Toscana Saporita - Al Sasso, Provincia di Lucca

Beth D.

Everything during my time at Toscana Saporita exceeded my expectations. The property and the location is amazing. The cooking course was a comprehensive dive into Italian cooking. It covered everything from basic cooking techniques to preparing authentic Italians dishes.
The staff is absolutely amazing and make me feel like they were 100% invested in ensuring I had a great experience.
The week is a mix of cooking classes and exploring Tuscany. I had the experience of a lifetime and recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about the Italian culture, eat absolutely amazing food and learn some lifelong cooking skills.

Ruby R.

This review covers two experiences: the first was the Basic Cooking Class in spring 2023, and the second was the Week of Excellence in spring 2025. Both visits to Toscana Saporita were amazing, enriching, and full of culinary knowledge. Sandra and Alessio are true masters of their craft. Sandra is knowledgeable, humorous, and has a warm, approachable teaching style. Alessio’s precision with his recipes helps even the most novice baker feel confident working with dough.

The school is housed in a structure from the 1600s, nestled in the Tuscan countryside. The rooms are clean, cozy, and comfortable. The pool is cold—but perfect for a quick plunge before class. I’ve returned home with more recipes and memorable experiences than I ever expected.

What sets this cooking school apart is that you’re not only learning Tuscan cuisine, but also kitchen techniques, the history behind the recipes, and the nutritional reasoning for why certain ingredients are used. The Week of Excellence is just that, excellent.

5/5, 10/10—already planning a third visit. Sincere thanks to Sandra, Alessio, and their teams. This place is truly something special.

Carol S.

I have had the pleasure of attending Toscana Saporita twice!!! The first time I was stationed in Germany with the Air Force. I attended with a friend in spring of 2001 before returning home to the states. It was a life changing experience improving my cooking skills, enjoying fantastic Italian food as well as visiting Italian cities near by and learning so much more about Italy than I had previously known due to my heritage. I have ordered Tuscan olive oil from them yearly ever since then. This summer I returned with my family to celebrate my youngest son’s graduation. Sandra, the owner and head chef, remembered me and embraced me and my family for an incredible experience for all of us!! If I could give 10 stars, I would!!

Caroline M.

I had such an amazing experience 🩷 Sandra is the best !!! I absolutely love the estate too that we stayed on, it was so beautiful and everyone made it feel like home. Abby made me like 30 cappuccinos throughout the week too which was amazing. The staff is fabulous and Enzo, our driver throughout the week, was endlessly helpful and we had some fun conversations during our rides. Thank you to Ana, Lauren, Moises, and Alessio too, you were all so wonderful!! ❤️❤️❤️

Stephanie A. L.

This was everything I expected and more!!! 🤩 before my week in toscana saporita began i had already been around different cities in Italy, going to all kind of restaurants, that were very good, but trust me, it does not compare to the quality and taste of the dishes prepared by Sandra, Alessio and the rest of the team!! Simply amazing!! And now talking about the cooking classes, they truly made sure that each of their students understood what we were doing and helped us get to practice on the techniques until they were as good as what they do! Also letting us know the theory and history behind every dish, which was very interesting 😍 And last but not for least they really treat you like part of the family and everybody is so kind 🤩 it was simply an amazing and unforgettable week!! I will definitely come back!!

Rowena G.

Amazing the course is beautiful for its simplicity and depth. You can truly takeaway as much from the course as you want its up to you. You are given the recipes but what Sandra, Keith and Alessio teach you is the method and philosophy of the dishes which can be applied to so many more dishes than just the one you are making at that moment.

We had the opportunity to discuss how to alter the flavours and texture of dishes like adding lemon zest and black pepper to your pasta dough for a little surprise.

Once you leave you are only limited by your imagination. What a gift! Thank you Sandra, Keith and Alessio these are techniques I will enjoy using and passing on to my children.

Kimberly D.

This was a bucket list trip for me being Italian and loving to cook. The experience was authentic, the food was amazing and the team was energetic and fun! We would highly recommend others to come have an authentic Tuscan experience! Loved Sandra and her team!

Erin B.

My sister and I enjoyed a wonderful week at Toscana Saporita cooking school, where we learned all about Tuscan cooking from Sandra, Alessio and their team of fantastic chefs. It was very educational with Sandra teaching us all about the history of foods and methodology of dishes, and how we can customise everything at our own homes. We had fun learning to make pasta, gnocchi, risotto, pizza, tarts, sauces, meats, biscotti and more. The team of wonderful chefs (including Keith, Henry, Ricky, Giovanni and Vincenzo) helped us along every step of the way, and served us delicious 3-course meals at every meal. It was fun getting to know the chefs and the other people attending the cooking school at our communal group meals. A highlight was the truffle hunt where we went out with a dog, Giotto, at Savini Tartufo and found some white truffles. We spent the afternoons touring the local cities (Lucca, San Gimignano, Pisa etc.) with the school's knowledgeable guide and driver, Tony. The farmhouse itself has a very original, local and Italian feel. I would recommend this school to anyone interested in learning Italian cooking skills in a friendly, informative and fun way!