Cooking in Tuscany

Ciao Reader, Greetings from my Tuscan kitchen! 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! I like to keep things simple and to the point, no fluff, just delicious recipes and helpful tips! This month, when chocolate seems to be on a lot of people's minds, I’m excited to share one of my favorite Italian dishes...

Hello Reader, If you love a great plate of pasta, I have something for you. I’ve put together a small collection of three of my absolute favorite pasta classes. These are recorded video replays from past live sessions I did with students from all over the world, and I wanted to make them available so you can cook them anytime you like. Since these are recordings, you can pause, rewind, and cook entirely at your own pace in your own kitchen. You can invite your friends and family to join for...

Ciao Reader, If you’ve been dreaming about Italy lately, I wanted to share a little glimpse into the Tuscany we call home. We live along the Etruscan Coast, in the heart of Super Tuscan wine country, where vineyards meet the Mediterranean and life moves at a slower pace, especially in October. This is not the Tuscany of crowded tours and packed itineraries. Our days here are spent among quiet medieval villages, morning coffee by the sea, local markets, and evenings around the table with good...

Ciao Reader, My favorite room in our farmhouse is the kitchen. It’s where friends and my family gather, pasta is rolled by hand, sauces simmer slowly, and conversations seem to last too long around the table. During our journey in October, we spend time there together cooking traditional Italian recipes from scratch using vegetables, herbs, and olive oil from the garden and nearby farms. What guests often remember most is not only the food itself. It’s the feeling of slowing down and to be...

Are you planning a trip to Italy this year? I’d love to invite you to join us for an all-inclusive, small-group vacation (max 8 people) right here on the Tuscan Coast, in the heart of the Bolgheri Super Tuscan wine region. This is our home, and we want to share our daily life with you. We have spots available for October 13-17, 2026. Here’s a short video that Arnaud filmed during our last trips, so you can get a feel for the experience. October is truly the "golden hour" here in Bolgheri. The...

Ciao Reader, I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits. August slipped away with a windstorm, and it feels like we’re already on the edge of saying goodbye to summer. We’ll have to wait another year for the hottest sun, the long days, and those beach afternoons that offer such sweet relief from the heat. We’ve been busy welcoming guests to our apartments. We love to make them feel at home, sharing our deep love for this region and its traditions. Whether it’s offering local tips...

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...