Florence is a feast for the senses, and no other art form engages all five of them like cooking. Our Florence cooking class, led by a local chef, offers visitors an unparalleled opportunity to delve into local food traditions, and to fully appreciate their historical, social, and cultural components. This half day experience covers all aspects involved in preparing an unforgettable meal, from selecting fresh products at the market, to a hands-on experience turning them into meaningful and mouthwatering dishes.

You'll begin the tour in Piazza Ghiberti, where the St. Ambrogio market takes place every morning in and around a structure dating back to 1873. In this authentic setting, you will wade through the local farmers' stalls, familiarizing yourselves with a variety of fresh produce such as seasonal organic fruits, vegetables, and eggs, some of which will be carefully selected to become your lunch ingredients. You will also linger over and discuss specialties (cured meats, bread, cheese) that make up the heart of the Florentine and Tuscan gastronomic tradition, such as savory pecorino cheese and lampredotto, a tripe-based peasant dish, usually served in a sandwich.

During the second part of the experience, you'll spend about four hours in a Florentine kitchen in a private home where we will learn about and savor the basics and the nuances of Tuscan cuisine. Under the expert eyes and directions of our guide, you will combine all the ingredients to create scrumptious dishes, which can include fresh tagliatelle pasta made from scratch and topped with a rich sauce, peposo (a delicious peppery stew), and cantuccini (biscuits with almonds, served with wine to dip). By the end of your time with your guide, you'll be more familiar with the regional food culture and its importance in the social context of Florence, and will be carrying back exquisite memories from Florence, in the form of step-by-step simple recipes to recreate at home.