Tuscan Pasta Making Cooking Class in the Florence Countryside

Meet Fabio

Fabio grew up in Italy learning to cook alongside his mother in the family kitchen, where he developed a deep appreciation for traditional Italian home cooking. What began as helping with simple meals eventually became a lifelong passion, and today Fabio loves experimenting with recipes while staying true to the flavors of his region. Fabio specializes in Tuscan cuisine, which focuses on simple dishes made with seasonal, local ingredients of the highest quality. His cooking reflects the philosophy of Tuscan food - letting a few excellent ingredients shine. In addition to Tuscan recipes, Fabio also enjoys preparing Sicilian and Mediterranean dishes inspired by Italy’s diverse culinary traditions. Fabio lives with his wife, Christiane, a German journalist, in the beautiful Tuscan countryside just outside Florence, where they host guests for authentic Italian cooking experiences. During your visit, Fabio enjoys sharing stories about Florence, Tuscany, and Italy’s rich history and food culture, making the experience both culinary and cultural. An architect and designer by profession, Fabio has a passion for contemporary art as well as music, especially rock and jazz. In his free time he enjoys playing tennis and skiing. Joining Fabio for a Tuscan culinary experience near Florence offers guests the opportunity to experience authentic Italian home cooking while learning about the traditions, ingredients, and culture that shape the region’s cuisine.

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: (4-8 guests) Enjoy a unique Tuscan dining experience near Florence at the countryside home of Fabio and Christiane. Their house sits on a hill about 10 km from Florence’s historic center, surrounded by olive trees and beautiful views of the Tuscan landscape. Fabio and Christiane will welcome you into their cozy, colorful home with a refreshing drink before sharing stories about life in Florence and the surrounding countryside. Depending on the season, Fabio may also show you their olive trees and explain how olives are harvested and transformed into traditional Tuscan olive oil. Your authentic Tuscan home-cooked meal will be prepared using fresh, seasonal, and locally sourced ingredients. The menu may include dishes such as tagliatelle with vegetarian ragù, squid risotto with wild fennel and orange peel, peposo alla fornacina with white beans (beef slow-cooked in red wine, garlic, and black pepper), or seppie in zimino (cuttlefish with spinach or chard). End your meal with a homemade dessert such as crostata with jam and dried fruit or a classic Italian apple pie, served with warm hospitality in the peaceful Tuscan countryside. This authentic dining experience near Florence offers a wonderful opportunity to enjoy traditional Tuscan cuisine while connecting with locals in their home.

Cooking experience: (2-6 guests) After pickup from central Florence (for groups of six or fewer), enjoy a scenic drive through the Tuscan hills to Fabio and Christiane’s countryside home. In their welcoming kitchen, join a hands-on Florence cooking class and learn to make fresh pasta from scratch using traditional Italian pasta machines while discovering the techniques behind each one. Once the pasta is ready, prepare a seasonal Italian sauce, such as a fresh vegetable and herb blend or a Sicilian-style sardine sauce. You’ll also help create a traditional side dish like a vegetable flan or Fabio’s signature baccalà con porri e cavolo viola (pan-stewed cod with leeks and purple cabbage). For dessert, prepare a classic Italian sweet such as winter castagnaccio or summer panna cotta with strawberry coulis. Enjoy the meal you helped create with Tuscan wine (included) and warm hospitality in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. This Florence cooking class with transportation from the city center is perfect for couples, families, or friends seeking an authentic culinary experience. Guests will learn traditional techniques in a pasta making class in Florence while discovering the flavors and hospitality of the Tuscan countryside. Fabio is happy to accommodate vegetarian, lactose-free, and gluten-free diets. Please include this information in your booking.

Market visit: (2-6 guests) Begin your experience with pickup from central Florence (for groups of six or fewer) and enjoy a scenic drive through the rolling Tuscan hills to Fabio and Christiane’s beautiful countryside home. Along the way, stop at a local Tuscan farm for a short 15 minute visit to walk through the fields and learn about what is currently growing in the region. At the farmstand, you will choose the fresh seasonal vegetables you would like to cook with, and Fabio will purchase them for your meal. Next, stop at a nearby local supermarket and specialty food shop where Tuscan residents buy their ingredients, spending about 30 minutes exploring the aisles together. Fabio will show you how to select the best organic produce, local cheeses, fresh meat, and fish, sharing tips on choosing high quality ingredients like a local. This authentic Florence market visit focuses on where locals shop and how seasonal ingredients are selected for Tuscan cooking. This Florence cooking class with a market visit offers a unique opportunity to shop like a local before preparing a traditional meal. Depending on the menu and your preferences, you may visit the farm, the neighborhood market, or both. Please note that the farm closes in the evenings, so evening market tours will include a visit to the local supermarket. Please note that this experience does not include the large tourist markets such as Mercato Centrale, San Lorenzo Market, or Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio. Instead, you will visit a local farm and neighborhood food shop for a more authentic Tuscan food experience.

Notes:
1. Transportation and meeting point: Fabio’s home is located about 10 km from Florence’s city center, approximately a 30-minute drive from the meeting location. Fabio, or someone from his team, will pick you up from the central meeting point at Via dei Renai 37, Florence, and drop you back at the same location after your culinary experience. Round-trip transportation from this meeting point is included in the price. Please include your WhatsApp number or local contact number when booking so Fabio can easily reach you in case of traffic or other delays. Please note that Fabio is not able to pick guests up directly from hotels, as private cars are not permitted in Florence’s historic center.
2. Group size and transportation: Fabio can transport up to 6 guests in his vehicle. If your group is larger than six people, he kindly asks that the remaining guests arrange their own transportation and follow him to his home.
3. Dietary restrictions: Fabio can accommodate a vegetarian diet in his Italian cooking class. Please inform us in advance if you have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
4. Wine: Wine is included in the cost of your experience.
5. This home has cats.
6. Air conditioning: Please note that, as is common in many Italian homes, this residence does not have air conditioning.

Languages spoken: English, Italian

Sample menu

• Seasonal Welcome Drink
• First Course | Homemade pasta with a vegetarian, meat, or fish sauce, or Gnudi (Tuscan “naked ravioli” with ricotta and spinach)
• Main Course | Peposo - Tuscan slow-stewed beef with garlic, black pepper, and red wine or Seppie in Zimino - Cuttlefish with chard or a seasonal vegetarian dish
• Dessert | Crostata with homemade jam, Biscotti di Prato (traditional almond cookies), or Fabio’s apple pie

Traveler reviews

Excellent 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!

- robert May 14, 2026

Great experience - Fabio and his wife were lovely and it was a great home to enjoy an authentic Florentine meal in.

- stacy April 22, 2026

We 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!

- robby April 14, 2026

Fabio 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.

- nadine April 13, 2026