Nievole - Lesson with Chef Giuseppe

We really enjoyed our day of cooking with Giuseppe. For us the most magical part was the scenery and the beauty of his house/agriturismo. Giuseppe's graciousness was fantastic and he made us feel very welcome. The food was very nice, but we both wish Giuseppe elaborated more on some of the more traditional, older style recipes that he alluded to, and older cooking methods. Not that we didn't enjoy the meal and the recipes we learned it's just that his talk of making bread with chestnut flavor, or conversations about the old mill got us to thinking about what Italian cooking was like 100 years ago. We could have spent a couple of days with him I am sure. I would also recommend that people stay in his agriturismo. We did not, but next time we are in the areat it will be perfect. Robert S.

The class was all that we expected. Giuseppe was very personable and driven to make sure we had a good time. A high point was the market visit where we were able to make up our menu based on what we saw in the market (with Giuseppe's guidance). The setting for the class couldn't be better. The restored frantoio with the modern kitchen was amazing. The fire in the fireplace provided warmth for the preparation activities and a backdrop for the meal. The menu included many Tuscan specialties: cheese-stuffed fried zucchini blossoms, roasted rabbit and pork, and chocolate-covered cream puffs were especially memorable. For our group more hands-on preparation is a suggested improvement. William W., CA

Giuseppe Mazzocchi was our chef for the day. He and his assistant provided a wonderful day beginning with a market shopping tour for fresh vegetables, meat and pasta at the local shops in Monticatinni. We then traveled to the Tuscan Cooking School - a wonderful restored olive mill with a professional kitchen and a 1000 year old stone bridge in the back yeard. We had some demonstrations, dug in and did hands on prep forour menu items, paused briefly to consume freshly prepared stufed squash blossoms with a little chilled Proseco(fabulous!) and ultimately sat down to a marvelous meal. Much conversation about food, food preparation, local produce, Tuscany and Italy, and our plans for a future trip back. Eileen R., NH

Just wanted you to know we had an absolutely wonderful time at our cooking class. We started off with a wonderful market visit where Giuseppe bought the ingredients for our class and meal. This included a visit to the Butchery and a then to a pasta shop across the street, which supplies pasta for La Cirque restaurant in NYC. Then we went to his wonderful estate and spent the rest of the day cooking and eating. We could not have had a better time, and we all learned a lot. Giuseppe was so charming as were his associates. Thanks for your work for us..... Jackie M

Giuseppe is a charming man, and the facility is superb. The recipes were interesting, sufficiently complex yet still easy to make for a neophyte cook. A truly great experience. Fred H., MN

One of the true highlights of our trip was the time we spent with Giuseppe Mazzocchi at his home in Montecatini preparing a full Tuscan meal. The day was very personal. We felt like guests in his beautiful family home and he spent time with each of us, including both of our daughters, in teaching us how to purchase, prepare and enjoy the food. What a great last day in Italy. Gerald S.

It was great to start off at the market and learn about the local vegetables, and find the fresh ingredients for our class. We prepared an antipasto plate with fresh bruschetta, Prosciutto, Leek Quiche, and an Artichoke torta. Then we prepared a fresh Vegetable risotto, and ended the meal with a fresh ricotta and rasberry cheesecake. It was interesting developing a recipe on the fly, based on what was freshly available at the market that day. The property of the school is amazingly beautiful and peaceful. It is truly a get away from the hectic city life of Florence. Giuseppe was truly gracious, and the hands on experience of preparing the food was invaluable. Overall the experience was very memorable. Roderick F., Germany

Giuseppe was fabulous! We got lost in our rental car, and he came and got us. Shopping for the ingredients was fun and informative. The meal we cooked was mouth watering delicious! His fiance/assistant was so sweet. Their house and "backyard" was breathtaking...trully Tuscan landscaping. Giuseppe even helped me book a massage. This was an amazing experience. Evie A., CA

Having chosen this class over the Internet, I was concerned about whether I had made the right decision for my daughter and me. After going to the market with him, both of us knew that this was going to be a better experience than we could have imagined. Just being at the market and choosing fresh ingredients for our class was fun and informative, a nice introduction to what lay ahead. The restored farmhouse was wonderful and in such a beautiful setting. His lovely wife, Deborah, was so friendly and helpful, as well. It would be difficult to pinpoint a "highlight" of this experience, as learning new ways to prepare fresh artichokes, making pastry with olive oil, making fresh pasta and ravioli, etc., etc. were all new to us. Learning about extra virgin olive oil, and what to look for in deciding what to buy was definitely a highlight. Enjoying our antipasta course, then the ravioli, ending with dessert of various cheeses and pears (our suggestion) with delicious wine, was a memorable experience. Chef Gieuseppe not only understands what he is doing but has a natural talent for teaching. Both of us would recommend his class to anyone desiring a one-day experience and would enjoy returning, if possible. Frances H., TX

Our 1-day cooking class was truly one to remember. Giuseppe is a fun and enthusiastic instructor and an amazing cook. When in Italy, be sure to escape from the touristy areas and experience the Tuscan countryside and food with Giuseppe and his wife Deborah. At first I was nervous to make a purchase of this nature on the Internet, but after speaking with a few staff members, my concerns were gone. They were knowledgeable and polite and I registered immediately after speaking with them. Frankk P, PA

This was one of the best parts of our two week vacation. Chef Guiseppe was great. He was very patient, very gracious, extremely knowledgable and did an all-around great job. My wife and I were lucky enough to have the personal attention of the Chef all to ourselves. The food was outstanding. I do not know how it could have been any better. The Chef was also very helpful in making other recommendations for the rest of our vacation. Walt S., MO

There were four of us in the class and we all had a wonderful experience. Chef Guiseppe allowed us to choose some dishes to prepare and he made some suggestions. The completed meal was very good. His house, with the big Tuscan kitchen, and the setting high in the hills was simply gorgeous. I would highly recommend taking a class with Chef Guiseppe. Janet S., MO

The cooking class with Giuseppe was the highlight of our stay in [Tuscany]. We loved going to the market with him and having some input into the meal we were going to prepare. He also took the time to bring us into some of the local shops (pasta, bakery) and show us how various products were made. The time spent at his home was just lovely. He was a gracious host and a good teacher. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch with him--a perfect combination of delicious food and good company. I arranged this class as a surprise for my huband's birthday and we both thoroughly enjoyed the day and the time we spent with Giuseppe. Nancy B., NY

Chef Guiseppe decided the menu with Donna and myself at the open market. He listened to our ideas and together we chose ingredients and dishes. His home has a professional kitchen and it was a pleasure to cook in his space - Guiseppe was focused and organized in cooking the dishes and explained everything as we went along. Although we did have hands on in cooking the only thing I could offer to improve was "total hands on." Guiseppe was patient in his explanations of ingredients and cooking methods. His sense of humor and easy going way was wonderful and his class was a total joy. I would absolutely repeat the class with Chef Guiseppe and recommend it highly to anybody. It was the highlight of my stay in Italy. Judy G., CO