Tuscany Course
Real Food experience in Tuscany
Saturday 23 October – Saturday 30 October 2010
Join us for an unforgettable journey to treat your senses in a beautiful 17th century villa in Tuscany, Italy. The Handmade Bakery are teaching an artisan bread making course at Villa Boccella as part of a wonderful week of culinary discoveries.
The week will include 3 half-day baking classes, an introduction to pasta making, olive harvesting and brining, the opportunity to visit a beautiful hill top village to celebrate their annual Chestnut Festival and (weather permitting), some wild mushroom foraging. The area is also surrounded by wineries that offer tours should you wish to extend your gastronomic adventures further afield.
Close to the stunning medieval walled city of Lucca, Villa Boccella is only 1 hour from both Pisa and Florence and 2 hours from Sienna. There are excellent rail and bus links from the location.
The house itself dates from the 17th century and its grounds contain olive groves, vineyards and surrounding countryside full of chestnuts, mushrooms and other treats of the season.
The breadmaking will include loaves from the Italian classics such as ciabatta, pan francese, pizza and schiacciata exploring both the method of “yeasted pre-ferment” and some “sourdough” recipes. All breads made are slow fermented with traditional artisan techniques. The course is suitable for both beginners and more advanced bakers and we will be baking all our loaves in an authentic outdoor wood-fired oven.
The week is open to both course participants and their friends and families (who may just pay for the accommodation).
There will be plenty of opportunity for shared meals and conversation and extra baking practice for those who wish to, but also enough time to enjoy the surrounding countryside and the wealth of culture, beauty and history in this part of Tuscany. The house is very child friendly and has lots of equipment and toys for younger children. There is a swimming pool on site.
Prices:
Baking participants - £465
7 nights bed and breakfast plus Handmade Bakery course (includes 2 shared lunches and one shared dinner), and optional pasta making tutorial, olive picking and chestnut festival visit.
Does not include flights but does include coach transfer to and from Pisa airport.
Friends and Family - £315 (£158 for under 16's)
Friends and families of course participants are very welcome to stay while their loved ones bake. Price includes 7 nights bed and breakfast, optional pasta making tutorial, olive picking and chestnut festival visit. (Friends and family are welcome to join us for 2 shared lunches and one shared dinner at the price of ten euros per head per meal)
Does not include flights but does include coach transfer to and from Pisa airport.
Airlines offering flights to Pisa from the UK include Easy Jet, BA, Jet2 &Ryanair.
There will be only one Coach transfer from Pisa on Saturday 23rd and one transfer on Saturday 30th. Time to be confirmed depending on the majority of attendees arrival times. If it is not possible for you to make the coach, there are excellent train connections between Pisa and Villa Boccella.
For further information on the artisan bread baking course and to book a place please email: info@thehandmadebakery.coop or contact Dan McTiernan on 07894 036742.
For all further information on Villa Boccella please visit: http://www.villaboccella.com
or contact Valeri Marshall at: vlrmar@btinternet.com or by telephone: 07957 413414.
Important information
Courses take place at The Handmade Bakery premises at 14 Carr Lane, Slaithwaite, HD7 5AN unless otherwise stated.
Places will be reserved for you if available on receipt of an email to info@thehandmadebakery.coop requesting this. Bookings are confirmed on receipt of the full course fee. The fee is non-returnable if canceling within 7 days of the course date, unless the course is cancelled by The Handmade Bakery. Courses are family friendly, but under 18’s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Unfortunately there is no wheelchair access at present.
Courses may be arranged at other locations on request. If your school, business or community group is interested in attending or hosting a course, please get in touch.
