Private Tuscan Cooking & Dining Experiences in Chianti
My name is Paola, and cooking has been the way I express my life for over thirty years.
My journey has taken me through restaurant kitchens and experiences abroad, but one place became an important part of my story: Sommavilla, a small village in the Tuscan countryside where I lived for many years.
It was there that the idea behind Cooking Sommavilla was born — from my desire to share my love for cooking, for Tuscany and for the simple pleasure of gathering around a table.
Today, I bring that same spirit into the private cooking and dining experiences I create in the Chianti countryside.
Here, cooking is not just about technique, but about time, atmosphere and connection.
Each experience is an invitation to slow down, cook, share and discover a more personal side of Tuscany.
A few words from guests who have shared a special moment in Tuscany.
We had such a lovely time with Paola. We were traveling through Tuscany with our little daughter and wanted something more personal than a typical cooking class. Paola immediately made us feel at ease and was incredibly warm and attentive with our daughter. The cooking was wonderful, but what really stayed with us was how genuine and welcoming she was. It felt like spending an afternoon with someone who truly loves what she does. We would absolutely do it again.
We chose Paola’s experience to celebrate a birthday during our stay in Tuscany. We were a small group and wanted something enjoyable without anything feeling too formal or complicated. Everything was very well organised and Paola made the whole experience easy and relaxed. We especially appreciated the simplicity of the evening — good food, good company and a beautiful setting. A lovely way to celebrate together.
We wanted to celebrate our wedding anniversary in a way that felt truly personal, so we chose to have a private dinner organised specifically for us. From the beginning, Paola understood what we were looking for and created an experience that fitted perfectly with the occasion. The private villa, the dinner and all the details felt thoughtful without ever being excessive. The quality of the service was excellent and everything was handled with great care. It was exactly the kind of evening we had hoped for.
What we loved most about the experience was how personal everything felt. Paola welcomed us with such warmth and made the whole afternoon feel relaxed from the very beginning. We cooked, talked, ate together and never felt rushed. It was a beautiful way to experience Tuscany, not as tourists following a programme, but simply enjoying good food and good company. A very special memory from our trip.
Learn the art of handmade pasta, from flour to table.
This experience is an invitation to slow down and enter, naturally, into the world of Italian cooking.
Starting from simple ingredients, you will prepare fresh handmade pasta, following gestures and techniques shaped by tradition.
In the quiet of Chianti, cooking becomes something that is felt as much as it is learned — a balance between simplicity, care and presence.
Once everything is ready, you will sit down and enjoy what you have created, in a relaxed and authentic atmosphere.
More than a lesson, it is a moment to live, to remember, and to take with you.
An experience created around you, your preferences and the occasion you want to share.
Some moments deserve to be shaped with care.
This experience is created around you — your preferences, your pace and the way you wish to experience Tuscany.
Nothing is fixed in advance. The details are thoughtfully considered to create something personal, natural and entirely your own.
Whether you wish to cook together, share a private meal or celebrate a special moment, the experience takes shape around you.
More than an event, it is a personal way to experience Tuscany.
A private dining experience in the heart of Chianti.
In a relaxed and intimate setting, you will enjoy a carefully prepared experience at the table, where every detail is designed to create a seamless and authentic moment.
Set within an exclusive setting in Chianti, the experience is shaped around you — from the atmosphere to the menu.
More than a meal, it is a personal and refined way to experience Chianti through its cuisine.
Additional services can be arranged to enrich your experience.
Share your request and we will personally take care of every detail.