Tuscany cooking class - In Italy, cooking is the art that is available to everyone. No matter what your budget, meals and eating are for celebration and nourishment, in the treust sense of the world. This is no more apparent anywhere than in the way this extraordinary chef will prepare and serve your sumptuos feast. You may also include a short lesson prior to your meal, or concentrate instead on lesson only.... eating what you prepare, of course!

If you are sojourning in Tuscany anywhere from Florence to Maremma to Montepulciano, let Giuseppina Pizzolato create an extraordinary five-course meal in your home, or conduct a private lesson, at her place or yours. Look for annual guest appearances in U.S. during March.

LIKE ANY ITALIAN, SHE TAKES HER TUSCANY COOKING PERSONALLY.

Giuseppina never attended any tuscany cooking school - although she could open one if she wished! She learned cook from her Sicilian mother and aunt, and refined her culinary skills working in restaurants throughout Tuscany. Eventually, she had to acknowledge her own exceptional capabilities, and began to expand her repertoire to include an extensive array of regional cuisines.

Today, she runs a highly successful catering business near Certaldo in Val d'Elsa just southeast of Florence as a personal chef-for-hire (she cooked for rock musician Beck while he was touring in Italy), and offers cooking lessons for groups large and small, catered dinners to travelers in the area (even an authentic medieval dinner for larger groups). 2007 is her sixth guest appearance in the U.S.

If you'll be travelling to Italy, visit the Falisca II in Chianti Val d'Elsa, just outside Certaldo for a private lesson, dinner or a tasting of their own estate-bottled wine.

Does truffle hunting interest you? If it's the season, Dolly, the Pizzolato's terrior extraordinaire, will be delighted to have you along. You can even assist in the wine or olive harvest, if the timing is right...