Toasting Tuscany
August 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, Palazzo Casali 8:00 - 8:45 pm
Enjoy sampling some of the best local meats, cheeses and award winning wines alongside an assortment gourmet canapés as part of our series of Pre Concert Receptions showcasing locally produced food and wine. Set in a medieval courtyard just 2 minutes walk to the Theatre, different local wine estates will be featured each day while a renowned local restaurateur will cater the reception with locally sourced produce.

Euro 25 per person
RESERVE by phone or online

Cooking with Mamma
Monday 3rd, Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th August 12:00 - 2:00pm
The Courtyard of Sant Agostino
‘In Italy, anyone will tell you, the best cook is always your Mamma’.The Cooking with Mamma series of cooking demonstrations sold out in 2008. Limited to just 30 people each time - Donatella and her son Michele create a four course Tuscan meal – giving an insight on how traditional and famous Tuscan food is cooked in the home. It’s entertaining, inspiring and interactive for those who want to get involved with rolling the pasta! You don’t have to cook at home to be fascinated at how simply these dishes come together and yet what mouth watering creations are served.
Set outdoors in the grassy monastery courtyard of Sant Agostino - Donatella cooks and explains the various techniques she is using while her son Michele assists her and translates into English. They finish up by serving a light and informal lunch that has just been prepared – accompanied by a glass of excellent local wine.
Each demonstration will include an antipasto, a first course, a second course and dessert. We encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment – the demonstrations attract all ages and genders!
Cooking themes:
Monday 3rd August: Recipes dating from Medieval times
Wednesday 5th August: Recipes from the Renaissance period
Thursday 7th August: Dishes specific to Cortona.

Euro 40 per person - Limited to 25 people
RESERVE by phone or online

Il Falconiere Wine Tasting and Lunch
Saturday 8th August 11:30 - 3:00pm
11:30 am Meeting point at Piazza Garibaldi, Cortona or 12:00 at Il Falconiere Restaurant.
Il Falconiere Restaurant is a Michelin-starred restaurant owned by Silvia and Riccardo Baracchi. The restaurant is surrounded by the Baracchi vineyards and the setting could be a scene from a Tuscan painting. The wines to taste along with the lunch will be include the white Astore 2007, Smeriglio Sangiovese 2007 and Ardito 2006. The tasting and lunch will provide a unique experience to taste the DOC accredited Baracchi wines, speak with the wine maker as well as taking in the setting of Il Falconiere and a superb Michelin starred three-course lunch.
Limited to 25 people, the price includes the visit of the wineries, aperitif, lunch and beverages.

Euro 60 per person
RESERVE by phone or online

Cheesemaking Workshop
Tuesday 4th and Wednesday August 6th 11:30am - 1:00pm
Ristorante La Bucaccia, Via Ghibellina 17 Cortona
Cheese maker Romano Magi is passionate about his craft and has been teaching cheese making in his popular restaurant for years. Romano peppers his lessons with background about cheese making in Tuscany – including details on the Etruscan age when cheese was made in the fields after milking and pressed into fresh herbs. His interactive class will involve making Classic Pecorino, Ricotta and Raviggiolo as well as other fresh cheeses incorporating Mediterranean herbs and cheese with spices. He will demonstrate Abbinamenti – combining cheese tasting with various jams and wines, Aperitivi al Formaggio Dolci e Salati – creating salty and sweet cheese canapes and Dessert Al Formaggio – a cheese dessert.
The demonstration includes lunch – provided by Agostina, Romano’s wife, and the chef of La Bucaccia.

Euro 35 including lunch – limited to 15 people
RESERVE by phone or online


Etruscan tour and lecture with Etruscan Lunch
Cortona Sunday August 9th, 9:30 pm - 3.00 pm,
Meeting point at Piazza del Mercato, Cortona.
An exciting and unique opportunity to be taken on a guided tour of this recently opened archaeological park, by the two professors who have been leading the excavation since 1990. The Italian-Canadian partnership of Professor Helen Fracchia and Professor Maurizio Gualitieri will take a small group on tour of the site as well as give a talk on their discoveries and insights into Etruscan and Roman life in the vicinity of Cortona. The tour and lecture will be followed up with an authentic Etruscan lunch, which has been carefully put together exclusively for the Tuscan Sun Festival. You can learn more about the excavation and the Professors here.
9.30 am: Meeting point at Piazza del Mercato, Cortona.
Departure by shuttle (15 mins) to the archaeological park to meet with Professors Maurizio Gualtieri (University of Perugia) and Helena Fracchia (University of Edmonton).
Guided tour of the archaeological park in English and Italian.
11.30 am: Shuttle to Borgo il Melone for a lecture by Professors Maurizio Gualtieri and Helena Fracchia about Etruscan and Roman Cortona.
1.00 pm: Four course Etruscan lunch.
3.00 pm: departure by shuttle to piazza del Mercato, Cortona

Etruscan Lunch Menu:
A booklet with explanations about the menu will be available for participants.
Antipasto: Grapevine leaves stuffed rolls of spelt and vegetables, Olive tart; bread puff pastry without yeast, with black and green olives and boiled eggs with mint sauce
First course: Broad bean soup
Main course: Honey pork; leg marinated with honey, fennel and laurel.
Accompanied by dressed lettuce, and leeks in sauce
Dessert; Tyropatinam; cooked cream with honey and pepper, Offellae; omelette with fresh cheese with honey and poppy seeds, Dulcia; sweet bread with dry figs.

Euro 45 per person Limited to 50 people
RESERVE by phone or online