About us

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 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.
Leo and Maureen Smith with Contessa Corsini		Villa San Michele (Firenze)

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

Maureen with Mario Pozzi - Our Tuscan cook

Taste-Italia was awarded the Spirit of Enterprise award for 2005 by the Essex Newspaper Group. 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 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 country garden location
Induces a feeling of calm and tranquility.
As you step through the door of the school you 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 fifth 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
Unless otherwise stated all classes are hands on, 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 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 the taste of southern Italy.

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.