Our Tuscan Chefs & Story

"Good food, made with love"

On the motorway you go faster, but it is through country roads that you learn to know and appreciate places. If you want to discover the heart of Tuscany by following its paths, search no more, you have found what you’re looking for!

Taste meets experience

For us good food means doing our best to purchase and use:
Healthy food: we do not use cheap and pre-processed foods.
Seasonal food: it is simply much more tasty!
Organic food: It is good for us, for the Earth, for our future.
Local food: When we buy from a local producer, we know where your food comes from, we avoid long distance transport, we all support local economy.

Italy and especially Tuscany are also famous for the great tradition of shopping for groceries at the local outdoor produce markets. And we do this as well, taking advantage of our local suppliers, most of whom we know personally. Fruit and vegetables are bought from local farmers whenever possible. Grains, flour, and pasta come mainly from the Tuscan region. Meat, eggs and dairy products are also mostly locally sourced, with a few exceptions such as for cow milk cheeses and some cold cuts. If we are unable to buy all the ingredients we need from small producers, we choose to buy organic products in the local supermarket.

Cooking and eating together is one of the great joys of life
At CCE we have grown up in typical Italian families, where we eat together and as we enjoy one meal we are already planning what we will eat the next one. We love to share such eagerness with you. Whatever you choose – a catered meal or a cooking lesson – prepare to slow down, relax and savour the aromas and the flavours. We can introduce you to the heart of that culture in a warm family atmosphere.

Our team

Paola

I was born in the heart of the Chianti Classico wine region, in the quintessentially Tuscan countryside. My father came from Emilia Romagna and was a great enthusiast fresh pasta- maker; it is with him that I started making pasta as a child, and after many years passed on this tradition to my 4 children. As a true “donna Toscana”, the daily choice of cooking and eating good food has always been close to my heart. I’ve written a Recipe Book for Family Healthy Eating in 2009, and since then, I’ve been giving classes on healthy cooking. When I met Elisa (founder of CCE), I started to collaborate with her as a teacher chef. Today I manage the company with the passion and skills put together in over 10 years. What I love most in this work is the relationship with customers and the pleasure that comes from it. I like sharing recipes and good food, and contributing in making clients’ Tuscan holidays an unforgettable experience. By cooking traditional Tuscan recipes together with them, I cultivate the importance of cultural, human and social exchanges and the joy of keeping alive the traditional cuisine, and some time contaminating it with new ingredients.

Paola Negri

Teacher Chef

Leopoldo

Enjoy Authentic, Artisanal Pizza at Home with Chef Leopoldo!

Meet Leopoldo, our expert pizza chef. Born and raised in San Casciano, he knows everything there is to know about crafting the perfect pizza.Leopoldo’s passion for pizza started in childhood. Growing up with a wood oven at home, he watched his parents bake bread and pizza from the moment he was born; in keeping with this legacy, he worked in one of the best pizzerias in the region, learning and perfecting his skills.

Now, together with his talented team—Olmo, Freya and Andrea—Leopoldo brings the classic Italian pizza straight to your home; together they’ll treat you to an unforgettable experience, complete with insider tips and secrets.

Leopoldo Chiti

Pizza Chef

Pietro

I was born in Chianti. I began to appreciate cooking as a child, helping my grandmother prepare her Tuscan recipes, and I can say that my family was my first cooking school. After finishing high school, I realized that cooking was my greatest passion and what made me happy, so I decided to acquire solid technical skills through training at the Cordon Bleu school in Florence. Over the years, I worked in important restaurants in the area, growing professionally. In the kitchen, I feel complete and able to express myself to the fullest.

A few years ago, I decided to bring the aromas and flavors of Tuscany directly into people’s homes, becoming a private chef and creating a personalized service each time. I like to pamper my clients, I appreciate the special relationship that is created and that makes every meal a unique experience of sharing culture, flavors, and authenticity.

Pietro Volpi

Chef

Numbers at a glance

Over eighteen years of exclusive events, where Tuscan tradition meets the excellence of seasonal ingredients. Here’s our journey in numbers.

Years

Events

Frequently asked questions about our services

Is the Cooking Class or Personal Chef service available throughout Tuscany?

We operate primarily in the Chianti area and the provinces of Florence and Siena. However, we are equipped to reach villas, farmhouses, and private residences throughout the region. For special events or promotional tours abroad, dedicated logistics planning is required.

Is it necessary to have a professional kitchen to host an event or course?

Our team specializes in adapting to the needs of residential kitchens in villas and apartments. We provide all the necessary technical equipment and raw materials. The client only needs to provide the workspace, basic appliances (burner, sink, standard oven) and crockery.

Who takes care of the shopping and post-event cleanup?

The service is all-inclusive. We take care of sourcing all the ingredients and, at the end of the experience, we guarantee the kitchen area is be restored to its original state of cleanliness.

Where do the cooking classes take place?

We're equipped to come to your home and cook, but if you prefer, we can offer one of our locations.

How far in advance should I book?

For organizational reasons, we cannot accept reservations less than 5 days in advance. However, we recommend booking well in advance.

In what language are the cooking classes held?

We are used to working with international groups, so English is the language we usually use. Classes are also available in Spanish and, of course, Italian. If you would like a class in French or German, we recommend booking well in advance.

What is the difference between a Pasta Cooking Class and a Pizza Cooking Class?

These courses will allow you to experiment firsthand with the creation of two of the most famous dishes in Italian cuisine. With our chefs, you will learn how to choose and use ingredients, as well as dough and cooking techniques. For the pizza course, we will bring our portable wood-fired oven, so a suitable outdoor space is required. The pizza course is available for groups of 8 or more people.

Is it possible to customize the menu based on specific themes?

Yes. Each menu is custom-designed based on seasonal local produce and the client’s preferences. From a formal gala dinner to an informal pre-wedding pizza party, each proposal follows a food design logic which is consistent with the event.

How do you handle food allergies, intolerance, or specific diet requirements (e.g., vegan/gluten-free) within a group?

We can adapt any recipe to meet special dietary requirements, such as celiac disease, veganism, or other, without compromising the flavor profile of the dish or Tuscan tradition. However, it is not always possible to eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination, so we need to be informed in a timely manner so that we can take all necessary precautions together with you. In addition, we will ask you to carefully read and sign our Allergy Policy Form.

How are suppliers and raw materials selected?

Our goal is to bring Tuscany and Italy to your table. For this reason, we work with small local producers in short supply chains; we use our extra virgin olive oil, choose Tuscan flours whenever possible, and purchase local meat and vegetables. We will always choose high-quality products for you, so you can enjoy the best that the region has to offer.