What is your connection to Italy?
We fell in love with Tuscany and Italy many years ago while vacationing there. The culture, the lifestyle, the food and wine–not to mention the people are all what made us continue to return. Montefollonico is an off-the-tourist-path, 13th century hilltop village. It is small and people are kind and welcoming. There are no fast food joints or chain hotels. Everything is locally owned and operated. The village is quite yet alive with energy. The best thing about our village is that is liking stepping back in time.
After a few trips we knew we wanted to share our discovery with people. It started out with telling people about our trips and showing them pictures. Then it evolved into meeting them here in Tuscany and showing them around. Well…one thing leads to another, and here we are—treating our guests to a week-long visit with us here in our village.
The best way to describe our connection to Tuscany is “It’s like living in a postcard.” And, how many people get to live in a postcard?
Where did the idea for Cook in Tuscany come from?
We have always loved to travel. Traveling meant a way of discovering different cultures and getting to know a different way of life. The best way to understand a culture is through their food and celebrations. In Tuscany, meals are a celebration. Lunch can last for hours while you eat fresh handmade pastas and enjoy good conversion with friends. This simple idea of slowing down and taking the time to enjoy your meal and the people you are eating it with, was where the idea came from. We give our guest the opportunity to slow down and enjoy not just their meals but preparing them too.
What kind of people sign up to go? What has their reaction been?
Tuscany is an international destination and we have people from all over the world join us. We have tour groups from India, as well as wine clubs from the US. We meet couples, girlfriends travelling together, mothers and daughters, or single adventurers who just want to enjoy a week of fun with others! Surprisingly, not everyone who comes loves to cook–which is great because we are not just about cooking in a kitchen all day. We go on fun excursions and tours—wineries, cheesemakers, Roman baths, historic sites, and of course we visit local restaurants for gourmet dinners.
Some of our guests come after dreaming of this vacation for years. We are very aware of this and we do everything to make their years of dreaming come true. We welcome our guests into our life and share our experiences with them. We have done all of the work. We have figured out the best restaurants, the best villages, the best things to see. We even know at what time the Georgian chant is sung by Monks in an “off the path” Abby. Our guests don’t have to worry about a thing…just show up and be ready to experience the beauty and fun Tuscany has to offer.
Why did we do it?
Its fun!
We have always enjoyed traveling the world and sharing our experiences with our friends. It’s really great to be able to share our village with other people. We have always traveled as “locals” and want other people (our guests) to have the same experience. Being treated as a local probably goes back to our roots growing up and living in New Orleans. Where everyone is welcome and everyone is part of the family. We have always shared our local “secrets” with others when they are looking for a great place to visit, eat, or enjoy.
The best reaction I think we have had so far is “I would have sold my first born to come on this trip and now I might have to do it so I come back again!”
We always love to hear people say, “This trip changed my life” because we know how they feel. It’s why we do it. We want people to come and feel like a local, to slow down and to return to their home renewed, refreshed, and ready to share the things they experienced with us with their family and friends.
