My wife and I recently went to Italy for our honeymoon with Cortona the last stop in our trip. After researching, we came across Shirley's cooking class. It is an exceptional experience! We started the day at a local coffee shop to walk through the menu for the day and discuss what types of Italian food we wanted to cook.... More

Shirley was so accomodating and flexible. I don't eat meat and the other two participants were fine with that too. Alrhough we started by coming up with a menu before heading to the markets,several changes were made once we were inspired by the beautiful ingredients available. Shirley is incredibly knowledgeable about Tuscan cuisine...history, technique, and customs. Be prepared to work... More

We had a lot of fun with Shirley. We thought the class was a great way to learn about local foods, like cured meats, cheeses, olive oils, and veggies. The price was very reasonable as it included all of the food and wine. Shirley is very knowledgeable about the history of the local area. This is a basic cooking class.... More

We were in same class as Rebecca echo her remarks. Learned a lot, enjoyed making and eating the food. If you want a class taught by a native Italian who was born and lived in Tuscany all their life this class may not be for you. Shirley is originally from California married to a Sicilian has lived full time in... More

Shirley was a wonderful host and cooking instructor. She didn't even flinch when our group managed to set her convection oven on fire!! Being at her home was like being over a good friends for dinner!! Shopping for the ingredients was a great ice breaker and it was nice to meet other English speaking travellers and share or experiences and... More

Shirley met us in Cortona for pastries and cappuccino where we selected the recipes we wanted to learn. We picked almost everything on her list which made the day very busy, but everything turned out beautifully! We prepared the most delicious tomato foccacia, raviolis with ricotta and spinach, gnocci and pizzas - and that was just to start. Then there... More

We visited Shirley and Chuck's wonderfully organized gastronomic experience with another couple that we were vacationing with. It was planned as the last day of our week in Cortona so by then we had experienced the food and culture, but still had a host of questions. I must admit I was apprehensive about dedicating our last full day in Cortona... More

The day spent with Shirley cooking in her tuscan kitchen overlooking the beautiful green hills of Cortona was truly an amazing experience! From the moment we met Shirley in the cafe to the time she dropped us back off, we were captivated not only by her knowledge of local cuisine but also her insights on living in Tuscany. The 10... More

We prepared and ate a wonderful meal in delightful surroundings with a beautiful view of the lake. More