef and tiramisu. The food was incredible her directions impeccable, and I wish I could have stayed the weekend. The next day Maria emailed over all the recipes plus others she thought we'd enjoy. (She also sent us the link for her pasta machine - and we've purchased and are awaiting delivery). This was an event I will never forget - and, if we're ever back in Florence - booking Maria for sure. Thanks Maria, you are the best!!!
- Department October 05, 2024
Maria was the best! She picked us up and drove to her beauty countryside home where we made fresh pasta and tiramisu. She served us wine and prepared a fabulous dinner. Would highly recommend this tour.
- Julie S October 04, 2024
This is the cooking class you want. It is private and personal. Maria Cristina picks you up in the center of Firenze and drives you through the picturesque Tuscan countryside (10-15 min) to her beautiful estate. There, she teaches you how to make several authentic recipes. We made tagliatelle (fettuccine) from scratch with ragù tomato sauce, bruschetta with black cabbage (fall variation of the typical tomato bruschetta), and tiramisu. This was our first time to Italy and this was a highlight of our vacation. You learn how to cook with personalized tips and recommendations for making it yourself when you get home. You also enjoy wonderful company and make a dear friend 🩷
- Jencsky September 28, 2024
We had an amazing experience with Maria. We started at the largest market in Florence. She then drove us to her 12th century renovated home and taught and shared with us her recipes for ravioli and tiramisu. She was very generous with her time and knowledge. We had a wonderful time with lunch and conversation. We will do it again our next visit!
- Tour63 September 28, 2024
Words prove ineffective to truly communicate how amazing our time with Maria was! Maria picked us up at the pre-set location and took us to her beautiful home in the Tuscan countryside. Maria was so warm and welcoming. My husband and I learned to cook with Maria with another couple. Maria expertly guided us on how to make pasta (we selected ravioli), and her white sauce for the pasta was nothing short of heavenly, along with a delectable appetizer of black cabbage and tiramisu for dessert! If you want to take a cooking class in Florence, please choose Maria and she will show you how to make the most delicious foods in her kitchen, filled with understanding, humor, proper instruction, wonderful wine, and truly outstanding and delicious food! If we are in Florence again, we will definitely book with Maria! Five stars does not adequately describe how great Maria was! Ciao!
- V4058P September 25, 2024
Wow!! Honestly, this could not have been any better! We had a relaxing tour of a local market, and then we were chauffeured to Maria's home. What a fantastic setting! We learned so much about cooking, and we were inspired by Maria's architectural skills and her many furniture refinishing projects. This experience was like spending a lovely day with an old friend. We will never forget it!
- j0hnana September 21, 2024
We had a wonderful day with Maria--first a market tour with local vendors and then traveled to her lovely home for a morning of cooking and great conversation that concluded with a beautiful lunch on her patio overlooking the amazing countryside and their property. Maria shared personal recipes and great instruction for making pasta--we always learn something new-- a beautiful mushroom sauce and delicious tiramisu. Maria is a fascinating and welcoming host and teacher, highly recommend!
- planner September 20, 2024
We had a delightful tour of the market before traveling to Maria Cristina’s home to cook a fabulous meal. She shared cooking tips and kitchen tools that we are sure to use. Lunch on her patio was so very amazing!
- L3003UI September 17, 2024
This private cooking class was fantastic! Christina was incredible from meeting us at the pick up location and bringing us back to our car afterwards. We had beautiful drive through the countryside to arrive at her restored 12th century country home. We prepared a delicious meal of fresh homemade pasta that she taught us how to make. While the pastas dough rested, she and the kitty cat took us on a tour of her gorgeous property. We prepared appetizers, pasta and a lovely dessert. As we set the outdoor table for dinner, a fox came to visit us! As the sun went down we enjoyed all the food we had prepared for dinner. The moon was shining and the entire experience was magical!! I would highly recommend this cooking experience for anyone who wants to do something that feels more like visiting your friend.
- J2862LK September 14, 2024
When my husband and I were deciding what we want to do on our honeymoon we both agreed we wanted to have an experience to learn from a local. As someone who loves to cook (and eat) this was exactly what we were looking for. Our time with Maria Christina has been the highlight of our honeymoon. First we went to a market in Florence where she was able to teach us about all the different stations, different foods, classic Italian options etc. Then we went to her incredible home and made bruschetta, pasta, arrabiata sauce, fried zucchini flowers and tiramisu. All of these dishes were delicious and she teaches you in ways to highlight how easy it can be to make something so good and authentic. Maria Christina was so welcoming, we learned a lot about Florence history, lifestyle in the countryside and about her. I would recommend this experience to anyone coming to Florence!!
- 551chloej September 13, 2024
If you are looking for an authentic and personalized cooking/foodie experience in Florence, look no further than this! We met Maria at the market where we gathered our ingredients for the day and then we drove up to her country house (about 20-25 min away). The views from the drive were stunning and her home is so beautiful. She gave us options on what to make - we ended up making bruschetta, melon & prosciutto, ravioli with a lemon ricotta filling, and the most special dessert she learned from her trip to an Italian island. We loved our experience with Maria & couldn’t recommend this enough!
- 443shane September 09, 2024
We shared a wonderful day with Maria Christina. She introduced us to the market, gave us options to choose from regarding what we would be preparing, and then brought us to her beautifully restored home where we prepared a delicious meal! Antipasti of San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, prosciutto, salami with fennel and bread. We made fresh pasta with a delicious sauce we had never had before - pepperoni crema (yellow peppers sauted with shallots then puréed and combined with mascarpone cheese). We enjoyed all this with a delicious white wine on her patio overlooking her beautiful view. Last she prepared delicious Sicilian biscuits filled with sweet ricotta and cinnamon. She was a very gracious, interesting, informative host!
- Donna September 04, 2024
Maria Christina created memories with us that we will never forget! From her expertise in the locals market to her historical knowledge to her beautifully restored Tuscan villa, each moment was authentic and so charming. The cooking experience and the meal were both amazing!!! If you want a one of a kind authentic experience you simply cannot miss her class. It was our favorite meal in Italy!!!!!
- C2694J September 02, 2024
My wife and I booked this experience and had an excellent time. Christina was welcoming and friendly, and taught us some expert tips for making pasta. The meal was fantastic and fresh - one of the best we’ve had on our time in Italy. We would absolutely recommend!
- N9793Z August 31, 2024
We have a beautiful day in Maria’s kitchen cooking pasta, tiramisu and some appetizers! Maria picked us up in Florence and showed us around a local market, before driving us to her place in the hills outside the city - its so beautiful! Maria was very warm and welcoming and gave detailed directions on cooking. We had a fantastic lunch of the food we prepared with Maria and her husband.
- Jana L August 28, 2024
I highly recommend this unique local Tuscan experience! Cristina was an amazing host and teacher of local Italian cuisine. Her home in Tuscany was spectacular as she brought her professional architectural design talent to the renovated farmhouse overlooking the countryside. She had essential tips, and brought great detail to the instruction in making our delicious dinner of homemade tagliatelle (pasta) with eggplant, olives, capers and tomatoes, bruschetta, and tiramisu. She gave us several options of what we would like to learn and eat! We had wonderful conversation with her and her husband as we learned about their life in Italy over dinner and wine! If you enjoy cooking and having a personalized cultural experience, definitely do this!
- lisabZ90 August 23, 2024
What a magical evening! Maria was so informative and sweet. We learned to make ravioli, cordon blue, tiramisu, sauces, roasted veggies, and fried zucchini flower. It was the best meal we’ve had in Italy. Maria should open a restaurant with her recipes. You can tell she makes everything with love and passion. We will bring the kids next time! Lots of love to Maria!
- Erin_H August 10, 2024
It’s was a wonderful experience ! She was super flexible and chose a menu according to our preferences. She made us really authentic dishes that you wouldn’t find in a standard pizza and pasta cooking class. Highly recommend! On top of the cooking, it was such a pleasure - the conversations we had with her and her husband at the dinner table . Her home is beautiful, she is also an talented artist . We had dinner in a beautiful setting overlooking the forested area. She is a perfect host and made us really feel at home. Don’t look any further just book this class!
- Sherpa August 04, 2024
Amazing experience! To do when you are in florence. Maria is a perfect host! My kids enjoyed the stay. Everything was easy, pickup / cooking....
- Bilaldiaa July 31, 2024
We met Maria at the oldest produce market in Venice and selected a few items. She then drove us a short drive to her home in the hills above Florence. The drive way to her home crosses the old road to Bologna- about 2,000yrs old. You pass an ancient inn & stable that was available to those walking the road. You arrive to an impressive 10th century home that Maria has renovated (she’s an architect). It is perfect! We entered the kitchen & began making ravioli. She taught us so easily. We also learned her way of making Bruschetta as well as a terrific tart for dessert. We had wonderful wine and conversation with Maria. She is beautiful and kind and intelligent and a wonderful cook! We are hosting family and friends once we arrive home to share with them what we learned in Maria’s kitchen! Don’t miss out! Join in and you will love it; just as we did!
- James July 24, 2024
AWESOME cooking class. Cris was…AMAZING! My wife and I had such a blast. Cris brought us to a market and showed us around, all while buying fresh ingredients. Then she took us to her beautiful home right on the outskirts of Florence. It was a little taste of paradise and words cannot describe it. She and her husband remodeled a Tuscan home and it’s great. Now for the actual cooking. Cris curated the menu to fit our needs of what we were looking for in the class. She also made it extra special by baking a separate cake since it was my wife’s birthday on the day of our class. Throw in the wine and the Prosecco…it was delightful. We learned how to make so many classic Florentine dishes, and she sent us all the recipes after. Definitely a class you should do!
- Brandon_Z July 09, 2024
Culinary escape in the Tuscan hills. If you want to escape the heat and the hustle and bustle of downtown Florence, head to the hills and the lovingly restored 12th-century villa with a cooking class with Maria! She picked us up, offered a history of the area, and accommodated the vegetarian dietary needs of one of our attendees. She was creative and thought outside of the box for a varied menu. She made pasta and tiramisu, making it look effortless. I can't wait to try the recipes she sent to my home!
- Kirsten_K July 05, 2024
Like cooking with family! Maria Christina was SO great. So accommodating, kind and friendly. She welcomed us into her amazing home with open arms. We got to chat about what we liked to eat and she suggested great options for us to cook. She showed us how to cook ravioli, so simple and so delicious. The highlight was cooking the amazing dessert Baci Panteschi, a specialty of the little island where she visits friends regularly, and not something we had seen anywhere else in Italy. A truly special and memorable experience that I would recommend to everyone.
- Katie June 07, 2024
Highly recommended private cooking class. It was a wonderful experience. The class was in the beautifully remodeled home from the 12th century in the countryside. The instruction went well & the food was the best we have ever had for the dishes prepared. She's very personable and detail oriented. Plus gave a us opportunity to practice making the recipes & take videos & pictures.
- Claudia S May 22, 2024
We had an amazing evening with Maria Cristina. Maria picked us up at the Sant’Ambrogio market in Florence and whisked us away to her beautiful Tuscan villa which is rich with history. We opted for the cooking experience with Maria Cristina through Traveling Spoon. Maria has renovated the entire home, sticking to the historic design throughout. We enjoyed every moment with Maria, who is a true renaissance woman with numerous varied talents. The delicious meal we prepared was made with the freshest ingredients. I need to be gluten free so Maria took every precaution to make sure everything was gluten free or avoided cross contamination. The best part was how much fun we had getting to know Maria. We all had many laughs and stories to share. Maria even packed up leftovers for us to enjoy at our Airbnb. We are still talking about how amazing this experience was. I highly recommend Maria Cristina for a true local culinary experience in Tuscany.
- 560mariannap April 17, 2024
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Maria

$154-$308 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $154 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $224 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $308 Not offered
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $154 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $224 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $308 Not offered
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
12:00pm-3:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
9:30am-1:30pm 5:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
9:30am-2:30pm

Meet Maria

Maria is an architect who has specialized in bio-architecture and restoration. She is now retired and has dedicated her time to enjoying her passion for painting and cooking. She learned to cook at a young age when living in Sardinia, where it is tradition to hand-down family recipes from one generation to the next. Maria’s mother was an exceptional cook, and it is from her that she learned to cook traditional Italian food. She is not only passionate about cooking, but also enjoys hosting as well. Maria looks forward to meeting people from all over the world, hosting them in her country house and cooking her favorite recipes together. When asked why she would like to be a Traveling Spoon host, this is what Maria had to say, “I love to cook and I love people. I would really like to share my recipes and spend time together with the guest in my country house – cooking and sharing good food”.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-4 guests) Join Maria and her husband in their beautiful Tuscan countryside farmhouse to share stories and enjoy a traditional meal cooked using family recipes. You can expect to share a home-cooked Italian meal using Maria's grandmother’s recipes. A few traditional Tuscan dishes that you might be served are bruschetta with tomatoes and basil or black cabbage and ravioli with ricotta and spinach or tagliatelle with ragu or broccoli pesto or arrabbiata. End your meal with a dessert such as tiramisu or ice cream with cake. Two glasses of local wine will be served with your traditional Tuscan meal.

Cooking experience: (2-4 guests) Maria meets you in a central Florence location and drives you to her beautiful 12th century countryside home for your Tuscan pasta making class. If you are a group of 5+ people, please make your own way to Maria's home located a 20-min drive north of Florence. During your hands-on Florence cooking class, learn to make authentic Italian classics from scratch including handmade pasta, bruschetta and dessert such as tiramisu. All the recipes you will learn are Maria's grandmother's recipes - Maria also shares tips and tricks that she learned from her. You can choose to make fresh pasta such as ravioli or tagliatelle with a sauce of your choice, so please let Maria know your preference in advance. After your Italian cooking class, join Maria at the dining table to enjoy the dishes you helped prepare over wine. Two glasses of Italian wine are included in your experience.

Market visit: (2-4 guests) After you've been picked up from a central Florence location, visit the San Lorenzo market with your host. When in Florence a visit to San Lorenzo market is unmissable. Enjoy a guided tour of this central market while you learn about local fruits, vegetables, meat and cheese. Here you will find butchers, fishmongers, fruit and vegetable vendors and small specialty shops selling local olive oils, meats, cheeses and much more. During your walking market tour, Maria introduces you to her favorite vendors and shows you how to pick fresh produce while explaining how these ingredients are used in Italian cooking. If you are a group of 5+ guests, please make your own way to Maria's home after your market tour for your cooking class.

Notes: Maria can accommodate lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diets on request. Please let her know in advance if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, while booking your Florence cooking class online.

Round-trip transfers from the Florence city (Forno Sale Grosso) are included only for guests 4 or fewer as Maria's car can only accommodate a max of 4. 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. For guests 5+ please make your own way to Maria's home and back.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Appetizer: Tuscan salami, ham and cheese or Bruschetta with tomatoes and basil or Bruschetta with black cabbage
  • Main: Ravioli with ricotta and spinach or Tagliatelle with ragu, broccoli pesto, arrabbiata or butter and sage with parmesan cream
  • Dessert: Tiramisu, Biscuits with jam or Ice cream with cake
  • Local wine

Traveler reviews

5.0 (30)
Maria was great! She walked us around the market and then drove us to her home where we prepared a meal together. She spoke English very well and we had a great time chatting.
- charles October 16, 2024
We enjoyed our market tour and cooking class. The results were delicious! Maria was a great host and spoke very good English.
- Charles October 16, 2024
Cristina has assembled a very nice vegan menu for us. We started with bruschetta, followed by selfmade tagliatelle with broccoli sauce and finnished with peach cake. Cristina was very welcoming and we immediately felt alsmost like home. We learned some new techniques and had a loveley evening in cristinas amazing house from the 12th century in the middle of nowhere.
- Michael October 07, 2024
Unbelievably wonderful experience. My wife did the market, which she loved, then the ride up to her home in Florence's surrounding hills was phenomenal. Her house was 12th century and the road she lived on was the route to Bologna during that period. Very rural and fascinating. The food was made very well and was excellent. Tagliatelle with white sage sauce, roast beef, bruschetta with black cabbage and tiramisu. She would have fed us more, but we said that was enough. Oh, and wine. Again, unbelievable experience.
- Dion_F October 06, 2024
Cristina was right on time at our meeting place. We were excited to start our drive north, into the hills away from the city. It was a beautiful drive, past both fabulous enormous villas and more modern housing. She drove us down her private street, former main road to Bologna, to her renovated 12th century home. It is a marvel. She is truly artistic and talented as an architect specializing in historic renovations. The cooking. Our menu was fresh pasta, tomato sauce, black cabbage (kale) with sun dried tomatoes and burrata on bruschetta, caprese salad and finished with tiramisu. This was all made fresh with each of us taking a role. We are both experienced cooks but we did enjoy some time saving tips and the meal was fabulous. Cristina and her beautiful home was one of the highlights of our 30 day trip.
- W4978 October 06, 2024
My husband and I were on a combined Birthday/Anniversary 2 week trip to Italy, and all I wanted to do was a cooking class. (Husband not so keen, but....it was my Birthday). I found Maria's class through Viator, and it sounded perfect. And it was. We met at a Piazza about a mile from our hotel and drove to a grocery store to get some last minute items. Maria is a retired architect, so, as we drove up into the Tuscany hills, I was really excited to see what she'd done with a 12th century farmhouse that she and her husband initially purchased without electricity or running water. The house was stunning. I cannot put it into words adequately - and, so we were off to an amazing start. Then the cooking - Maria had my husband and I sit at her farmhouse kitchen table as she talked us through making fresh pasta with a white sage sauce, bruschetta, roast beef and tiramisu. The food was incredible her directions impeccable, and I wish I could have stayed the weekend. The next day Maria emailed over all the recipes plus others she thought we'd enjoy. (She also sent us the link for her pasta machine - and we've purchased and are awaiting delivery). This was an event I will never forget - and, if we're ever back in Florence - booking Maria for sure. Thanks Maria, you are the best!!!
- Department October 05, 2024
Maria was the best! She picked us up and drove to her beauty countryside home where we made fresh pasta and tiramisu. She served us wine and prepared a fabulous dinner. Would highly recommend this tour.
- Julie S October 04, 2024
This is the cooking class you want. It is private and personal. Maria Cristina picks you up in the center of Firenze and drives you through the picturesque Tuscan countryside (10-15 min) to her beautiful estate. There, she teaches you how to make several authentic recipes. We made tagliatelle (fettuccine) from scratch with ragù tomato sauce, bruschetta with black cabbage (fall variation of the typical tomato bruschetta), and tiramisu. This was our first time to Italy and this was a highlight of our vacation. You learn how to cook with personalized tips and recommendations for making it yourself when you get home. You also enjoy wonderful company and make a dear friend 🩷
- Jencsky September 28, 2024
We had an amazing experience with Maria. We started at the largest market in Florence. She then drove us to her 12th century renovated home and taught and shared with us her recipes for ravioli and tiramisu. She was very generous with her time and knowledge. We had a wonderful time with lunch and conversation. We will do it again our next visit!
- Tour63 September 28, 2024
Words prove ineffective to truly communicate how amazing our time with Maria was! Maria picked us up at the pre-set location and took us to her beautiful home in the Tuscan countryside. Maria was so warm and welcoming. My husband and I learned to cook with Maria with another couple. Maria expertly guided us on how to make pasta (we selected ravioli), and her white sauce for the pasta was nothing short of heavenly, along with a delectable appetizer of black cabbage and tiramisu for dessert! If you want to take a cooking class in Florence, please choose Maria and she will show you how to make the most delicious foods in her kitchen, filled with understanding, humor, proper instruction, wonderful wine, and truly outstanding and delicious food! If we are in Florence again, we will definitely book with Maria! Five stars does not adequately describe how great Maria was! Ciao!
- V4058P September 25, 2024
Wow!! Honestly, this could not have been any better! We had a relaxing tour of a local market, and then we were chauffeured to Maria's home. What a fantastic setting! We learned so much about cooking, and we were inspired by Maria's architectural skills and her many furniture refinishing projects. This experience was like spending a lovely day with an old friend. We will never forget it!
- j0hnana September 21, 2024
We had a wonderful day with Maria--first a market tour with local vendors and then traveled to her lovely home for a morning of cooking and great conversation that concluded with a beautiful lunch on her patio overlooking the amazing countryside and their property. Maria shared personal recipes and great instruction for making pasta--we always learn something new-- a beautiful mushroom sauce and delicious tiramisu. Maria is a fascinating and welcoming host and teacher, highly recommend!
- planner September 20, 2024
We had a delightful tour of the market before traveling to Maria Cristina’s home to cook a fabulous meal. She shared cooking tips and kitchen tools that we are sure to use. Lunch on her patio was so very amazing!
- L3003UI September 17, 2024
This private cooking class was fantastic! Christina was incredible from meeting us at the pick up location and bringing us back to our car afterwards. We had beautiful drive through the countryside to arrive at her restored 12th century country home. We prepared a delicious meal of fresh homemade pasta that she taught us how to make. While the pastas dough rested, she and the kitty cat took us on a tour of her gorgeous property. We prepared appetizers, pasta and a lovely dessert. As we set the outdoor table for dinner, a fox came to visit us! As the sun went down we enjoyed all the food we had prepared for dinner. The moon was shining and the entire experience was magical!! I would highly recommend this cooking experience for anyone who wants to do something that feels more like visiting your friend.
- J2862LK September 14, 2024
When my husband and I were deciding what we want to do on our honeymoon we both agreed we wanted to have an experience to learn from a local. As someone who loves to cook (and eat) this was exactly what we were looking for. Our time with Maria Christina has been the highlight of our honeymoon. First we went to a market in Florence where she was able to teach us about all the different stations, different foods, classic Italian options etc. Then we went to her incredible home and made bruschetta, pasta, arrabiata sauce, fried zucchini flowers and tiramisu. All of these dishes were delicious and she teaches you in ways to highlight how easy it can be to make something so good and authentic. Maria Christina was so welcoming, we learned a lot about Florence history, lifestyle in the countryside and about her. I would recommend this experience to anyone coming to Florence!!
- 551chloej September 13, 2024
If you are looking for an authentic and personalized cooking/foodie experience in Florence, look no further than this! We met Maria at the market where we gathered our ingredients for the day and then we drove up to her country house (about 20-25 min away). The views from the drive were stunning and her home is so beautiful. She gave us options on what to make - we ended up making bruschetta, melon & prosciutto, ravioli with a lemon ricotta filling, and the most special dessert she learned from her trip to an Italian island. We loved our experience with Maria & couldn’t recommend this enough!
- 443shane September 09, 2024
We shared a wonderful day with Maria Christina. She introduced us to the market, gave us options to choose from regarding what we would be preparing, and then brought us to her beautifully restored home where we prepared a delicious meal! Antipasti of San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella, prosciutto, salami with fennel and bread. We made fresh pasta with a delicious sauce we had never had before - pepperoni crema (yellow peppers sauted with shallots then puréed and combined with mascarpone cheese). We enjoyed all this with a delicious white wine on her patio overlooking her beautiful view. Last she prepared delicious Sicilian biscuits filled with sweet ricotta and cinnamon. She was a very gracious, interesting, informative host!
- Donna September 04, 2024
Maria Christina created memories with us that we will never forget! From her expertise in the locals market to her historical knowledge to her beautifully restored Tuscan villa, each moment was authentic and so charming. The cooking experience and the meal were both amazing!!! If you want a one of a kind authentic experience you simply cannot miss her class. It was our favorite meal in Italy!!!!!
- C2694J September 02, 2024
My wife and I booked this experience and had an excellent time. Christina was welcoming and friendly, and taught us some expert tips for making pasta. The meal was fantastic and fresh - one of the best we’ve had on our time in Italy. We would absolutely recommend!
- N9793Z August 31, 2024
We have a beautiful day in Maria’s kitchen cooking pasta, tiramisu and some appetizers! Maria picked us up in Florence and showed us around a local market, before driving us to her place in the hills outside the city - its so beautiful! Maria was very warm and welcoming and gave detailed directions on cooking. We had a fantastic lunch of the food we prepared with Maria and her husband.
- Jana L August 28, 2024
I highly recommend this unique local Tuscan experience! Cristina was an amazing host and teacher of local Italian cuisine. Her home in Tuscany was spectacular as she brought her professional architectural design talent to the renovated farmhouse overlooking the countryside. She had essential tips, and brought great detail to the instruction in making our delicious dinner of homemade tagliatelle (pasta) with eggplant, olives, capers and tomatoes, bruschetta, and tiramisu. She gave us several options of what we would like to learn and eat! We had wonderful conversation with her and her husband as we learned about their life in Italy over dinner and wine! If you enjoy cooking and having a personalized cultural experience, definitely do this!
- lisabZ90 August 23, 2024
What a magical evening! Maria was so informative and sweet. We learned to make ravioli, cordon blue, tiramisu, sauces, roasted veggies, and fried zucchini flower. It was the best meal we’ve had in Italy. Maria should open a restaurant with her recipes. You can tell she makes everything with love and passion. We will bring the kids next time! Lots of love to Maria!
- Erin_H August 10, 2024
It’s was a wonderful experience ! She was super flexible and chose a menu according to our preferences. She made us really authentic dishes that you wouldn’t find in a standard pizza and pasta cooking class. Highly recommend! On top of the cooking, it was such a pleasure - the conversations we had with her and her husband at the dinner table . Her home is beautiful, she is also an talented artist . We had dinner in a beautiful setting overlooking the forested area. She is a perfect host and made us really feel at home. Don’t look any further just book this class!
- Sherpa August 04, 2024
Amazing experience! To do when you are in florence. Maria is a perfect host! My kids enjoyed the stay. Everything was easy, pickup / cooking....
- Bilaldiaa July 31, 2024
We met Maria at the oldest produce market in Venice and selected a few items. She then drove us a short drive to her home in the hills above Florence. The drive way to her home crosses the old road to Bologna- about 2,000yrs old. You pass an ancient inn & stable that was available to those walking the road. You arrive to an impressive 10th century home that Maria has renovated (she’s an architect). It is perfect! We entered the kitchen & began making ravioli. She taught us so easily. We also learned her way of making Bruschetta as well as a terrific tart for dessert. We had wonderful wine and conversation with Maria. She is beautiful and kind and intelligent and a wonderful cook! We are hosting family and friends once we arrive home to share with them what we learned in Maria’s kitchen! Don’t miss out! Join in and you will love it; just as we did!
- James July 24, 2024
AWESOME cooking class. Cris was…AMAZING! My wife and I had such a blast. Cris brought us to a market and showed us around, all while buying fresh ingredients. Then she took us to her beautiful home right on the outskirts of Florence. It was a little taste of paradise and words cannot describe it. She and her husband remodeled a Tuscan home and it’s great. Now for the actual cooking. Cris curated the menu to fit our needs of what we were looking for in the class. She also made it extra special by baking a separate cake since it was my wife’s birthday on the day of our class. Throw in the wine and the Prosecco…it was delightful. We learned how to make so many classic Florentine dishes, and she sent us all the recipes after. Definitely a class you should do!
- Brandon_Z July 09, 2024
Culinary escape in the Tuscan hills. If you want to escape the heat and the hustle and bustle of downtown Florence, head to the hills and the lovingly restored 12th-century villa with a cooking class with Maria! She picked us up, offered a history of the area, and accommodated the vegetarian dietary needs of one of our attendees. She was creative and thought outside of the box for a varied menu. She made pasta and tiramisu, making it look effortless. I can't wait to try the recipes she sent to my home!
- Kirsten_K July 05, 2024
Like cooking with family! Maria Christina was SO great. So accommodating, kind and friendly. She welcomed us into her amazing home with open arms. We got to chat about what we liked to eat and she suggested great options for us to cook. She showed us how to cook ravioli, so simple and so delicious. The highlight was cooking the amazing dessert Baci Panteschi, a specialty of the little island where she visits friends regularly, and not something we had seen anywhere else in Italy. A truly special and memorable experience that I would recommend to everyone.
- Katie June 07, 2024
Highly recommended private cooking class. It was a wonderful experience. The class was in the beautifully remodeled home from the 12th century in the countryside. The instruction went well & the food was the best we have ever had for the dishes prepared. She's very personable and detail oriented. Plus gave a us opportunity to practice making the recipes & take videos & pictures.
- Claudia S May 22, 2024
We had an amazing evening with Maria Cristina. Maria picked us up at the Sant’Ambrogio market in Florence and whisked us away to her beautiful Tuscan villa which is rich with history. We opted for the cooking experience with Maria Cristina through Traveling Spoon. Maria has renovated the entire home, sticking to the historic design throughout. We enjoyed every moment with Maria, who is a true renaissance woman with numerous varied talents. The delicious meal we prepared was made with the freshest ingredients. I need to be gluten free so Maria took every precaution to make sure everything was gluten free or avoided cross contamination. The best part was how much fun we had getting to know Maria. We all had many laughs and stories to share. Maria even packed up leftovers for us to enjoy at our Airbnb. We are still talking about how amazing this experience was. I highly recommend Maria Cristina for a true local culinary experience in Tuscany.
- 560mariannap April 17, 2024
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Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $154 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $224 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $308 Not offered
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
Not offered $154 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $224 Not offered
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
Not offered $308 Not offered
Alcohol
$0 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
12:00pm-3:00pm 6:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
9:30am-1:30pm 5:00pm-9:00pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
9:30am-2:30pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.