Cook Like a Tuscan is a Hands-On Introduction to Italian Cuisine

I fell in love with Tuscany on The Chopping Block's Cook Like a Tuscan tour last fall. I had never been to Italy before, and this seven-day trip was the perfect introduction to the region's beautiful landscape, historical landmarks, diverse culture, some of the best sunsets I've ever witnessed, and of course, delicious food and wine along the way. 

Tuscan sunset viewed from our villa, Cook Like a Tuscan 2023

Hands-On Cooking in Italy's Heartland

This trip is like no other because it is designed with home cooks in mind. With four hands-on cooking classes spread throughout the week, it's suitable for all skill levels. We had some people in last year's group who had never made homemade pasta before, while others were quite skilled with a rolling machine. No matter how much you know about pasta, you'll walk away from the hands-on cooking class at Badia a Coltibuono, a former abbey turned agritourism destination in the heart of Chianti, a real pasta pro.

Kevin and Lisa Marzano show off their pasta skills, Cook Like a Tuscan 2023

While you will consume plenty of pasta on this trip, travelers will quickly learn that there is more to Italian cuisine than just noodles. Tuscan cooks create some of the most delicious dishes from very simple ingredients. Chef Mirella and her husband Stefano, considered the "resident" chefs of the villa we stay at in Panzano in Chianti, teach a hands-on cooking class rooted in peasant tradition. They bring vegetables and herbs from their garden and teach our travelers how to make dishes that feature vegetables and beans such as Ribollita, a traditional Tuscan soup made from a hearty blend of vegetables, beans, and stale bread. 

Mirella, me and Stefano cooking at the villa, Cook Like a Tuscan 2023

The first hands-on cooking class happens the very first night you arrive at the villa as you learn how to make homemade pizza. A pizzaiolo brings a portable wood-fired oven and makes a pizza feast... with your help. You'll enjoy a variety of pizzas and focaccia bread during the pizza party of your dreams! 

Cheryl Lukehart makes pizza, Cook Like a Tuscan 2023

The trip wraps up with another hands-on cooking lesson at the villa, but this time focused on a sophisticated, gourmet menu, perfect for entertaining friends and family. Chef Stefano (yes, another Chef Stefano!) will wow the group with some impressive dishes and techniques from his years of fine-dining experience.

Chef Stefano, Cook like a Tuscan 2023

Group in the kitchen, Cook Like a Tuscan 2023

Those are the four hands-on cooking classes slated during this week, but there's even more opportunities to roll up your sleeves in the kitchen. One of my most special memories of the trip was a butchery class by Dario Cecchini, an eighth generation butcher in Panzano in Chianti. I was introduced to him via my favorite show Top Chef and as you can read in my recap of that day, I had plenty of fan girl moments. 

Dario Cecchini and me, Cook Like a Tuscan 2023

Now that he's a celebrity with multiple restaurants, Dario isn't always available to do the class himself, so our group was very lucky to have him. In fact, The Chopping Block/Onward Travel's group is the only private class the butcher shop offers now! But no matter who leads the class, our students get a new perspective on respecting animals and how they should be used for food. During the class, we learned how to tenderize beef and make the famous "Sushi del Chianti," which is beef tartare using the leanest part of the top round. 

As you can tell, this trip is a bucket list item for any foodie, whether you like to cook or not, whether you know anything about Italian food or are a complete novice. Everyone can participate at the level that is comfortable to them in each class, and you are guaranteed to get a plentiful and delicious meal at the end of each session. 

Tuscan Wines: Bold Flavors, Timeless Elegance

This Tuscan tour is also paradise for a wine lover. Tuscan wine is world-renowned for its rich flavors, balanced acidity, and deep connection to the region’s history and terroir. Tuscany’s rolling hills, diverse soil types, and Mediterranean climate create the perfect environment for producing a variety of high-quality wines, both red and white.

You will be led on this wine adventure by tour guide (and former TCB Sommelier) Viktorija Todorovska. Viktorija is an accredited Sommelier, Italian Wine Scholar and Certified Specialist of Wine. Each day of this tour, there's some level of wine education from Viktorija, whether you are sipping Prosecco at the villa watching the sunset over the vineyards or in Montalcino tasting some of the best Brunello of your life. You'll also learn from wine experts throughout Chianti as we stop at vineyards and local restaurants. 

Viktorija introducing a Vermentino pairing with spicy potato chips during Cook Like a Tuscan 2023

A Big Announcement

So, who is the other tour guide for this trip next year? Longtime guide Peggi Claus (mother of Molly and Kat of Onward Travel) is taking a much-needed break, so I'm excited to announce... drumroll, please.... it's me! I am thrilled to now be working with Onward Travel as well as The Chopping Block to bring these food-focused travel tours to you. 

I recently paired up with former TCB Chef Guillermo Delavault for a culinary immersion tour of The Basque Country this fall. With San Sebastián as our home base, we ate and drank our way through this culturally-rich area of Spain and France by dining at Michelin-starred restaurants, taking part in an authentic cooking class and having some of the coolest culinary experiences of my life. 

Me and Guillermo in San Sebastián, Spain 2024

I'm so excited to lead this tour and having already experienced it as a traveler, I certainly know how amazing it is. I can't wait to share Tuscany with you! I also know I will learn even more the second and third times around in 2025, and I'm not the only one who wants to do this trip multiple times. Dan Fisk has gone on the Cook Like a Tuscan tour twice, once in 2018 and again in 2022. 

As always, we are offering Cook Like a Tuscan during two different weeks in October 2025: 

Tuscany offers a captivating blend of history, culture, cuisine, and natural beauty, making it a dream destination for all types of travelers. If you want to gaze at postcard-perfect scenery and indulge in some amazing food and wine for a week, please join me next year!