Experience a culinary journey that goes beyond a simple cooking lesson: a true journey into the heart of Italian and Tuscan culinary tradition.
In her beautiful Tuscan farmhouse, lovingly restored and located along the famous Wine Road leading to Bolgheri, on the Etruscan Coast, Chicca Maione has been welcoming guests from all over the world for over twenty years. In her kitchen, she shares authentic recipes she grew up with, made with seasonal and local ingredients, fragrant with fresh herbs picked directly from her garden and seasoned with the extra virgin olive oil produced from the olive trees that adorn the property.
Chicca Maione considers cooking her most natural way of telling and transmitting Italian culture, and she is not just a cooking teacher, but a true food enthusiast with a fascinating story. Born in Naples and trained as an architect, she spent ten years traveling the world by bicycle, from Alaska to Zimbabwe, before choosing to settle among the vineyards of Tuscany. These are the stories she will share with you!
Her cooking lessons are hands-on, convivial, and relaxed, designed for those who truly want to learn, participating with their ‘hands in the dough’ at every stage of preparation. Rich in practical content, guests return home with new skills, plenty of useful tips, and authentic memories.
Each lesson is accompanied by a tour of the herb garden, vegetable garden, and olive grove, followed by lunch. An important detail: no one leaves hungry!
The Experiences
Tuscan Cooking Course: Gnocchi & Tiramisu
Perfect for families and beginners, this hands-on course demonstrates how easy it is to prepare homemade gnocchi. Using only flour and water, guests learn to make a soft, fresh dough and transform it into soft, delicate gnocchi served with a typical tomato sauce.
The course also includes the preparation of a homemade tiramisu, a tasting of local cheese, a salad, and pairing with a Bolgheri DOC wine.
Authentic Italian Fresh Pasta Course
Think making fresh pasta by hand is difficult? In this hands-on course, guests discover how easy it is to prepare pasta from just a few genuine ingredients: eggs and flour.
After kneading together, we use the ancient pasta machine of grandma to roll out the dough and create long handmade fettuccine. An engaging experience to be enjoyed in the home kitchen, filled with stories, smiles, and chatter.
The course also includes the preparation of a homemade dessert, a tasting of local cheese, a salad, and pairing with a Bolgheri DOC wine.
The Great Italian Classics: Complete Menu Cooking Course
In this experience, guests create a complete menu from appetizer to dessert, discovering the secrets of Italian home cooking.
We will prepare together an appetizer, fresh pasta and its sauce, classic Italian meatballs, and a homemade dessert, following authentic recipes. A true culinary journey through genuine flavors, conviviality, and tradition.
The course also includes a tasting of local cheese, a salad, and pairing with two Bolgheri DOC wines.
Bolgheri Exclusive: Cooking Course and Private Wine Tasting
A unique experience that combines cooking and wine in the heart of Tuscany. Guests participate in a practical cooking course dedicated to traditional Tuscan recipes, then sit down to enjoy the food prepared together.
Lunch is accompanied by a professional tasting of local wines, led by a winemaker or sommelier, featuring the great wines of Bolgheri. Two authentic experiences, cooking and wine, wrapped in one unforgettable moment.
The course also includes a tasting of local cheese, a salad, and pairing with three Bolgheri DOC wines.
Chicca can conduct the courses in French, English, and Italian.
*Prices are for groups of four people and may vary based on the number of participants and availability. All experiences can be customized according to guests’ needs.
Why did Cozly Stay choose Chicca?
- Unique Location: A 17th-century farmhouse surrounded by olive trees, just a short walk from the world’s most famous vineyards.
- Authenticity: Family recipes passed down through generations, without strict measurements but with plenty of heart and technique.
- International Hospitality: Lessons are conducted fluently in Italian, English, and French, welcoming enthusiasts from every corner of the globe.
You will not only learn to cook, but you will take home a piece of Tuscan soul.
