For a six night stay, the Relais Il Falconiere hosts a culinary experience like no other.  This elegant, historic property, dating back to 1680 and once owned by a famous Italian poet, is situated in the heart of picturesque Tuscan countryside and creates the perfect setting for an unforgettable holiday.   Together with us in the kitchen, you will discover how the finest Tuscan food and wines are prepared and chosen to compliment one another.  Four culinary lessons will focus on the wines and foods of Tuscany, a land of enchanting little towns with spectacular views of the cypress and olive trees. 

Your hosts are the owners of Il Falconiere, Silvia and Riccardo Baracchi.  They have carefully and patiently transformed this historic home into one of the most hospitable corners of Tuscany.  A recent guest describing the villa said it"appears to be an exquisite private mansion rather than a hotel. The charming colour schemes and murals have been kept in their original form and the deeply worn terracotta tiles and the gnarled wooden doors and shutters show the patina of their age ... they have both luxury and character – maybe a stone niche or an antique gilt mirror as well as towels and bed linens embroidered by hand ... The wines are carefully choosen by Silvia, a professional sommelier, as well as the ingredients for the dishes on the highly original menu- which changes with the season- because Silvia has a passion for fresh local produce. The pasta is home–made and the olive oil is produced from the Falconiere’s own trees" 

You will learn and relax surrounded by beautiful gardens and cypress trees and dine on the terrace overlooking the countryside.  The classes are taught by Chef Richard Titi and include not only techniques, but history of the area.   Excursions will include a sightseeing tour of Cortona and the Etruscan Academy Museum, wine tasting in Pienza and Montepulciano, pasta-making lessons in a local restaurant, and a city walk in Assisi.  You will be inspired by this special and unique atmosphere to take on your own culinary adventure.  It's your once in a lifetime chance to be a great Chef!

The recipes Silvia proposes are from the Tuscan cuisine, some of them specifically from Cortona and the Chiana Valley territory.  She selects from their tradition and elaborate upon the recipes to make them possible using modern techniques and to make them palatable for modern tastes. Her joy is to share with our aspirant chefs our history and our folklore.  Take for instance the day, which they dedicate to the Etruscans: it is rich in local history and culture and very ancient recipes furthermore enrich it so that our friends and participants will be able to immerse themselves in a completely bucolic and goliardic atmosphere.  No less interesting is the time dedicated to the simplicity of the local traditions thanks to special, yet homey recipes that are easy to replicate for a dinner party with family and friends, accompanied rigorously by Tuscan wines!   Tuscany is also rich in wine tradition with wineries that are open for tastings promising moments that transcend the simple visit and tour. The techniques that our good vignerons have handed down  and are happy to teach us are very precious and these "lessons" are always spiced up by amusing and witty stories.

From each corner of Tuscany you'll be able to enjoy breathtaking panoramas and idyllic scenery full of flavors. You will be able to smell and taste, not just see. Do you already have in mind a postcard, images from a documentary, or maybe even the movie Under the Tuscan Sun with its beautiful shots of the Cortona countryside?  All of this will be even more beautiful because the protagonists of this adventure with Silvia will be you!

Six Day Courses

• After arrival at Il Falconiere you will check into your luxurious rooms and have time to relax.
• In the evening you will enjoy a welcome cocktail with the charming Silvia and Riccardo Baracchi, your hosts for the week. 
• An aperitif will be followed by a delicious Tuscan meal.

• After breakfast your first cooking class will be: "Pane, olio e fantasia". 
• For lunch you will dine on your creations accompanied by the finest Tuscan wines. 
• The afternoon will be at your leisure to enjoy the grounds and relax. If you have a car, you can venture out on your own. 
• At 5 p.m. there will be a visit to a local farm followed by the preparation of cheese and dinner with a farmer's family.
• We will cook the following recipes:  Stuffed eggplants with almond, tomato confit and basil, traditional Tuscan bread, ribollita, saltimbocca of pork fillet with sage, juniper berries and bay leaves, cantucci.

• In the morning after breakfast, there is a guided sightseeing tour of Cortona for a visit of the city with its flavors and shopping. 
• Lunch will be in a typical tavern or (in November) in a local mill to see the olive oil production process.  Olive oil tasting with bruchetta.
• Then back to Il Falconiere in time for a cooking session: "Along Etruscan Traces". 
• Dinner will be a tasting of the dishes prepared in the class with a selection of "Super Tuscan Wines".
• In this cooking lesson we will prepare the following dishes:  Traditional wild herb pie with parmesan sauce, zuppa di farro, local lamb in crust of Tuscan bread, sautéed greens, fruit berries cake with mascarpone cheese mousse.

• After breakfast we will go on a guided sightseeing tour of Assisi and lunch in a typical Umbrian Restaurant in Torgiano with wine tasting and visit at the Wine Museum. 
• Return to the hotel and evening at leisure.
• We can propose some different nice possibilities to spend a wonderful evening together with us or on your own!

• Breakfast is followed by a a trip to the local open market.  In the market we can buy specialities from the area.
• Lunch buffet in our cellar.
• Visit our winery with wine tasting.
• Meeting at the hotel reception at 4 p.m. for the third cooking lesson:  "The Joy of Home Life" in the restaurant of Silvia's mother.
• Dinner will be a tasting of the dishes prepared in the class with a selection of Tuscan wine.
• During this lesson you will prepare:  pansanella, pici pasta with tomato and aromatic herb sauce, tagliatelle with duck sauce, ricotta and nettle ravioli served with sage and butter, scottiglia with polenta, lattaiolo. 

• After breakfast, there is a departure for a wine tour in a Montepulciano cellar. 
• Following the wine tour there is a guided sightseeing tour of Pienza and Montepulciano. 
• Lunch break and return to the Relais in time for your last cooking session:  "The Fish and its Secrets". 
• There will then be a Farewell candlelight dinner at Il Falconiere followed by the issuing of the certificate of completion of the cooking classes.
• During this day's cooking lesson, we will cook:  basic fish broth, wrapped bacon scallops with potato puree and bay leaves, ricotta gnocchi with sea food and saffron sauce, casserole of monkfish and scampi, napoleon of custard and pears with melted chocolate and pine nuts.

• Breakfast and departure.
• Note: Slight variations or adjustments to the daily schedule may be made.