I had the great fortune to meet Francesca through some other friends. Francesca is Italian and has lived in Florence for more than 30 years. She has been a teacher of Italian language and art history, but for the past 10 years has enjoyed teaching her passion….cooking Italian style.
Francesca does these classes in the cozy and comfortable atmosphere of her own apartment! It is beautifully decorated and you feel right at home upon entering the large kitchen and dining area. Recently Francesca did a class for some friends who had rented a villa outside of Florence at their villa. It got such rave reviews that I was interested in seeing what Francesca had to offer. She invited me to sit in and photograph a class that she had recently, and boy oh boy, was it fun! And I might also add it was delicious!
Two wonderful American couples had booked Francesca for this cooking class and they were generous enough to let me observe and take some photos….and eat and drink! Yeah! What a wonderful job! In the morning, Francesca and the couples had visited the market at San Lorenzo for buying the freshest ingredients and for developing a menu based on their findings. Tonight’s menu and lesson consisted of Fried Zucchini Blossoms, stuffed with mozzarella and anchovy, melon wrapped with prosciutto and salami with fennel, handmade ravioli with ricotta and spinach, and handmade spaghetti alla chitarra. The pastas would be sauced with a homemade tomato sauce, and butter and sage. The second course consisted of veal wrapped prosciutto, and veal stuffed with parmesan, and sage. There were many bottles of wine enjoyed while cooking and during the meal!
Fresh strawberries with a splash of lemon juice and balsamic vinegar made the perfect dessert, and of course there was grappa and limoncello!
Taking cooking classes with Francesca is the perfect way to spend a day and break up your sightseeing in Florence. It is a true Italian experience and probably the most memorable experience and meal that you will have in Florence!
Visit Francesca’s website at www.cooking-in-florence.com to learn more about what she offers and the full experience or contact Francesca directly at dileonar@libero.it.