Meet
Mirella
Mirella lives with her husband Stefano (her partner in life and in the kitchen!) in a small town called Antella located in the South of Florence. The town is in the Chiantigiana area and is surrounded by the Chianti Hills. Mirella's love for food and cooking comes from her paternal grandmother (nonna) who she used to help in the kitchen as a young child. As an adult she began trying out her nonna's recipes for herself. Her grandmother was a highly skilled top chef and an expert in the history of Florentine cuisine from the Renaissance period. After Mirella completed her schooling, she decided to follow her passion and enrolled at the Istituto Alberghiero in Florence, a school which trains you to work in restaurants and hotels. Over the years she has worked in several restaurants, hotels and schools. Given her vast experience she often had to accommodate special dietary needs such as gluten or lactose intolerance and frequently prepared meals for people of different religions or for vegetarians and vegans.
Mirella is a multi-faceted woman who organizes cooking courses and summer camps for students, teaches simple cake baking and organizes visits to nearby farms where you can learn about milking cows and cheese making. Mirella not only cooks ethnic family recipes but also enjoys fusion food and experimenting with new ingredients. Recently, she has become more and more interested in organic food as a means of eating more naturally and also of safeguarding biodiversity. She loves going to markets and local producers to look for ingredients that can be used fresh in her recipes.
On days when her husband Stefano is available, he will also join you for your experience. Like Mirella's, Stefano’s love for cooking began in his childhood. He was born into a family of pastry chefs who owned several high-quality patisseries in Florence where Stefano learned the trade. As an adult he followed his other passions when he opened a winery and later a restaurant in Elba.
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:
(2-15 guests)
Mirella’s approach to cooking has been influenced by her Florentine, Tuscan and proudly peasant roots which have made her appreciate the richness of ‘poor’ people’s food. Peasants couldn’t afford to throw anything away and so they invented the most ingenious ways of recycling yesterday’s leftovers, like “la ribollita”, the famous Tuscan vegetable stew made with dried bread. Her cooking is also greatly influenced by Renaissance cooking, especially the dishes served at the Medici court. Cooking for the Tuscan nobility was an art and ingredients were rich and expensive.
Mirella has a different menu for every season, as she prefers using seasonal ingredients in her cooking. Some of the dishes you might eat during the winter are bruschetta with sausage and stracchino cheese, ribollita (stew) or Florentine pork with peas. In spring you may be served a vegetable tart, penne with ragù sauce (meat-based sauce), peasant’s meatballs with seasonal vegetables and cioccolatissimo (extra rich chocolate dessert). The summer may include dishes such as bruschetta with tomato and basil, fresh cheeses and honey, pappa al pomodoro (made with dry bread, tomatoes and olive oil), hunter’s chicken with roast potatoes and tiramisù. In autumn you may be treated to eggs with caper salsa, pecorino cheese and salamino grapes, pumpkin risotto, pork with prunes and pinenuts, and chocolate flan.
These are only examples of her seasonal menus - they can be changed to accommodate special requests. Wine is included in the cost of the meal.
Cooking experience:
(1-15 guests)
The aim of Mirella’s Tuscany cooking class is to share her knowledge about food, its preparation and its Florentine and Tuscan history. Mirella prefers conducting a hands-on class, where travelers will learn how to make dishes themselves. She will teach you how to make 3-4 of the dishes you will eating later, such as various bruschette or antipasto, a pasta, a main, pasta sauces and other seasonal recipes - some of the foods you must try in Florence. Weather permitting, Mirella will host the cooking and meal experience in her outdoor garden area!
Market visit:
(2-8 guests)
You will visit Sant'Ambrogio, one of the more central markets in Florence, a 30 minute drive from Mirella's home. During the market visit you will visit local producers of wine, oil, fruit and vegetables. This will be a fun filled experience of buying food, talking about food, preparing food and finally eating together!
Notes:
Please note Mirella speaks limited English, so either a family friend or her son will join you for the Florence cooking class as a translator.
The meal price includes a glass of prosecco (Italian white wine) with the antipasto (hors d'oeuvre) and two glasses of wine with the meal. Mirella also offers limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur) and/or vin santo (Italian dessert wine) with dessert.
In-villa option available: Note that Mirella is also pleased to offer a private cooking or meal option at your Tuscany villa, if you prefer not to travel. For rates and availability please contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.
Languages spoken:
English, Italian
Traveler reviews
Nothing but good things to say about Mirella and Stefano! They were so warm and greeted us by name. We have a son with special needs and they set up a bedroom for him so we’d have a place to lay him down and change him. They accommodated our dietary restrictions and were just wonderful hosts. It was a highlight of our trip and we strongly recommend booking a lesson with them!
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sunitap560
October 09, 2023
OMG this was the best meal and experience we did on our entire trip. My wife, my kids all loved it and enjoyed the meal tremendously. The host's English is more than passible and we don't speak Italian. This might be the hidden gem experience in Tuscany. How she only has 3 reviews at the time of this post is baffling. The gnocchi melted like butter and if we weren't so full we would have demanded more Eggplant lasagana stacks. It was definitely pricey but the food, host and atmosphere of her home was well worth it. When you can satisfy a wife who hates cooking, a teenage boy, and a teenage girl then you know you have a winner.
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Jonathan
June 30, 2023
Stefano and Mariella were fantastic hosts--they were informative and knowledgeable, and welcomed us at the market with big smiles, even though we were 20 minutes late due to traffic. We toured the market and were able to learn a great deal about it, as well as observing the quality of the fresh foods. We then were escorted to their home and guided through the preparation of 4 dishes, plus receiving a tour of their back yard and herb garden. To top it off, we then were able to share the meal we had prepared and have a nice visit with them in their outdoor gazebo, learning a great deal about culture, family and food. It was the highlight of a two week trip to Italy. Wonderful.
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william
June 21, 2023
It was a great experience and my kids loved it. The cook was professional and the food was
all delicious! The lesson was a bit pricy but overall it was a great class!
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Irina_G
June 11, 2023
Our Tuscan cooking class with Mirella and Stefano was a highlight on our trip to Florence. The whole experience of going to the farmers market to choose our ingredients and then making dishes in their own home was just wonderful! Mirella perfectly accommodated for our Vegan and Vegetarian requests and taught us how to prepare some spectacular dishes!
Thank you for this unique and wonderful experience! We can't wait to try them out in our own home!
Linda, Sydney, and Natalie
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Lmknisl
May 23, 2023
AMAZING!!!! Would give this 10 stars if we could!!
My wife & I thoroughly enjoyed our experience with Mirella and Stefano. It started with the both of them taking us on a tour of the Sant’Ambrogio food market, where they told us fascinating details about the market and vendors. This is where they picked up the ingredients for the menu we were to cook a bit later in the day.
This market tour was a fascinating & entertaining way to start the experience!
After the market, they drove us to their BEAUTIFUL home and gave us a tour of their home & lovely garden. This was such a thrill and further immersed us with Italian authenticity.
We then got to cooking, during which my wife and I could not stop smiling. It started with two different forms of bruschetta, both of which turned out DELICIOUS. Then, we made handmade tagliatelle pasta with Tuscan ragu. WOW, just wow. The next thing we prepared for the menu was chicken cacciatore. Sooooo wonderful, tender, and flavorful. Finally, we prepared homemade tiramisu. It was every bit as tasty & amazing as it sounds!
Throughout the food prepping and cooking, Mirella & Stefano gave us the perfect combination of talking us through it, assisting hands-on if needed, and informing us about the fascinating history behind each dish. The time passed so quickly, as we were having the time of our lives!
When it came time to eat, Stefano served us each course. The food all came out INCREDIBLE and it was amongst the best meals we had throughout our entire week in Florence!
Stefano & Mirella’s kindness and courtesy made us feel like we were family. This was our first full day in Italy (our first experience in all of Europe, in fact!) and we can’t stop talking about this experience. We get so welcomed & appreciated by Stefano and Mirella.
We would highly recommend this experience to just about anybody, regardless of culinary interest. For all of the fascinating things you’ll learn about Tuscan food & history, you’ll also feel like you just had an amazing get-together with new friends!
Thank you, Stefano & Mirella. The next time we make it out to Florence, we will absolutely sign up for another class. Oh, and one more thing: Mirella handed us a printout of our entire menu, with detailed instructions of how to prepare each item! We’ve already recreated the bruschetta with Tuscan bread, sausage & stracchino cheese - DELICIOUS!!!
Grazie mille,
James & Christa
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V9821T
March 15, 2023
A wonderful experience in the heart and soul of Italy. Mirella and Stefano were amazing hosts. It was wonderful to laugh and feel as if we were part of their family. I very much recommend this experience.
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Timothy
December 27, 2022
Mirella and Stefano were so kind. My wife and I absolutely loved our personal Italian cooking class. The environment was authentic, Mirella and Stefano were excellent teachers. This cooking class is a must when in Florence! We will book again the next time we are in Florence!
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Preston
April 13, 2022
I can't express how awesome this cooking class experience was! Mirella and her husband were such a delight. We learned how to make several different types of pasta, tomato sauce and more! Every dish was delicious and they made the experience so fun! This was one of my highlights in my month long journey in Italy.Thank you for such a wonderful memory!Robbin Cecchini
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Robbin C
October 16, 2019
Our family loved the cooking class with Mirella and Stefano. They welcomed us into their home, and gave us a fun and interactive lesson. The food - clearly thanks to Mirella and Stefano - turned out great. And just as importantly, both were incredible with our kids, aged 11, 10 and 8, who immediately took to them and opened right up. Mirella and Stefano are teachers who know how to connect. It was like a dinner with family friends where we all joined in to cook. If you will be in the Florence area, this is a must do.
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Mark S
August 27, 2019
Mirella & Stefano were perfect, helpful and delightful chefs, guiding me through a midday exploration of true Tuscan culinary adventures and helping me to explore my desires to learn more about simple, basic cooking in this part of Italy. From the opening garden exploration to prepping for the lovely meal, all was a remarkable experience.Robert RossBainbridge Island, WArwrlink@gmail.com
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rrossgardens
May 23, 2019
We had a wonderful lesson with Mirella and her husband. Our evening was off to a rough start when we accidentally put in the wrong address into our GPS and did not arrive at the correct place. Mirella was more than accessible and helpful by phone and her English is very good! She was able to help us get to the right place and was very welcoming and comforting as this was quite a stressful experience for us. Mirella is a wonderful cook and taught us very well how to make the recipes. We ended up making bruschetta, tagliatelle from scratch with a tomato sauce, pork in a wine sauce with Florentine peas, and terramisu for desert. It all tasted delicious! We had a blast learning about Italian cooking with her and later shared a meal with her and her husband. I would definitely recommend this experience for anyone visiting Florence or the surrounding areas. It was one of the highlights of our 2 week trip!
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MDD92
October 13, 2018
My 14 year old son and I opted for a market tour and home cooking lesson with Mirella and Stefano. We had a really wonderful time. I was especially pleased that they treated my son as a competent cook (which he is) and allowed him to fully participate. I’ve been to classes where he has been treated as a child and not been given opportunities to chop and make the pasta. Mirella and Stefano were charming and welcoming. We’ve cooked a lot of Italian food so the menu was familiar but delicious. The best part was cooking together and comparing life and experiences. Bravo, guys! Highly recommended.
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Monique G
September 13, 2018
Traveling Spoon is an amazing company and Mirella and her husband were wonderful hosts. She was warm, welcoming and funny! My husband and I agreed it was the highlight of our trip. I'd recommend coming before dinner to cook as well. We loved it and made the recipe when we got home!
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Jess E
December 21, 2017
Mirella invited us into her home where we had so much fun cooking, eating, and just enjoying!
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Brenda
September 28, 2017
My wife and I are in our 30s (ok one of us almost in their 40s, but I won't say who), and we have made traveling around the world our raison d'etre. We had 5 days in Florence before heading out to Roma and Venice, and our dinner with Mirella and Stefano was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of our trip. We shared a five hour dinner at their home, cooking alongside them and sharing a table and conversation with them into the evening. High marks for the thoughtfulness that went into the menu selection which was seasonal and thoroughly local but also wonderfully different from anything you would encounter on the well worn tourist recommendations in Florence. But more important than the wonderful meal and cooking experience was to spend time with a food obsessed Florentine couple in their home, laughing together late until the scheduled taxi service had to drag us away, and for us to share wide smiles the entire ride back to the hotel. Mirella and Stefano's home brought us to a different time and place. Their passion for food and entertaining is self-evident. Herbs and spices come straight from their garden, which Mirella handpicks for the meal. We made pasta from scratch together, and they took the time to teach us how. Stefano is the kind of guy that makes you wish you spoke better Italian, because you know you'd love to share a limoncello or grappa (or two) with him after dinner, trading stories. In short,we felt we were able to just for a moment, feel like we were able to experience something sincere and unique, something authentic, something non-transactional. Simply amazing!
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Alan M
August 25, 2017
A fantastic host!
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Alison
June 24, 2017
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