Tour Details/Dates/Prices The Tuscan Chef. Prices $1,535 3-Nights CAD* Prices $2,985 5-Nights CAD*

Optional:Extended Stay in Florence

Saturday
Breakfast
Check Out + Transfer to Florence Hotel
A day in beautiful historic Florence – sightseeing, market and museum visits & shopping for kitchenware to take home with you. Florence is widely known as the Italian centre for cuisine, hospitality, wine, design & art. The city itself gives unparalleled opportunities for amazing first-hand gastronomic experiences.
Spend the evening at your Florence Hotel and return on Sunday.

Custom Designed Gourmet Safari
If you’d like to spend more time in the kitchen we can look into it for you. There is also a plethora of other activities in the area if you’d like to spend less time in the kitchen or if your partner doesn’t like to cook: from hiking and walks through the surrounding woods and then a meal at the restaurant, to a visit to the abbey with its magnificent 16th century courtyard, to a tour of the old wine cellars followed by wine tasting.

Little Extras
• Cookbook
• Apron

Tour Length: 4 days/3 nights

Or 6 days/5 nights

Tour Begins: Florence, Italy TOUR CONCLUDES: Florence, Italy

Tour Dates 2010:

Tuscan Chef Harvest Exclusive Tour:

When? September 12-20th

Starting point? Rome

How long? 7 nights – 2 nights in Rome and 5 nights in Tuscany  

- 5 night’s accommodation at this beautiful Monastery– superior accommodation

- Gourmet breakfasts each morning

- 4 hands-on cooking classes, each culminating in a sumptuous meal, generally lunch or dinner

- 3 adventure excursions to local markets and vineyards

- Roundtrip airfare from Toronto to Rome on Air Transat (please inquire about departures from other gateways)

- 2 nights at a centrally located Rome hotel (including tax and breakfast)

- 1 Day ‘Hop On Hop Off Pass’ to discover beautiful historic Rome at your own pace

- All transfers within Italy

3 Nights:

April 15th -18th
May 13th – 16th
September 9th - 12th

September 30th - October 3rd

5 Nights:

May 26th - 31st

June 29th - July 4th - Palio Week – Famous Horse Race in Siena
September 15th - 20th
October 6th - 11th

All dates are subject to availability & culinary vacations are available all year round upon request. 
Please note: The courses will only be held if, 30 days prior to the proposed date, at least 6 participants have enrolled. If this quota is not reached, you will be offered the opportunity to attend the next course available. 30 days notice will be given by the cooking school to confirm or postpone participation.

Tour Prices for 2010:

Please contact us for 2010 prices, thank you.

Exclusive Tuscan Chef Harvest Tour 2010 (includes cost of flights):

$3,675 CAD* per person based on double occupancy

$4,275 CAD* per person based on single occupancy

*Canadian Dollars Plus air taxes/fees of $315.11 CAD per person.  Please let us know if you would like the price quoted in another currency and we’ll happily let you know...everyone is welcome!

Tour Prices for 2009:

3-Nights:
From $1,535 CAD*

5-Nights:
From $2,985 CAD*

*Double Occupancy per Person. Prices in Canadian Dollars (excluding airfare).

Please note:
Solo traveller prices are also available.
One-day cooking classes are available including tastings of wine and olive oils.
If you would like to purchase airfare please let us know and we’ll arrange it for you right away.
All dates and prices are subject to availability.
Prices may be affected by international exchange rate fluctuations.
Interested, or questions just contact us.

Payment:
Form of Payment.
We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Diners, cheque or money orders in CAD $.
Place a Deposit on Your Dream.
A deposit of 1,000 Euros is required at time of booking to secure your culinary vacation dates. The initial deposit will be refunded if notice of cancellation is received 90 days prior to the start of the class. After that, payments will be refunded if and when the vacated place is filled.
Balance due.
Balance is due no later than 60 days before departure.

Number of Participants:
Minimum: 6 (simply join an existing group).

Maximum: 16

Travel Accessories:
Local Weather
Currency Conversion
Local time

Questions? Just email or call
E-mail: jackie@gourmetsafari.com
Phone: 416.238.9987 (local Toronto) or 1.800.839.5795 (toll free in North America)


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My Safari Notes. (my personal experience)

The estate is an imposing structure situated high upon the Chianti hills in a lush forest – the monastery. Emanuela, one of the family members who is responsible for the Sales & Marketing side of the business, met us and gave us a tour of the property. The monastery is centuries old and you feel it the moment you walk through the huge doors – it’s as though the monks were still living there. The interior is a sight to behold, with beautiful frescos on the wall, as well as authentic flooring and woodwork – it appears never to have been changed. The garden is geometrically designed and I can imagine is very impressive at it’s height in the spring and summer (we visited mid-winter). We could only imagine the sights and sounds of the pool in the beautiful setting – it must be an incredible swim surrounded by forest. From the reception area, to the kitchen, to the rooms (cells that monks stayed in), the owners have maintained the authenticity of the place.

We visited the kitchen next and shared a “stand your spoon up” strong coffee – we felt right at home. The kitchen is bright, spacious, well-organized and equipped - this is where the local Tuscan Chef Francesco Torre shows his talent and leads the classes.

We climbed upstairs next and visited the rooms, cells previously inhabited by the monks. The rooms were comfortable, functional and very practical…just as the monks would want it.

A beautiful setting that offers an incredible opportunity to taste another time.


Jackie DeKnock – Gourmet Safari Creator

Safari Notes – Lasting Impressions.

Dan Duran, Toronto, Ontario, January 2005

I had no idea that monks could live in such luxury.  The groundskeepers keep this place in immaculate condition; I was equally impressed with the wine cellar – where I could have spent my entire stay.