Florence Market & Cooking Class

What Is Included In The Florence Market & Cooking Class?

• Licensed, expert food guide
• A guided tour of the Sant’Ambrogio market, where you will purchase the fresh ingredients for your cooking class (included in the price)
• A 3-course cooking class in a beautiful, historic apartment located just a few hundred meters from Ponte Vecchio

Florence Market and Cooking Class Description

Choosing the best ingredients is THE secret of Italian cuisine, which is why this tour starts at the most traditional market: Sant’Ambrogio. Here, the Florentines prefer to buy their own locally produced food, but it’s also a very popular place for restaurant chefs to purchase their ingredients (if you go very early, you will be able to spot them).  

During our market visit, you will learn how to choose the best tomatoes, what the difference is between Tuscan bread and Italian bread, and how to buy the real EVO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). In essence, when you leave the market, you’ll be a little bit more Italian than when you went in!

On the way to your exclusive Florentine apartment, you will stop to admire the real Florence, off the beaten path, for example, the area where Michelangelo lived. We will stop in front of Santa Croce church, and Viola will tell you all about a crazy traditional football game. We will then be crossing to the other side of the Arno River by means of the infamous Ponte Vecchio, into the hip Oltrarno area.

The apartment is located in a Renaissance palace and is full of amazing history and art, which she will be happy to explain to you during your lesson. But first things first, a real Italian ‘moka’ caffè.

Then the real work will start, the cooking class, with the ingredients purchased at the market, you will create a delicious menu. An example includes:

• How to create a true Italian ‘aperitivo platter’ consisting of the best cold cuts & cheese. Learn what goes with what (and what not to include on an Italian platter!)
• Bruschetta with fresh tomatoes, Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Tuscan bread. 
• Tortelli alla Mugellana (Tortelli Mugellani is a traditional Italian dish from Tuscany. The tortelli are bigger than the classic ravioli. Originally, the tortelli were filled with chestnuts, a heavy meal for the workers, because they are filled with “just”: butter, Parmigiano Reggiano, parsley, nutmeg, salt, and pepper, while the dough is made from flour and eggs. 
• Great food needs to be paired with great wine, so while preparing the fresh pasta and its fillings, you will get to enjoy a nice glass of Tuscan red wine.
• As dessert, you will make cantuccini, which are hard almond biscuits. A traditional Tuscan biscotti that were even served at the Medici court. You will then eat these, accompanied by the traditional ‘vin santo’ dessert wine.

Italy Dream Vacation My family and I recently returned from a fabulous 2 week vacation in Italy navigated by the impressive team at Travel by Luxe! We visited Rome, Florence, Venice, Murano, Burano, Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi Coast (Positano, Amalfi, Ravella), Cinque Terre, Milan, Verona, and Lake Como! With this being our first trip to Europe, I was a bit anxious and overwhelmed by the unknown and thus had many questions and concerns. Marta worked tirelessly with patience and kindness to orchestrate planning of this “vacation of a lifetime” including hotels, transportation, tours and excursions. Every inquiry was met with a prompt response and unwavering patience. When one of our family members developed a medical concern one week prior to our departure, Marta was compassionate and reassuring in her support for our well being. I cannot tell you how comforting that was for me and my family. Upon arrival to Italy, Irene executed our itinerary with such incredible precision and devotion to detail. She remained one step ahead of me- checking in several times a day to see how things were going and keeping me apprised of what to expect next in terms of drivers/tour guides/train schedule, etc. Names and phone numbers of guides and drivers were always provided. Even when Irene was “out of the office” for the day, she often times checked in with me on her own time to assure my well being. There were never any surprises or mishaps! This speaks to their desire to truly deliver on their commitment to you, the client. It also shows how much they love what they do for others. The team at Luxe earned my trust from the get-go and NEVER let me down! Any concern or question that I had was always put to rest. This team went above and beyond simply planning our trip. The tours were exciting and fun despite the extremely grueling heat. They made history come alive! I would be happy to have any of them visit me in the United States! All transports were via Mercedes and the drivers were prompt, friendly, cautious and professional. A special shout out to Luigi who took us on an 8 hour tour of the Amalfi Coast. We met the same level of friendliness and professionalism from Captain Genarro and assistant Rosie who catered a fun, exciting and beautiful 6 hour boat excursion to Capri. I highly, highly recommend Travel by Luxe!! Whether planning one excursion or an entire trip, they will be there for you and make you feel like you are their only client! They often times ended a communication with “I remain at your total disposal”…. And they meant it! The attention given to seemingly small details makes all the difference.

Melanie R ★★★★★

Florence Market & Cooking Class Itinerary Details

This market tour and cooking class is a 5-hour experience, in which you will visit the market with your private guide and make your way to a private Florentine apartment in a Renaissance palazzo with your purchased ingredients.

Then you will have the chance to learn how to cook some amazing typical dishes. 

If you have special (dietary) wishes or you want to customize the menu, please reach out to us so we can quote accordingly.

Why Book The Florence Market & Cooking Class With Luxe?

• You will have a local, private, licensed guide who can teach you all there is to know about Tuscan food and wine.  
• You will be cooking in a private, Renaissance apartment a stone’s throw from Ponte Vecchio.
• This is a completely private tour for you and your party/family! This allows us to customize each tour to your own tastes and desires. 
• No rush during the day, which gives you the opportunity to learn in as much detail as you like. Your guide will have all the time to explain and answer any questions you have. 

This tour doesn’t run on Sundays, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.