Cooking in Tuscany

6 Live Classes • 100+ Video Recipes • Free Bonus! Ciao Reader, I’m writing to you from my Tuscan farmhouse, where I'm getting ready for Season 18 of Chicca’s Cooking Club—can you believe we’ve already cooked together for over 100 live, hands-on classes since 2020? These 100+ classes are a treasure trove of authentic, easy-to-follow Italian recipes, and they’re available on-demand for members in our private video library. Now it’s time for a brand new season! From August through December,...

Ciao Reader! Our sixth live class of season 17 (and our 102nd since 2020!) is happening on Saturday, July 26th with Chicca’s Cooking Club. I’d love for you to join me as we dive into the world of Italian cuisine. We'll celebrate summer with Parmigiana di Zucchine, a light twist on the classic eggplant parmigiana, using baked zucchini slices instead of fried. Layered with fresh mozzarella, smoked scamorza, tomatoes, and Parmigiano Reggiano, it’s a savory, creamy dish. Add prosciutto for extra...

Ciao Reader, I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits. Heat, drink, shade… repeat. That’s been our rhythm these past few weeks as the relentless heat wave has stretched summer to its fullest. Summer bounty from the garden. We slowed down during the hottest hours, and then, finally, a summer thunderstorm brought the rain. After that, a cool breeze came back through the house. We don’t have air conditioning at home, and thanks to very thick stone walls, we can rely on the old...

Ciao Reader! Our fifth live class, and class #101 since 2020, of season 17 with Chicca’s Cooking Club is happening this Saturday, and I’d love for you to join me as we dive into the world of Italian cuisine. We'll celebrate summer with Stuffed Roasted Bell Peppers, filled with a crispy filling made with eggplants and mini bread cubes, plus a lots of flavors and texture! A true classic of Neapolitan tradition, this recipe holds a special place in my heart. Learn my best tips for this seasonal...

This monthly letter is all about inspiring you to cook with seasonal ingredients and bringing you delicious Italian recipes for lunch or dinner ideas. Do you ever find yourself asking: what are we eating today? I’m here to help from my Tuscan kitchen! This month, I’m sharing one of my favorite Italian dishes from a past live class, one that’s perfect for this season and easy to master. It's Semifreddo al Cioccolato - Frozen Chocolate Mousse! Italian chocolate semifreddo is a classic Italian...

Ciao Reader, I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits. Welcome, June — and with it, not one, but two (or is it three?) early heat waves that have already slowed our pace and sent us searching for shade. The days are long now, and I love this so much. If this letter is not of interest, please unsubscribe here. We’ve started sleeping with the shutters slightly open to let in the cool night air. The first sunlight creeps over the hills so early, and a chorus of birdsong has become...

Ciao Reader, I’m writing this letter on a calm May afternoon, one of those rare moments when I’m not running to the market or getting ready for the next cooking class. The door to my cooking school has reopened for the season, with all the hustle and the bustle, and you're always welcome! If this letter is not of interest, please unsubscribe here. Aldo, the cat, is curled up beside me, purring his special kind of love, and the garden is bursting with life. The teaching season is in full...

Ciao Reader, I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirit. The Easter holidays have come and gone — we celebrated with good food, a few drops of rain, and a lot of bread made by my daughter Elsa, who just discovered the joy of making sourdough by hand. I gave her some of my starter and the recipe, and voilà — I’ve passed down something beautiful to another generation. It's so magical baking bread from scratch, and seeing your daughter fall in love with it is so precious. If this...

New Season: Registration is Open + Special Bonus! Ciao Reader, I’m writing to you from Tuscany, getting ready for Season 17 of Chicca’s Cooking Club—can you believe we’ve already shared 90+ live classes and almost five years of cooking live together? These 90+ classes are a treasure trove of Italian cooking, and they’re free for our current members to watch on replay anytime in our video library! From April through July, we’ll cook six new seasonal Italian recipes live via Zoom. Would you...