Cooking Lessons In Tuscany

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">One of the most fabulous things to do when traveling in Italy, is to learn how to prepare and cook the amazing local food.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_APLAq-w-50rE_vdj7ql3icEIEfdYyJBqp8WIalLpEzqwJpSmvgHqDkzJJl-4wcxIlgJs8k1HEzE3BJh_xcPbEMyycqacLc7glaanCXyDC3HyuB_EBZSdYMt6NXuLX62edS_1mt8oL0/s1600/marcello+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_APLAq-w-50rE_vdj7ql3icEIEfdYyJBqp8WIalLpEzqwJpSmvgHqDkzJJl-4wcxIlgJs8k1HEzE3BJh_xcPbEMyycqacLc7glaanCXyDC3HyuB_EBZSdYMt6NXuLX62edS_1mt8oL0/s1600/marcello+4.jpg" title="cooking-lessons-in-Tuscany-with-Marcello-at-Podere-Cunina-02" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It is so much fun to get off the beaten track, away from the touristy T shirt shops, and go somewhere really beautiful, like a private villa, a winery or a farmhouse, and have a lesson with a local chef.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxXWdwT2AyO27QtyQfWuB3TtGHqQWBCh0FV09fxSC4zNgGhyphenhyphenXTAqNxMSJuKTqKZQyZABsgMHTP6yiJKITKU59xE0Xx-4TC5IeUhjkpFVwk073f4Bag9Skd1TVynIUMXue0OFJFAxLK6Y/s1600/marcello+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmxXWdwT2AyO27QtyQfWuB3TtGHqQWBCh0FV09fxSC4zNgGhyphenhyphenXTAqNxMSJuKTqKZQyZABsgMHTP6yiJKITKU59xE0Xx-4TC5IeUhjkpFVwk073f4Bag9Skd1TVynIUMXue0OFJFAxLK6Y/s1600/marcello+3.jpg" title="cooking-lessons-in-Tuscany-with-Marcello-at-Podere-Cunina-08" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marcello makin fresh pasta at Podere Cunina in Tuscany</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"> Typically you will learn magical recipes that have been in the chef's family quite literally for hundreds of years, passed down through the generations.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtl7IK8blaafrWJaMDU-Mzt-etNOWyowBnK5GAsJQrkomrlUjOVD_qS-0A3evbYPR1zlFOWtJVgk-lK6N7eXGZY2h4u3vrs5NQgtKbQuoIhv-XivJ-jwHNpe6ayaD9vFlglaNTwpeLFQ/s1600/marcello+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtl7IK8blaafrWJaMDU-Mzt-etNOWyowBnK5GAsJQrkomrlUjOVD_qS-0A3evbYPR1zlFOWtJVgk-lK6N7eXGZY2h4u3vrs5NQgtKbQuoIhv-XivJ-jwHNpe6ayaD9vFlglaNTwpeLFQ/s1600/marcello+5.jpg" title="cooking-lessons-in-Tuscany-with-Marcello-at-Podere-Cunina-03" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;">My very dear friend Silvana Freddi and her husband Piergiorgio own a beautiful Agriturismo in Tuscany, outside of Siena, not far from Montalcino.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlANGTUE92YzIWy5dYfgdFm25zVquL1cZvkdVm4rUVRBeXish5Witn7fQq2dMuZcwDIB8s_Q8iyqDMW3CXqeLYAks-vbw4dYcQqLE0ugnGd45lYQAV_CTflMv9qrLzmGdvTBp4HdBq3Ic/s1600/cunina+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlANGTUE92YzIWy5dYfgdFm25zVquL1cZvkdVm4rUVRBeXish5Witn7fQq2dMuZcwDIB8s_Q8iyqDMW3CXqeLYAks-vbw4dYcQqLE0ugnGd45lYQAV_CTflMv9qrLzmGdvTBp4HdBq3Ic/s1600/cunina+13.jpg" title="Podere-Cunina-Tuscany" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Podere Cunina perched on it's mountain in Tuscany</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">I have written about it before - the lovely <a href="http://corinnabsworld.blogspot.com/2013/03/where-to-stay-under-tuscan-sun.html"><span style="color: blue;">Podere Cunina</span></a>, perched on a mountain, with views that would make you weep.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">An Agriturismo is a boutique farm (agricultural  - not an animal farm) with apartments or houses for tourists to rent and live in for their vacation. See my post from last year, <a href="http://corinnabsworld.blogspot.com/2013/03/where-to-stay-under-tuscan-sun.html"><i><span style="color: blue;">Where To Stay Under</span> <span style="color: blue;">The Tuscan Sun</span></i></a> to look at pictures and read about lovely Cunina.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">After first reading <i><a href="http://www.francesmayesbooks.com/under-the-tuscan-sun/"><span style="color: blue;">Frances Mayes "Under The Tuscan Sun</span></a>"</i> back in the late 90's I became obsessed with Frances' recipes and the idea of spending a day cooking in Tuscany.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Fast forward a few years and I wound up renting an apartment in Tuscany from Silvana every summer, and building one of those wonderful friendships that will last forever.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Silvana's son Marcello is a master chef who was running a boutique restaurant on Lake Garda, but has since moved to Podere Cunina to work in the family business and teach Tuscan cooking lessons to tourists, both those staying at Cunina and also those who just want to spend a day cooking and eating and drinking the glorious local wine.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlWJ35XKoc06Gxx2qGjR0cFWGBlT53CCHixhLpUjbSE8gi9kZ_wQ22KasyFSlrzzFcx1qO31BJdwpXb5ewrZIRqje_SjFS-YrB-8DxmmR5ePtJlHFl2lVglESr8-XXsGqQ4HWkOq4YoU/s1600/marcello+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinlWJ35XKoc06Gxx2qGjR0cFWGBlT53CCHixhLpUjbSE8gi9kZ_wQ22KasyFSlrzzFcx1qO31BJdwpXb5ewrZIRqje_SjFS-YrB-8DxmmR5ePtJlHFl2lVglESr8-XXsGqQ4HWkOq4YoU/s1600/marcello+1.jpg" title="cooking-lessons-in-Tuscany-with-Marcello-at-Podere-Cunina-01" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous group of Russian tourists spending the day cooking, eating and drinking wine with Marcello at Podere Cunina in Tuscany</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">People from all around the world come to stay at Cunina and to learn to cook with Marcello. His recipes are divine, and he is fun, charming and engaging.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Everyone wants to come back and cook with him again!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZVR4LFqN7tHvpiGkQR7HnlYyMjPHwwXxH4L6HAFQ0rw4GMoZYae5SVFKrBU8_AfyUxWVjUV9HSb32AniWUqhvRkoRp__Kach6H29TI6WoTEH2ctnD-xrXkwqS8InQb4yVme9yCIxMSM/s1600/marcello+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZVR4LFqN7tHvpiGkQR7HnlYyMjPHwwXxH4L6HAFQ0rw4GMoZYae5SVFKrBU8_AfyUxWVjUV9HSb32AniWUqhvRkoRp__Kach6H29TI6WoTEH2ctnD-xrXkwqS8InQb4yVme9yCIxMSM/s1600/marcello+11.jpg" title="cooking-lessons-in-Tuscany-with-Marcello-at-Podere-Cunina-05" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">making homemade pasta with Marcello at Podere Cunina in Tuscany</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">If you have never rolled out fresh, homemade pasta before, it is an experience you won't forget anytime soon. And no pasta tastes like homemade pasta!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N8nOCgKcCrkDk_k-NE2UwU2sDu-rmtWwvxjjWOdjytYLqTthgJB7ZylE0Ad78uSpefZwbFtHKpP2wBxYWV68W4y-yioTVPgq9B-7Whick0R3NgSXr-fxgc5-eYtLHyx7dhGW2Vrbr2o/s1600/marcello+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0N8nOCgKcCrkDk_k-NE2UwU2sDu-rmtWwvxjjWOdjytYLqTthgJB7ZylE0Ad78uSpefZwbFtHKpP2wBxYWV68W4y-yioTVPgq9B-7Whick0R3NgSXr-fxgc5-eYtLHyx7dhGW2Vrbr2o/s1600/marcello+10.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSq1cPiTh6S8qPFBIK3uBCy-j1Rc9npRO4p0r4dyAg3XDWil6nLeblIfV5mX-rpQY-p5hQceEl6lzNRgomG2CKDTiuEaAt5ikLzuFrxmRC5pAO6XrfqhQoIK7aixfcKvyVWL2bAVIKKo/s1600/marcello+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSq1cPiTh6S8qPFBIK3uBCy-j1Rc9npRO4p0r4dyAg3XDWil6nLeblIfV5mX-rpQY-p5hQceEl6lzNRgomG2CKDTiuEaAt5ikLzuFrxmRC5pAO6XrfqhQoIK7aixfcKvyVWL2bAVIKKo/s1600/marcello+7.jpg" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">There is much more to Tuscan cooking than just pasta. (although the pasta is spectacular!) There are so many wonderful dishes to experience, so many fantastic recipes to bring home and wow your friends and family with.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Marcello wanted to improve his cooking English and his tourist English, so last December he came out to Phoenix to live with us for a couple of months.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We cooked together every day, and Marcello even filled our freezer with homemade pasta meal</span><span style="font-size: large;">s and gnocchi before he left.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So I can personally vouch for his amazing cooking!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">You can find out about staying at <a href="http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/podere-cunina.html?gclid=COqa6af98L4CFcRffgodxBkAGw"><span style="color: blue;">Podere Cunina</span></a>, or just booking cooking lessons with Marcello by clicking <a href="http://www.tuscanyaccommodation.com/podere-cunina.html?gclid=COqa6af98L4CFcRffgodxBkAGw"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><i>If you are having a lesson with Marcello and are completely wowed with his cooking English have him do a little Kid Rock for you. We not only taught him how to use words like "whisk" and "sprinkle" and "bring it to a boil", but we also taught him to rap his way through "Cowboy" - after all you never know when it might come in handy :)</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>

Cooking Lessons In Tuscany

One of the most fabulous things to do when traveling in Italy, is to learn how to prepare and cook the amazing local food. It is so much fun...

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Learn Italian Hand Gestures With The Dolce And Gabbana Male Models....

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-size: large;">I probably don't allude to it too much on this blog ( or maybe I do?), but for more than 20 years now I have had a crazy love affair with all things Italian.</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe1CXN2fBIZ0FhyphenhyphenEn5PWqpMNlVUuvXzW5OtRdFB3tZsL8JePKjZzEhmkyOqWAHBj_-TgG-ei_VX25ZsCyeXvsFEuqfj3QdsVCNEy3sqabg8DarLnz13ige8A3qRMut8k8UP418-zJpRA/s1600/IMG_6846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibe1CXN2fBIZ0FhyphenhyphenEn5PWqpMNlVUuvXzW5OtRdFB3tZsL8JePKjZzEhmkyOqWAHBj_-TgG-ei_VX25ZsCyeXvsFEuqfj3QdsVCNEy3sqabg8DarLnz13ige8A3qRMut8k8UP418-zJpRA/s1600/IMG_6846.JPG" title="learn-italian-cooking-at-podere-cunina" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-size: large;">Italy is my favorite place in the world to travel to, and I try to spend a month there each year. I adore the language, the culture, the history, the art, the food, the people (especially the men people) - basically everything.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">This past holiday season we even had an Italian chef living with us for a couple of months, improving his "cooking english".</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Marcello teaches Tuscan cooking to tourists at the beautiful<span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.agriturismopoderecunina.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Podere Cunina</span></a> </span>near Siena. Night after night he made homemade pasta and all kinds of fabulous traditional dishes, while I helped him put the language into colloquial form.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">It was magnificent.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Apart from the fact that I no longer fit <i>any</i> of my clothes...</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I also had Marcello teaching me all the bad things my Italian tutor won't teach me. The badder the better. But the only people I can use them on are my tutor and my Italian ex's, all of whom are delightfully horrified.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">So I was endlessly entertained when my dear friend Nashville makeup artist <a href="http://www.lisajohnsonmua.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Lisa Johnson</span></a> sent me these links!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">If you ever get to go live your own<a href="http://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/eat-pray-love/"><span style="color: blue;"> Eat Pray Love</span></a> in fabulous Italy, let the Dolce and Gabbana Male models be your guide to</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Italian Hand Gestures</i></span></div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Hxu50kiDVGc" width="560"></iframe></i></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><br /></i></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out the gifs <a href="http://www.swide.com/art-culture/learn-italian-hand-gestures-with-dolce-and-gabbana-male-models-gifs/2014/01/22"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>. And then tell me just how hot Noah Mills is??</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><i><span style="font-size: large;">and here's a little bts at the Dolce Gabbana mens F/w 15 show</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4uuEBqfgNGY" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">oh - and by the way ladies, you're welcome!</span></div><br /></div>

Learn Italian Hand Gestures With The Dolce And Gabbana Male Models....

I probably don't allude to it too much on this blog ( or maybe I do?), but for more than 20 years now I have had a crazy love affair wit...

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