Paola and Simonetta and their family welcomed us as long lost relatives. My family of four included two kids (16 and 12) and they had a great time. This is perfect for teens. Getting away from the regular tourist sites of Italy was so refreshing. We got to see the countryside, visit with a family, prepared and ate a meal,... more

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.... more

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... more

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,... more

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... more

The class was relaxed, fun and informative just like the gracious sister’s who teach it; Paola and Simonetta. My daughter and I had a fantastic time. The food was amazing and our “class mates” from Colorado, Ireland and Cape Town – were just so fun and sweet. We were sad to leave but look forward to coming back to this... more

The view from Simonetta and Paola's kitchen window certainly set the mood when it came down to this cooking experience. I'll say experience rather than cooking class, because it was such a wonderful opportunity to learn more about Italian cooking and living first hand. Instead of simply running through recipes, we took the time to savor the fresh ingredients and... more

There were 10 of staying at a Villa in Tuscany. We took the cooking class on June 22nd, 2009. What an amazing experience. Paola and her family were delightful. It is a great way to experience the local culture. The house has so much history. I would highly remommend this cooking school to everyone who wants to really experience the... more

We did a one-day Toscana Mia cooking class as part of our honeymoon and had a great time. The house and kitchen are beautiful, and the food and wine were fantastic (of course, it's Tuscany!). Totally recommend for anyone traveling in or through Tuscany! more