Florence - Lesson with Chef Silvia

Silvia was a delight. The trip to the market expecially enhanced our experience. It gave us an Italian perspective on daily life that we would have missed without it. We were so thrilled that we were able to enjoy the class in her home. She is a gracious host and fantastic chef. My mom, sisters, and myself found this portion of our trip to be most memorable and delicious. We learned so much more about Italian culture because of this experience. Cynthia X. Il

My two daughters and I also had a wonderful day of Italian cooking lessons, in Florence, with a teacher affiliated with the International Kitchen in Chicago. As we were in Florence for just a few days, we wanted only a single lesson. We found Silvia Maccari through the Web at www.theinternationalkitchen.com, and spent a wonderful day in her charming apartment learning to cook some of her family's dishes. Jean F., NJ

Bravo! We enjoyed our Market visit with tasting of the" ultimate" in Balsamic vinegar. This was a great perspective on the Tuscan style. Sylvia’s English is excellent and she kept up a running commentary on the reasons behind her recipes and we ended with our own private dining experience in her home. She was able to teach both my inexperienced 18 year old daughter as well as a seasoned although not well trained cook such as myself. We made a meal rather high in carbohydrates so from a health perspective we might have had a course on the salads and cheeses rather than risotto and roasted potatoes at the same session. Sharon B, CT

Just a quick note to say “thank you” for the wonderful cooking class. We enjoyed our biscottini throughout our entire trip in Italy and ate the last few crumbs on our flight from London to San Francisco. We have not tried the recipes yet, but we look forward to making the soup on a cold winter day here in San Francisco. We really want to extend a welcome to you if you are ever in San Francisco and we would be delighted to treat you to a meal at our home and also to one of the many great restaurants in San Francisco. We have wonderful memories and can still taste the food we prepared. Donna, Lonny and Alex N., CA

I had so much fun with Sylvia, she was so knowledgable and interesting to talk to about Florence; its food, culture and flavors. the menu was perfect and simple and I am looking forward to recreating the menu for my friends back at home. I learned a great deal about different techniques to bring out the flavors in the foods without over powering anything and she made sure we were able to successfully accomplish each step. I told her to come visit us in portland so we could cook some more. it was one of the greatest highlights of my trip to Florence. Thank you, Sarah M., OR

Silvia's cooking morning was a delightful experience for us- Not only was she a charming, sophisticated and knowledgeable host but her teaching tips were excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance of her lovely apartment in which we cooked and ate. The meal was delicious, her recipes great and she is a lovely person. The experience of shopping at the market was a highlight and we can't wait to come back to Florence again! Lesley G., Durban, South Africa