My cooking classes take place in a spacious cooking studio next to my family’s historic home, located in the countryside outside Montalcino, with marvelous views over the Tuscan hills and surrounding Brunello vineyards. Our home can be easily reached from Montalcino’s town center (2 minutes by car or 10 minutes by foot)

The Italian kitchen is work and meeting place in one. Conversations around the kitchen table may start with neighborhood gossip and move to politics, but they eventually all come back to the one argument dearest to every Italian … food.

My recipes have been passed on in the homes of friends and relatives or picked up during a chat at the food market or with the local butcher; some are foolproof, others are small gourmet adventures and most of them – think pizza or pasta making – are also fun to try out with kids.

Based in the Val d’Orcia, my cooking classes are Tuscan at heart, but anything from pizza to risotto can be included for a trip through Italy’s culinary ABC.

Lessons are held in English or Italian and followed by lunch (or dinner) on the kitchen terrace.