Let's Cook In Umbria was everything and more than was listed on line.

Stephania and Raffella made me and my new friends from England feel right at home. Cooking together was a fun hands on experience. I learned some new techniques, ate great food and best of all had a wonderful day. Traveling to this area? Do yourself a favro and take part in Let's cook in Umbria. You'll be happy you did.

I'll be back next year...

from Trip Advisor

We stayed for a week at La Volpe e L'Uva, an Umbrian farmhouse which has been developed to include a series of rented apartments within the outbuildings. The apartments were nicely decorated with antique furniture and met all our needs.
There was a lovely view over the swimming pool, looking further towards the local valley of orchards, olive groves and farmland.
The family was very welcoming and helped us to settle in by advising about local places to visit and amenities, shops etc.
Our cooking lessons were carried out in the family kitchen, used wonderful local ingredients and we were given lots of really useful hints and tips in the preparation of dishes by a very helpful and skilful chef.
There are plenty of interesting places to visit in the region and, as the weather was not particularly good when we were there, we took advantage of this by sightseeing as far as southern Tuscany in one direction and, to the east, the border with Le Marche.
Although the immediate area around Perugia is quite developed, it takes only 20 minutes or so by car, until you are deep in the Umbrian countryside.
Recommended places to visit are: Perugia (for the medieval guildhalls and 'Bacci'!), Assisi, Gubbio, Norcia and the Piano Grande, Montepulciano (west of Lake Trasimeno).
Chaterine

from Trip Advisor

Fabulous day trip outside of Rome......

This cooking class was exactly what we needed to get out of Rome and enjoy beautiful countryside of Perugia. Raffealla was so helpful when we were arranging the class- she sent train information so we could figure out how to get there from Rome and checked in with us to see what kind of food we might want to cook.

My friend and I were the only ones there cooking which made the time intimate and like we were just joining friends to cook in their home. We made some great food- homemade pasta, tiramisu, a pizza type dish and turkey with fresh herbs. After all the cooking, we were able to sit out and enjoy the peaceful countryside while sipping on wine they had made right there at the farm.

I would definitely recommend this to others- the only thing I might change is I would want to stay a few days at the beautiful farm!

A delightful morning topped by a fabulous lunch !

The accommodations were excellent and the scenery beautiful. Rafaella made us feel very welcome. The highlight was our morning cooking with Stephania.
She helped us create a beautiful, simple meal that we can re-create for our friends.

Raffa, Thank you for welcoming and sharing your home with us.
Cooking together with you and Stefania was a wonderful experience and we had a great time in beautiful Perugia.
We really appreciate all that you do for us and your kindness.

Ti ringraziamo tanto

Dear Raffaella,

Ed and I have returned to Seattle but are still thinking and talking about our fabulous time at "La volpe e l'uva".
Not only did we have a lovely stay at your farm, we truly learned a great deal about cooking Italian food.
From the moment we walked into your kitchen with all the ingredients out on the table to prepare our first meal, we just knew it would be a marvelous learning experience. Stefania went through the details of each course and gave us so many useable hints on preparation of the food. We all participated in the preparation which made it so much fun and memorable.
And then, of course, the sitting down and eating our delicious meal was truly special. We must also mention how the wonderful wine, olive oil, vin santo, herbs and other foods grown on your land added to the joy.
The rooms were cozy and the views from the windows were breathtaking.
Raffaella, you were a treat to meet. You're charming, welcoming and helpful with anything we asked you about.

We'd highly recommend your cooking school to others and hope we can return in the near future.
By the way, we cooked pasta with our very own truffle in our little kitchen outside of Montepulciano. It was delicious.

Thanks for everything.

We left a dark + gloomy England to arrive in the glorious subshine of Umbria.
La volpe e l'uva farmhouse is set in beautiful countryside surrounded by olive trees and vinegards and it is very peaceful and relaxing.
We spent 3 happy sessions in the kitchen under the instruction of Stefania preparing delicious Italian 4 course meals which we then enjoyed with some home-gtrown wine.
There is plenty of time left to explore the environs either with Raffaella or with hire-car.
Raffaella is a delightful hostess and nothing is too much trouble for her.
We thought the course was good value for money!

Confortable apartments in beautiful urroundings.
The cookery course was a sheer delicht, fun, instructive, adsorbing but not the least bit intimidating.

Raffaella and her family made us feel part of her home.
The four of us wile miss our cookery morning!

Many thanks for 2 wonderful days in your farmhouse.

The cookery lessons with Alberta and stefania, were interesting and instructive, but above all they were great fun!

We look forward to trying these recipes at home and we hope to come back to "la volpe e l'uva"
Best wishes

We were 10 women from the United States who thought we knew how to cook.
We arrived in the beautiful umbrian country side and were treated to incredibly warm hospitality, excellent teaching techniques and great new recipes.
We learned how to avoid typical American ideas of "italian cooking" and how to create delicious food in simple, treu umbrian style.

If you love to cook and love to learn, let's cook in Umbria is the place to visit!
The instructors are delightful, welcoming knowledgable. It's amazing to see how much can be accomplished with a nice and efficient kitchen!

Thank you for a truly memorable experience!

We would like to thank Raffaella and her staff for a memorable cooking class and fantastic meal.
Her ‘Lets Cook In Umbria’ web site was welcoming and convincing to attend her 1-day culinary class.  We traveled from Cortona to her residence, a scenic 1 ½ hour drive including a winding drive through Perugia to her top-mountain farm site (thanks to our Garmin GPS!). 
We were impressed that the ingredients for our cooking experience were products grown on their land.  Stephanie, our cooking instructor, guided us through our preparation of Italian recipes resulting in an authentic and delicious meal. We had a memorable time and our experience was everything we anticipated.  Our recommendation…TRY IT, YOU WILL ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE!!

Our time at "la volpe e l'uva" was a wonderful experience, and lots of fun!
Raffa, our hostess, was warm and inviting making us feel confortable in her home. The addition of the pool and grounds with ( and the deliciuos figs) made the stay very relaxing.
Our cooking teacher was extremely knowledgeable and game us a good insite of umbrian cooking. She was friendly and very patient, we will take home some new recipes and good techniques.
We reccomenend the morning cooking classes and the afternoon excursions, Raffa did an excellent job of selecting the appropriate sites and coordinating everythingwith an english speaking driver.

Our 4 day cooking holiday was a great success.

Fantastic 3 days spent with Raffaella and Stefania learning the art of italian cooking, using local procedure, including freshly piched herbs, figs, tomatoes, eggplants and zucchini.
Best part of the class was appreciating our mornings hard work over a glass( or two) of local wine and 4 course homecooked meal .

Very enjoyable stay at the farmhouse, Raffaella an excellent hostess

Kaere Raffaela

Ved hjaelp af enkle raavarer fik vi ved Steffies grundige introduktion lavet autentiske meget velsmagende retter, som vi baegefter spiste i den dejlige skyggefulde gaardhave i aegte italiensk stil.

Mange tak til Raffaela og Steffi

We make thoroughly enjoyed our experience at "la volpe e l'uva". Raffaella has been an excellent hostess/organizer/Liason and last but not least, waitress: her warmth and spontaneity made us feel very welcome and at home. Stefania transfer her fine knowledge of local ingredients, cooking techniques and skill with confidence and great ease. Hand-on experience of the very tasty, yet uncomplicated flavours of umbria cooking, enable students to make this unique experience their own. Afternoons were spent visiting imposing sights of Assisi, orvieto, Montefalco and Todi accompained by Fabio in a luxury mini-bus. After a busy day, we would return to the tranquillity of the farm. We strongly reccomend the excursions as a highly worthwile,enterely pleasant experience.

A wonderful teacher and gracious host in a warm home setting.

Hands-on learning with clear instructions from a witty and energetic guide.
The dinner was liesurely and the results were to die for!
Take good notes and pictures!

Raffa and Stefania,

Grazie mille!! Shawn and I had an amazing time with you. We so enjoyed the personalized cooking class, the incredible variety of dishes, and the wonderful flavours. Thank you so much for being so generous and accomodating. This uhas been the perfect romantic (anniversary) holiday.
We will be sharing own experience with our families + friends and we hope to return in the future.
We loved the wine and the beauty of your farm. Please remember you have a place in Hawaii and we would love for you to visit sometime.

Grazie and "Mahalo"..........love to Bianca!

Raffaella, Stefania and Alberta,
Thank you for a wonderful experience of being able to enjoy your passion for Italian food kept simple but bursting with flavours.
It's been a joy to see so much produce from the farm used in the cooking and the great variety, all in an environment so close to historic and memorable sites yet you feel so relaxed and peaceful in the countryside setting.
I wish I could recreate this at home, but if only the food, then I will be delighted. I will play some music while cooking and have great memories.
The hard work arriving and no doubt leaving on a bicycle has been well worth the effort ( although not to be attempt after lunch!)
I have many frinds that are very envious and wish they were here, after receiving my daily updates.many thanks
Jenny

It is truly a gift to be shown with such charm and humor, the secrets of Umbrian cooking!
Whit its simplicity, freshness and a strategic "pinch" of salt and "drop"of olive oil, we were shown how to unlock the flavour of fresh produce.
Three days of exploration of traditional umbrian cooking has left us richer for the experience.

With Stefania and Raffaella help we have returned home with a renewed passionb for cooking and a taste for more
Grazie Mille

What a great cooking class!

Delightful, engaging, informative and practical.
Raffaella and Stefania made us welcome and a part of our family.
Well worth the time and would do it again!

Raffaella and Stefania,

Thank you so much for a wonderful meal and the excellent instruction!

We will never forget it !

Thank you Raffaella & Stefania for a memorable and delicious experience. 
With only a days notice, you were able to accommodate us for a cooking class with a menu that was tailored to our personal tastes. 
Your instruction was detailed and we learned many great new techniques. 
Enjoying the meal in the private dining room and drinking your delicious homemade wine was the perfect end to the afternoon. 
We prepared the menu upon our return home and our family and friends were very impressed. 

Thanks!

From arriving at the farm, you are welcomed to the beautiful life of Umbria,- bella vista, bel tempo, buona compagnia e buon gusto!
Raffaella & Stefania showed us show to enjoy and make the local cuisine complemented by the home grown vino and olive oil. The menu was lovely – 4 courses of total treats.  
For the first time we learnt that gnocchi can be soft and succulent. Tomatoes on bruschetta are so sweet and tasty. Roast meat cooked on the stovetop. Divine tiramatsu!
Bellisimo caffe!
All enjoyed in the courtyard under dappled shade.Thank you to our kind hostesses and we thank our lucky stars for guiding us here

Ciao Raffaela,

Sono felice di dare la mia testemonianza su il tuo corso di cucina.
È stata veramente una sperienza molto interessante e piaccevole .

Ti  mando le nostre photo ed aspetto mantenere contato con te e forse possiamo
scambiare delle ricette interessanti.
Saluti a te e alla Stefania

Iracema.

What a wonderful experience!

We loved every minute. Lots of good tips to take back to America.
One could not find a better teacher.
Stefania & Raffaella were were the best.
We are so sorry our men were so late, but we women really enjoyed eating the fantastic food we  cooked.

So did the boys when they finally found us!

Thank you, thank you.  We will tell all of our friends about you.

Grazie!!!

Hi Raffaella,
Thank you so much for the wonderful time we had at your home last week! We enjoyed ourselves so very much, and it really was a highlight of our trip. The food was delicious and we really enjoyed dining in our private dining room overlooking the hills and valleys of Umbria. Would you believe that after our very long trip from Rome to NYC we got off the plane and within 2 hours we were in my daughter's apartment in Manhattan making your pasta recipe for dinner? We were dead tired, but we couldn't resist showing off what we learned at your cooking school.
Looking forward to our next visit to your kitchen.  Best Regards....Ciao......