The Taste-Italia cookery schools were started in 2002 by Leo and Maureen Smith.
Originally in six beautiful, historic locations in Tuscany and Le Marche, and now with a successful UK year around school here in South East Essex.
Italian schools
Courses are designed to suit different budgets, from Michelangelo’s masterpiece the legendary Villa San Michele in Fiesole to a simple agriturismo in the spectacular Riviera del Conero. We list four historic palazzi as cookery venues, with one Princess and three Contessas as hosts.
Prices include hands-on tuition, accommodation, breakfast and dinner. They do not include flights or car hire.
Taste-Italia Essex
The award winning organic cookery school
Taste-Italia was awarded the Spirit of Enterprise award for 2005 and has won regional awards each year since then. Currently holders of the environmental Award for Essex for 2011 It has received extensive press coverage by the national press, selected in the top 5 Italian cookery schools by the Sunday Times and has been featured on ITV’s Tasting the Nation BBC 2 and Channel 4.
A Taste-Italia Cookery Day
Ask anyone who has been on Taste-Italia course and they will tell you it is a special experience.
Our classes are friendly and informal, the six acre country garden location Induces a feeling of calm and tranquility.
As you step through the door of the school, the delicate aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the smell of warm biscotti straight from the oven sets the scene.
The Taste-Italia team are renowned for the warmth of their reception.
Many of our clients liken it to be a guest in someone’s home.
What To Expect
Classes start at 9:30am prompt, after refreshments and introductions To your fellow students, There is a five minute introduction usually By our school director Leo Smith on the background and ethos of Taste-Italia now in its eight year.
Our cook instructor for the day will introduce you to the dishes you will prepare and cook during the day, everyone is supplied with the days recipes and ingredients together with kitchen apron to use for the day.
Our Organic Kitchen Garden
Taste-Italia is one of a handful of schools who have their own organic Gardens.
This ensures a year around supply of seasonal vegetables and the freshness that is the foundation of all Italian food.
Part of your days activities will be a visit to the garden to collect the herbs and vegetables you will be using that day
Hands On Classes
All classes are hands on, is you create the dish from prep to cookery it’s the only way to learn.
The day’s dishes are allocated and divided between the class, and with guidance from your cook you will prep and produce the dishes.
A typical days menu would constitute 8-9 dishes from Anti-pasti, primos, secondo and Dolci all are based on traditional Italian home recipes, even though each course has a different theme, there is framework which ensures that you are learning core skills such as:
Artisan bread making – Pizza doughs Live yeast bakery Focaccia, Ciabatte. Grissini breads & pizza cooked in our wood burning oven.
Fresh pasta making inc Tagliatelle Papparadella, Lasagne and filled Pastas Ravioli Canelloni etc.
Stocks and Sauces – fresh simple vegetable and chicken stocks, made from scratch With inexpensive ingredients, and not a stock cube in sight.
Main courses Grilled – roasted, fried Fish or Meat dishes all from local Essex producers.
Dolci & Gelato – seasonal cakes tarts fresh fruits, semi freddos and hand made ice cream.
