Cooking Under the Tuscan Sun

Our stay at Il Falconiere and cooking lessons with hostess Silvia Baracchi and head chef Richard Titi were wonderful. We could not have asked for a better experience! Nestled outside of Cortona with a view of the beautiful Tuscan countryside, Il Falconiere is a warm and inviting villa well cared for by Silvia and her attentive staff. Everyone made us feel at home. Our first night in Italy we spent on the terrace at Il Falconiere soaking in the beautiful view and watching an eclipse of the moon while enjoying delicious food and wine! Silvia projects a passion and enthusiasm for what she does that engages you immediately. We had one cooking class with Silvia and one with head chef Richard Titi. They made the experience fun and also meaningful, crafting menus that we will be able to reproduce at home. We made stuffed zucchini flowers, gnocchi, pici pasta, veal, lamb, and tiramisu. Silvia claims to have the best tiramisu, and we have to agree that it is the best we have tasted! In addition to the cooking, we enjoyed a delightful tour of Cortona led by Carol and a tour of the Baracchi Winery led by Silvia and followed by a wine tasting in the wine cellar at the restaurant. The food and the wine were outstanding and matched equally by the warmth and graciousness with which we were greeted! Margaret W., OR