We made our way from Florence to Toscana Mia via a private driver booked for us through Ciao Tours who also booked the cooking class for us. It took about an hour to get there driving through the lovely Chianti hills. When we arrived at the farm house named Podere Le Rose we were greet by sisters Simonetta and Paola. Simonetta taught the class. We made gnocchi which I have since made at home with great success and I have passed the recipe to a friend who had success as well which speaks volumes for the lay out of the recipe and the fact that the techniques and measures translate to North American kitchens. We also made beans in a "fiasco", a beaker that the beans are cooked in - this was a first for me and I have been to many cooking classes as well as professional cooking school. I learned so much in 4 hours in a wonderful, comfortable setting. Simonetta is very knowledgeable and presents the lesson in concise and easy to understand terms. We made bruschetta, pesto for our gnocchi, Scaloppine all' Aceto Balsamica (balsamic vinegar) and panna cotta. All were fabulous. We set the table and the entire family joined us for lunch. We were having such a nice time we stayed longer than we were supposed to and had to tear ourselves away. Paola offered us many tips and information during our meal on food, wine and shopping - invaluable! I will go again next time I am in Itlay and will stay for a few days rather than 1/2 a day.

Paola, Simonetta and their entire family were extraordinarily welcoming. I stayed at their house and participated in a 3-day cooking extravaganza making things from crostini to fresh home made pasta, to decadent desserts. Paola and Simonetta are professional in their approach to educational cooking, while their vibrant personalities shine through, making this cooking school both educational and fun! While I was there, I observed how they handled all different types of groups - large, small, talkative, quiet, groups with children - and they did a phenomenal job at working with all of the groups to make the class enjoyable. They were also able to accommodate dietary needs within reason, so that everyone could savor the meals. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to learn tuscan home cooking from the best.

Sisters Simonetta and Paola de'Mari and their father, the retired General, welcomed our group of six into their beautiful historic home in the Tuscan countryside for a four-hour class in Tuscan cooking and hospitality. The instruction was great, the recipes were perfectly customized to our tastes -- and delicious! -- and the family was absolutely gracious. We learned, we cooked, we ate heartily and we had a fabulous time. What a wonderful experience, one well worth recommending to others -- and repeating.

I had the pleasure of spending 5 days with the de'Mari family in their restored farm house from July 12-17, 2009. Simonetta taught the cooking and Paola taught Italian. The whole experience was delightful and exceeded my expectations. I've been cooking like a madman since I got back and my friends and family are thrilled, even with my mistakes! Not only did I learn some delicious recipes and a little Italian, but it was fascinating to observe Italian family life. I'd love to go back sometime!! - Tom, St. Petersburg, Florida