Guide to Cooking School Vacations in Italy

We haven't done it yet, but are already drooling in anticipation of following the recommendation of a close family member who recently returned from a cooking vacation in Italy. She said she loved every minute of the experience, but was a bit bothered because all the other students were women (and one man) in their 60s and 70s. That fact alone gave us, her elderly relatives, even more encouragement to sign up for a session in late winter or early spring of next year.

She recommended Casa Ombuto, a former Italian noble family's villa in Tuscany. Now in its 12th year as a cooking school, It is in the picturesque mountain region south of Florence. In addition to the culinary schedules throughout the one- or two-week courses, students are offered visits to local cultural sites, as well to as the magnificently historic city where Michelangelo's Florentine art and sculpture flourished.

There were also boat trips to the beautiful islands of Capri and Sorrento, where strolling among the outdoor cafes and sampling local dishes were part of the adventure in Italian cooking. The entire theme is for the visiting student to become completely immersed in the cooking history and skills of the area. Although the courses are taught in Italian, translators are in each class to help those who speak only English, French, Spanish and other languages.

However, when my family member returned, she said that by the second or third day, she was speaking passable Italian, although she had never spoken it before. She also commented on the part of the course that taught how to cook tasty, filling traditional Italian dishes while keeping them healthy and low calorie. She also was greatly impressed by the freshness of the ingredients, most of it raised in nearby Italian farms and vineyards.

If our plans to attend an Italian cooking school next year are fulfilled, maybe we'll write our own experience commentary on these pages. And, if you have a couple of hours or so, we'll be glad to show you all the photos and video we intend to shoot there.