2 testimonials about this trip

1. Reviewer: Stasia located in Park Ridge, Illinois USA

   Karen Herbst: Thank you for a most wonderful week at Villa Bordoni in Chianti. I cannot rave enough about the accommodations, the people, the food, the cooking classes, and the tours you set up for us. David Gardiner and his wife, Katherine, are such warm and welcoming people, that we felt right at home in their four star surroundings. Francesco, their chef, was most patient and helpful with our efforts, and his food is superlative. I never thought I would enjoy octopus or stuffed calmari, but enjoy them we did, and I will even do the recipes at home if I can get the seafood to prepare them with. Zahman, their man of all talents, cleaned up our messes, served us breakfast, made coffee, and always had a warm and pleasant smile and word for us at breakfast in the morning and in the kitchen. Riccardo and the office crew as well as the rest of the staff went out of their way to make us comfortable. We made pasta three ways, a divine cheesecake, chocolate mousse, poached pears, Tuscan bread soup, Tuscan beef stew, risotto, ricotta flan, etc. and ate delicacies beyond the imagination, along with plentiful wine. Elizabeth, from the Florence office, was a delightful guide on our afternoon walk to Montefiorelli and Greve, and the drivers who ferried us to and from the villa and on our day trip to Siena and San Gimignano were knowledgeable and most accommodating. Our tour to Castle Verazzano was an excellent surprise. We were delighted with the variety of activities you planned for our week. All in all, the trip was superb beyond expectation. Mary Ellen and I agreed that we would not have changed a thing. For your future guests to Villa Bordoni, I would suggest only that they consider a junior suite if they wish true luxury beyond what is already a high end trip. Thank you again. We look forward to future cooking trips with you , and a return someday to Villa Bordoni whenever we are fortunate enough to visit Tuscany again.

2. Reviewer: Amy L., located in Colorado USA

   We loved the location and amenities at Villa Bordoni. The hotel is exquisite and the staff/service were first rate. The classes were informative and well presented. We also really enjoyed the extra excursions/tours that were planned for us. A change I'd make to the schedule was to skip the tour/tasting at Antinori Winery in favor of the tour/lunch/tasting at Castello di Verrazzano. Both tours covered much of the same information, but the Castello was superior in every sense. I'd also make the lessons in the mornings as opposed to the one lesson we had in the late afternoon prior to dinner. Many of the students were very tired from the day and we didn't get as much out of it as possible. But really, those are minor details that would help make a fabulous vacation a tad bit more enjoyable... This trip definitely exceeded all my expectations and much of it was due to your choice of Villa Bordoni. ...The members of the International Kitchen Staff were all very knowledgeable, courteous, and helpful, especially Elizabeth and her partner who walked with us from Villa Bordoni down to Greve through Montefioralle. The drivers were also prompt and professional.

2 testimonials about the provider, The International Kitchen:

• Reviewer: Thomas & Christine L. located in NC USA

  I'd like to start by saying, this was the best vacation of our lives. The Relais Oasi Olimpia is a five star hotel with a four star rating. Every member of the staff was warm hearted and friendly, and totally dedicated to our needs and well being. The rooms were large and comfortable, especially compared to the so-called four star hotel we stayed at in Rome. Carmen Mazzola the general manager was extremely competent, resourceful, and accommodating. Whenever we made a request, or a scheduling change was necessary due to weather or some other reason, she handled all with speed and good nature, always exclaiming, "It's nothing!" when we thanked her. The cooking lessons with Marco the Chef were just what we had hoped them to be. Nothing too intense, (after all we were on vacation) but informative and easy to execute. I'm happy to say, Christine and I are quite competent now in producing a variety of delectable dishes we would be proud to serve anyone. Our boat tour to Positano was wonderful, our host Antonio piloted the boat to the picturesue little town, and later stopped at a cove where we swam in the Mediterranean and had an expertly prepared lunch. Our favorite tour was of the Mozzarella Factory, I won't say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Suffice to say, don't miss it. Being Italian-American, this vacation awakened feelings in me long hidden. Personality traits that I have are prevalent in Southern Italy. I felt like I was among my own kind at last. I want to go back.

• Reviewer: Katie P located in UK

  I just wanted to let you know that Chris and I had a wonderful time at Chateau de Berne last week. Mayung took very good care of us as ourhostess, and Jean-Louis is great! And of course the location is absolutely beautiful, as you know. We were made to feel very welcome the whole time we were there. I'm a few months pregnant, and Mayung did a great job of juggling our schedule so that I got some rest when I needed it but we also managed to fit in a lot of activities (including a visit to the market, a winery tour and wine tasting and a visit to a local abbey as well as some shopping on our own).And the cooking lessons were very well done. Chris and I were the only students (and in truth, Chris was the only one really cooking with Jean-Louis -- my job was to take notes and pictures!), so it felt like a one-on-one tutorial. Jean-Louis is a patient teacher and he did a good job of explaining everything he was doing. As the week progressed, Chris took a more and more active role in the food preparation, and the hands-on approach was very educational too. Everyone at Chateau de Berne was warm and friendly, and they really did make us feel very welcome there. This program was Chris's birthday present (his 40th) and I'm very pleased with how well it worked out! Thank you!