Cookery lessons specialising in Tuscan dishes
. . . treat yourself to a luxury break in Tuscany

The main ingredient of the success of the 'Vallicorte experience' is of course the fact that everybody in a group has an interest in common whether they come from Britain, Australia or North America. They find new enthusiasms and form new friendships. Good food and wine, logfires, swimming, tennis, or siestas are the ingredients for a relaxed and happy holiday.

Chose from one to five day cooking breaks

Treat yourself to something special with a luxury break in Tuscany. Take your partner or your best friends and immerse yourself in country living in Italy.

The cookery lessons are led by Chef Gianluca Pardini who specialises in Tuscan dishes - you can learn anything from how to make homemade pasta and bread to vegetarian recipes.

In partnership with Chef Gianluca Pardini Valllicorte is now also offering hands-on morning cookery sessions every week - Monday to Friday - during February, March, April, May, September and October which will include all your food and delicious local wines.

Unlike other cookery schools we offer the opportunity to attend as little as one class in the week, so if you are just passing through, why not spend a morning cooking with your friends? If you have more time to spare, a wine tasting at the four hundred year old fattoria San Martino can also be organised. The wine and olives here are grown organically, a wonderful tasting experience!

And when you are not cooking enjoy the beautiful gardens and pool, or drive fifteen minutes to medieval Lucca, the jewel of Northern Tuscany with ninety churches, circular walls to bicycle round, great shopping and eating. Or visit the seaside at Viareggio and Forte di Marmi with their long sandy beaches and good fish restaurants.

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Tailormade gourmet cookery breaks for small groups of private guests all year round - corporate cooking and wine tasting weekend breaks

Vallicorte can offer the genuine Tuscan Food and Wine Experience on a tailormade basis.

Groups can be collected from Pisa airport (served by British Airways and Ryanair) in the Vallicorte private coach. If time allows during your stay you can enjoy truffle and porcini tasting in the hills, visits to ancient fattorias in the Colline Lucchese for wine and olive oil tasting, and even a visit to Volterra or Florence - the best fun though will be cooking together in a wonderful farmhouse kitchen. Making bread, pasta and cooking your own pizzas in a woodburning oven in a meadow is a great way to bond!

JUST TELL US WHAT YOU WANT AND WE CAN ORGANISE IT!

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE EMAIL US <click here>

Gianluca Pardini

Gianluca is warm and fun. As a good Italian boy he did what his parents wished and and pursued a degree in the History of Art and Design but by the age of fourteen he was already shaping his true career in the kitchen, working holidays and weekends in local restaurants of his home town in Versiglia. From 1976 he took over the role of chef, first in Florence's prestigious Hotel Excelsior, then in Orleans (France). By 1984 he was restaurant manager in Siena, on its famous Piazza del Campo before owning and running the renowned Mecenate in Lucca for ten years.

During these years as chef and restaurant owner he spent time as a gastronomic consultant for a Tokyo based company which in 1989 led to the establishment of the Academy Bunryu, Siena, where he played the dual role of director and co-ordinating chef. He remains a frequent guest speaker, teacher and consultant at important cooking academies and restaurants in Japan and the USA. Among his qualifications is that of Honorary Professor at Chicago's Du Page College and Honorary Member of the Society of Friends, Escoffier.

More recently he developed the International Academy of Italian Cuisine, based in Lucca, extending his international Japanese / USA clientele. This initiative has been enriched by a strong re-awakening in Tuscany of its gastronomic culture, the concept of 'slow food', and the interested support of local restaurateurs.

Moving easily from the Italian language into English, French or Japanese Gianluca has the wit, charm and a deep knowledge of his craft which makes his lessons informative and entertaining. The meal which follows becomes a great social experience.

• beautifully restored ancient farmhouse in commanding position with spectacular views across hills to the sea.

• set in four hectares of terraced olive groves, orchards and gardens within the woodlands of a national park.

• secluded 12m swimming pool in wild garden setting

• Lucca 9 km, seaside at Viareggio 12 km, Pisa (nearest airport) 26 km, and approximately an hour's drive from Florence and its airport.

• excellent shops and restaurants, 3 kms by car

• tennis and riding stables nearby

• cook and babysitter available on request

The House

The property retains all the features and traditional atmosphere of a three hundred year old Tuscan farmhouse which has been beautifully furnished in country house style in keeping with the original beams and old brick floors. There are four double bedrooms with their own bathrooms and the soft furnishings, bedlinen, etc are of very good quality.

The living rooms are very cosy with log-burning open fireplaces. There is a fine dining terrace at first floor level with an incredible view across pine woods to the sea. It faces southwest so you can watch the spectacular sunsets.

The kitchen is equipped for serious cooks, there is heating in all rooms, and washing machine, telephone and baby beds are available for guests.

The twelve metre pool is open from early April until the end of September. There is a fruit orchard and vegetable garden.