“Living a dream”

5 of 5 Stars Reviewed by Natasha H   March 20, 2014

Abundant, delightful, enchanting, stunning and delicious are just a few of many words I could use to describe Casa Ombuto. Our week in September 2013 was not only the highlight of our 8 week world adventure; it’s a top 5 highlight of my life so far.

From the moment I first stumbled upon Casa Ombuto on the web, I had a good feeling about it… My research into finding the perfect cooking school was extensive but time and time again I came back to Casa Ombuto and Tuscookany.

I thought organising the vacation from so far away with a different native tongue would have been tricky… it wasn’t. The communication, booking and confirmation all ran smoothly and all the staff involved in that early administrative experience were wonderful and informative.

I will never forget the moment we arrived at Casa Ombuto, I’m a talker and I was rendered absolutely speechless, the setting was breath-takingly gorgeous. As Sheena showed us around in those first few minutes my husband and I just started giggling like children, it was like stepping into the pages of your favourite storybook from childhood…. And then we met Paola… the larger than life, gregarious, sublime totally Tuscan cooking teacher for the week. She welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm that just grew as the week went on.

It was this good… 5 stars…before we even set foot in the kitchen!

As for cooking school it was beyond my expectations and imagination. The atmosphere in the kitchen was fun and relaxed as we worked, learned and laughed together. Our class was a fabulous mix of amateur cooks from New Zealand, Mexico, the United States and Australia, a group of people who arrived as strangers and left as friends.

I thought I was a pretty good cook but under Paola’s watchful eye I walked out a much much better one. The number of dishes we worked on was impressive, everyday we worked with a different protein and learn different techniques and we learnt and then practised pasta every lesson. We worked pretty hard in the kitchen but it never ever felt hard work. The lessons were structured to expose all the students to a wide range of dishes and techniques but always focusing on fresh Tuscan ingredients, and always delivered with joy and enthusiasm by the fabulous Paola.

The other kitchen and general staff were also magnificent and special mention to the property manager, Sheena, she was available to use for every need and want at any hour of the day.

The other “half’ of the kitchen experience was the dining experience, At Casa Ombuto I think I ate 10-12 of the best meals I’ve ever eaten in my life, and being part of the team who created those meals was fantastic. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were wonderfully languid occasions with plenty of time to get to know each other and enjoy the experience together.

Although we achieved much during our week we were never rushed or felt hurried, it was like being suspended in a special universe where you had all the time in the world to enjoy each meal, go for a walk or stop to smell the herb garden. We had time to enjoy the pool, the hot tub and a wonderful morning massage as well.

The excursions and free time allowed us to visit and get to know the local area and our day trips to Sienna and Arezzo were wonderful. The highlight of the day trips for us was with our new friends and classmates from Orlando, we decided to visit Cortona and it is a “must do” if you have a car..

Before the trip I was mildly concerned about how much my husband would enjoy the experience since he was attending as a non-cook. I need not have worried, he had one of the best weeks of his life, he felt as part of the group as I did and was included in all the activities … including hanging out in the kitchen whenever the mood took him.

The staff invited us to treat Casa Ombuto as our home away from home but it was so much more… it was a delicious paradise, a slice of heaven and privilege worth every cent.

Find this great review on about Tuscookany Cooking Schools in Italy at Casa Ombuto on TripAdvisor

This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor
This photo of Casa Ombuto - Cooking Vacations Tuscany is courtesy of TripAdvisor