Tuscan cooking class: traditional 5-course menu

Podere Le Caggiole is not a cooking school: it is the family home of Giacomo - Chef & Sommelier - where his family has lived for over seven generations, in a building first documented before the year 1000.

The farmhouse is surrounded by vineyards and olive groves, and outside, antique farming tools tell the story of the land.

Set in the hills just outside the old town of Montepulciano, in the heart of Tuscany's most celebrated food and wine country, it is also a convenient stop between Florence and Rome.

Giacomo's wife Cristiana is always part of the welcome and of the class itself. Groups are small - from 2 to 8 guests - so that every participant receives genuine, personal attention. Step by step, Giacomo introduces each ingredient: where it comes from, why it was chosen, and what makes it special.

This is the foundation of his cooking philosophy, learned from his grandmother: few ingredients, simple but extraordinary.

The class is dynamic: hands-on preparations alternate with live demonstrations, as Giacomo walks you through every technique and every ingredient choice.

Seven preparations in total, nothing pre-made, including handmade pappardelle and gnocchi with their traditional sauce, a Chianina IGP main course, and the famous tiramisù. 

The class ends with a full five-course tasting on the terrace, paired with selected local wines.

Duration: approx. 5 hours