Scuola di Cucina di Lella di Lella Cesari Ciampoli snc

We had a great experience with Lella and her team. Lella and Francesco are knowledgeable and great teachers; they’re also good company. We especially appreciated that they adapted for novice and experienced students in the same class. And of course, the food was delicious!

I have enjoyed cooking classes in several countries and this class was the best ever. Francesco did a great job of walking us through the steps for preparation of a complete Italian meal that topped any restaurant I have ever eaten in. I can’t wait to get home and do it again. I even considered going back for a second class but time did not permit. I wish for a cookbook that captures the flavors and techniques I learned in three hours. After the preparation we ate dinner with a glass of fine Tuscan wine and conversation.

Visited Lella as party of 4 for evening class.I may be spoiled by my previous experiences, I was expecting a hands-on cooking class. Instead this was more like TV cooking show where cooking is done by the host while guests observe. Assistant chef Francesco was at first helpful but perhaps the day had been long as towards the end he was more interested in his phone, answering calls and spending time in Facebook (?) while Lella was doing the cooking. Guests were left to chat with themselves and wonder what's going on.In the end we spent 4 hours there, left tired and unhappy having had a very expensive (100e per person) just okay -meal. Considered 1 star rating but to be fair, there were some tricks I learned.

Would highly recommend taking a cooking class here! This was hands down the best meal we had during our week long travels in Italy. Lella accommodated us with a new time (there was a double book due to a previous cooking class she had booked prior to but instead of cancelling, she offered to reschedule at a slightly later time), so it was just the two of us and her assistant. The two of them were hospitable and taught us lots, while making the class fun and approachable. They were especially patient when we were learning to roll the pici noodles! We had a four course meal complete with wine, and each course was better than the one before it. You won't regret booking!

LOVED this. Mom and I took the Rustic class it was delicious and easy. (*I haven't replicated these recipes at home yet, I fear they won't be as easy or fresh lol. But soon!) Lella was great, kind and patient and obviously loves cooking, feeding, and sharing. Julia and Francseco were both great help too! Delicious multi course meal, the experience and training, recipes to take home....how can you say no to that?

La meraviglia. Lella, insieme alla sua Giuly, sono persone veramente stupende. Bravissime in tutto, sia nel modo di spiegare, sia nelle preparazioni dei piatti e sia nell'organizzazione. Niente da dire, veramente meraviglioso e si merita tutto!!

Lella's Scuola di cucina was an absolute delight! My wife and I try to take a cooking class in every country we visit and this was by far the best we have ever attended. The total time is four and a half hours to cook and eat a four course meal accompanied by local Tuscan wine. We made Pappa col pomodoro, a traditional peasant soup that is now the food of the rich; homemade pici pasta with eggplant and tomato sauce; meat and vegetable skewers with zucchini souffle; and a lovely peach tart to finish things off. It is a small group class, ours had only eight, and you take turns helping with all the different components while everyone helps with the hand rolled pasta. Cannot say enough about how wonderful Lella and her translator Julie are in teaching and sharing the customs and history of Tuscan food. Will definitely go again the next time we are in Siena. Grazie mille!!!

We came to Tuscany wanting to do a cooking class with a local nonna. However, we were recommended this place by our tour operator in the amalfi coast (she said it was highly recommended). So we booked and counted down the days.We came into the cooking class on the day. Note - it’s a little hard to find as it’s off the Main Street (you need to go up some stairs into a small courtyard which had the entrance.Once there, we were pleasantly surprised there we were the only ones at the class the others were a last minute cancellation - so we had a personal cooking class ;) though we were a little disappointed that Leila did not teach the class - we wanted to meet the legend herself! Francesco though was great even if Leila was not there.So we made Tuscan tomato soup (pappa col pomo doro di Lella), pasta with pecorino and pepper(pico cacio e Pepe), tagliata di chianina con scalp, and Ricciarelli cookies. Plus we got to enjoy it with a delicious glass of red.It was one of the best dishes we had all Italy trip - and with our small group we were able to ask lots of questions, get into pleasant conversation on some famous previous students at the school (hint: cooks for POTUS bush and Clinton plus late Princess Diana’s personal chef!If you do one class, do this one! We were so busy cooking and eating we forgot to take photos!

Absolutely lovely experience with Lella! We had an Italian cooking class and she was amazing!! We loved every moment and, wow, the food! An absolute highlight of our trip to Italy! I highly highly recommend taking a cooking class with Lella while in Siena!

This will be one of the best experiences of my Siena trip. I highly recommend a class here, you get to eat it all! We were all surprised at how delicious all the food was. Lella and her assistant were so wonderful and hope to in the future take another class. We were able to take dessert home. We brought a bottle of wine to split with class, a very wide choice. Feel free to take notes. I look forward to cooking Italian when we return home. Quite a feast, come hungry!