Tuscany cooking school

The Villa San Michele School of Cookery is located in Villa San Michele (Via Doccia, 4-50014 Fiesole, Florence, Italy; phone +39 055 567 8200, fax 567 8250), an Orient-Express luxury boutique hotel in a former monastery overlooking Florence.

The school’s half-day cooking classes, “Morning with the Chef,” are offered to villa guests Mon., Thurs. & Sat., April through Oct. (except Aug.). The basic course costs $200 per person or, with six to ten people, $180 each.

Additional 2½-hour theme-based courses, tailored to those who have completed the basic course, cost $200-$300 and include “Seasonal and Vegetarian” (April-May), “Tuscan Fish” (June-July), “Discover Mushrooms” (Sept.) and “Truffle Secrets” (Oct.). 

For children ages 6 to 14, 2½-hour classes are held on request Tues., Wed. & Fri., June through Aug., at $150 each. (Minimum, four children. Adult must be with child under 8.) 

Varying with the seasons, in July 2014 the room rates at Villa San Michele ran €707-€2,296 (near $965-$3,132) per night for one or two adults. Hotel is closed Nov. through Feb.