La Cucina al Focolare is Italian
for Cooking by the Fireside. What would Tuscan cooking be without a fireplace?
Something else indeed, for Tuscan cuisine was born over a fire, transforming
the most basic of elements into things delicious and hearty.
At La Cucina al Focolare we immerse you in the antiquity and beauty of this rich region, striving to help you experience not just the cuisine, but also the land and people who keep the traditions today. For one week we infuse you with everything that is Tuscan. Crusty unsalted bread. Extra-virgin olive oil, from the most treasured hills in the region. Deeply satisfying Chianti, some from well-known estates and some from the farmer's cantina. Either way, you can't go wrong.
You'll stay in the countryside, in a lovely 15th century villa surrounded by rolling hills and overlooking the Arno Valley. You'll have your own bedroom, if not your own apartment, with a balcony looking out over the vineyards. You'll be hosted by a wonderful, caring group of professionals who are passionate and eager to give you their best: Our chef, who carefully plans lessons that will give you a plethora of information based on traditional recipes, with hands-on instruction and highly entertaining stories; Our serious sommelier, who will attune you to the subtleties of taste; Our Australian translator, with her infectious smile, Our program director, who has a sixth sense for what you need and merrily guides from one glorious activity to the next.
La Cucina al Focolare is about cooking, but also about having fun and getting to know the locals: Sandro, the baker who lives in the village, the winemakers and cheesemakers, and the farmers who make their own prosciutto. They embody what we all crave to know. Why? Because theirs is a way of life, a lifestyle we adopt for the duration, learning how and where to buy the best ingredients, how to prepare, how to relax. We have time for visiting hill towns, prestigious piazzas, museums, and for taking walks through the countryside or riding horses through olive groves.
We cook. We wine and dine, pleasurably, every day.
Good Food. Good Wine.
Good friends. And great recipes to take home.
It puts a smile on your face.
Taste the Renaissance. It's not too late.
To request a brochure or other information on La Cucina al Focolare
fill out the form below.
La Cucina al Focolare
PO Box 646
Boulder CO 80306 U.S.A.
Fattoria Degli Usignoli
San Donato in Fronzano
50060 Reggello (Fi), Italy
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