Casa Ombuto Tuscookany cooking school in Tuscany

My husband is passionate about food and suggested we go on a cooking holiday at Casa Ombuto in Tuscany. I am not the cook in the family but I love eating food, talking about food and theorizing about the science of cooking. I was not convinced that this would be a “holiday” for me but it turned out to be a life changing experience. The chef was so knowledgeable and encouraging and it was a totally empowering experience. Not only did I discover that I can cook, but I loved doing it and gained enormous confidence in my potential to create delicious food for my family and friends. Casa Ombuto is a little piece of paradise in Italy: the setting, the gardens, the attention to detail. On our breaks from the kitchen or eating, we went on lovely walks or relaxed around the pool which made it a perfect holiday – thank you to all the Casa Ombuto staff!

The best decision I ever made was to spend a week at Tuscookany and Casa Ombuto. It exceeded my expectations in every way from environment, staff, chefs, food, wine...... I felt so well taken care of and learned so much from the best chef, Paola! I will be back for more in the future, no question about it. Ciao, Grazie!!

One of my favourite holidays ever!The Casa Ombuto house, amenities and surrounds were beautiful and the rooms were gorgeous, and comfortable. And that’s before we even started cooking! Paola was our chef and I have nothing but praise for her, for the tips, the tricks, the true belief in sustainable and local use of food. She really has a great attitude towards fun and food. She’s a gem, and she ensures you keep busy the whole time.Alec and Lena deserve a mention too for their delightful management of the locations, their warm and fun tales that kept us amused at the evening dinners. The rest of the team who kept up with the whims of all the guest requests, organised our breakfasts, tidied our rooms whilst we were in a culinary whirlwind with Paola, were all wonderful too. Nothing but praise for the team at Casa Ombuto

Exceptional, fantastic, and a one of a kind experience. I was excited for this trip and thought it would be nice but I had no idea it would exceed anything I could have imagined.The property is beautiful and the villa's are wonderful. Sheena and staff are friendly, efficient and will accommodate in any way possible. And then... there is Chef Paula. Vibrant and passionate about food, people and all things Tuscan.I would highly recommend this experience and I look forward to my next Tuscookany adventure.

Perfect location, villa, kitchen, chef and companions! Villa is a real gem - carefully restored and decorated in rustic style - which I love the most! Cooking class was fun thanks to Paola who is a real Tuscan chef and knows how to teach. We did a hard work but at the end we were rewarded with a great dinner and satisfaction that we have learned something new and we will enjoy the same tasteful food back at home... I have to mention also good selection of wine! Definately place to be if you want to feel the Tuscan spirit and taste some good food in Italy....

I did not want to leave Casa Ombuto!I have dreamt for years to go to an cooking school in Tuscany and really did a lot of research planning this trip.Casa Ombuto exceeded all my expectations and more.I did of course expect to learn Tuscan dishes, but did not realize it would be such fun and that I would be going home having made great new friends.The accommodation is amazing and the staff make you feel totally at home and I had great difficulty leaving.

The Casa Ombuto cooking school and Chef Laura are simply amazing! I cannot say enough good things about Casa Ombuto in Tuscany — I have such wonderful memories, warm and wonderful people, beautiful Tuscan surroundings and fabulous food.....that we were able to cook ourselves with Chef Laura's excellent instruction. This trip was a birthday present to myself..... This trip would be perfect for singles or couples....and if you are a foodie like I am and likes a glass of wine, it is truly Heaven!

A Passionate Cooking Experience in TuscanyAhhh. Yummmm. Cooking in Tuscany – with Paola- a little slice of heaven!!! Just returned from Tuscany and cooking school at Casa Ombuto. Casa Ombuto is a romantic version of a Tuscan Villa in an idyllic setting in the hills near Poppi. The scenery and the ambience are second to none. Our gracious host Alex made sure that every need was met from the time we arrived until the time we left.I wanted to immediately turn around and go back again. Paola is the most passionate human you could ever imagine. Her enthusiasm for life and food is unsurpassed. Her laugh and energy are contagious. She is a person filled with love for cooking and people! Her knowledge and fun filled method of teaching allowed us to make and eat dishes that looked and tasted nothing less than sensational. She makes a kitchen and utensils look and feel exciting. We had a phenomenal time with her at Casa Ombuto and we will go back next year with ten more people. It was an experience and a holiday in Tuscany that will be one of the most memorable of our lives.Stayed September 2015

From the moment you arrive at Casa Ombuto, you get the feeling that the entire staff is truly happy to be your host. The service, facility and grounds are top-rate. Chef Paola Baccetti sets the tone for a week of fun, learning and adventure in the kitchen, where she elevates the cooking game in all her students. At the dinner table, you will spend hours learning about the Tuscan Way from this knowledgeable local fixture who has spent her life in the region. And thanks to Paola's great kitchen support team, this is a cooking adventure complete with everything except the clean-up duties.There was one organized day trip to a winery, followed by lunch at an olive farm, a visit to another farm that makes goat cheese and then an old textile factory. Other days, you will have free time for local exploring or just relaxing, with cooking lessons starting at 3PM.We had a fantastic week and found the other guests (there were 9 others) to be great company.If you want to dive into authentic Tuscan cuisine, this is the place to do it