Why Toscana Saporita is One of the Best Cooking Schools in Italy

Want a Tuscany cooking vacation? This is where you should go

I found myself in Italy to visit family. But as a chef with Italian roots, I had an itch to discover more than genetic similarities. So under the guise of a business trip, I left the Roman countryside for three days and nights at the Tuscan seashore.

My plan: to visit a vacation cooking school called Toscana Saporita on the Camporomano estate near Lucca, known as one of the best cooking schools in Italy.

Here, owner Sandra Lotti has been holding court for over a decade. Despite the scenery, the fabulous food and wine and the beautiful men – more on that in a bit – meeting Sandra was the highlight of my journey.

About Toscana Saporita Tuscan cooking school

Toscana Saporita was recommended by a colleague who had visited in the past. In preparing me for my visit, I was told, “the woman who runs the school is a real diva.”

Given the source of the remark, I considered this high praise and looked forward to the visit even more. However, it certainly did not prepare me for the whirlwind of energy, knowledge, and passion for life in a blonde wig that is Sandra. Trust me, hers is not just any old school of cooking in Tuscany.

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What makes Toscana Saporita one of the best cooking schools in Italy?

To say Sandra Lotti is deeply knowledgeable and passionate about her culture and sharing it barely scratches the surface. Diva-hood is a big part this Italian cooking teacher’s charm (no wilting flower here). She has a heart of gold and a tiara to match.

Sandra does not simply teach, cook and write of Tuscan food and culture, she exalts it. She preaches with the zeal of the most devout evangelist…from food selection to the cooking vessel to accompaniments chosen, she has a sermon for each step of the way. Then she feeds you. Before the primi is over, you are hooked for life!

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Like any good diva, Sandra does all this surrounded by a crew of talented, passionate, warm-hearted, fun, and incredibly beautiful young men.

What a way to experience Tuscany cooking classes!

During my visit, each played a role in a well-orchestrated interactive performance that drew the guests into their inner circle of private jokes, familial play, friendly competition, and absolute passion for good food. I’d never leave my kitchen if I shared it with these guys.

I mentioned a blonde wig. Sandra recently completed chemotherapy for breast cancer and is eagerly awaiting the return of her hair.

In the meantime, she dons a sassy blonde wig that has a personality all its own!

To me, everything about Sandra was inspiration enough already.

The fact that she is a breast cancer survivor who continued to inspire students each day throughout her treatment, and continues to live life at a level of passion and intensity that would exhaust the average person, only make her more fabulous.

If you’re considering a cooking course in Tuscany, Toscana Saporita is truly the only choice.

Want to plan a full, Tuscan adventure? Check out the best prices on great Italian accommodations.

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Annette Tomei is a cooking teacher, certified wine and spirits educator and all-around culinary superhero. She is a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and holds a Masters in Gastronomy from Le Cordon Bleu. She has been contributing to Eat Something Sexy since 2005.

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Annette Tomei

Chef, Wine Educator & Culinary Consultant at Wander, Eat and Tell

Annette Tomei is a chef, educator, writer, and cultural tourism consultant. She has a Master’s of Arts in Gastronomy and extensive education in wine and spirits including Italian Wine Scholar with Highest Honors. She is a classically trained chef and former restaurant owner. As a sought-after cooking instructor, she has created popular Port to Table cooking classes for Holland America and has contributed to several food books including Culinary Careers for Dummies. She currently works as a food, wine and spirits educator and consultant though her company, Wander, Eat and Tell.

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