SPEND TIME "IN THE TUSCAN KITCHEN"

 SPEND TIME "IN THE TUSCAN KITCHEN" AT BORGO SANTO PIETRO

New Chef's Table and Daily Cooking Classes offer a rare Behind-the-Scenes glimpse into La Cucina Italiana.

Chiusdino, Italy (5/2011) -- Guests who visit Italy's Borgo Santo Pietro  www.borgosantopietro.com) can now experience the Tuscan kitchen up-close and personal.    The 11-room, 800-year-old, Borgo recently added a windowed Chef's Table, overlooking the kitchen.  Daily pasta and bread making classes for guests further add to the authentic Italian kitchen and dining experience. 

"Our new Chef's Table and our cooking classes offer a wonderful behind-the-scenes culinary immersion into life at a Tuscan Borgo, "stated Borgo Santo Pietro owner Jeanette Thottrup.   The Chef's table seats two to eight people and can be booked by guests on a nightly basis.   Working with the chef, guests design their own menu for the evening.

The private cooking classes, held in the kitchen, are under the direction of Executive Chef Richard Gynn and Sous Chef Nicole Ianesi.  This intimate class has guests working alongside the Chef to produce such traditional Italian pastas as linguini with lobster, ravioli with pigeon and tortellini with ricotta and spinach.   Or, guests can choose an Italian bread making course inspired by the original 800-year old bakery which still stands with oven intact.  Although now used as a spa, the original bakery fed thousands of pilgrims traveling on the spice route to Jerusalem.  The neighboring church (Ecclesia di Santo Pietro) and San Galgano Abbey also attracted early travelers from near and far.

The cost of the cooking classes is Euro 145 per person (approximately US $215) for a two-hour session.  The cost of the Chef's Table, with its own serving staff, starts at Euro 150 per person (about US $220) plus wine.