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Dicono di noi  /  They say about us

“The best cooking class ever!”

My friends and I arranged a private cooking class in Florence at Magici Sapori. It was incredible!! The kitchen was modern, spotless, and provided room for the 7 of us to cluster around the cook top and easily work with our chef, Giuseppe Castri. We prepared 4 courses and though we were all skilled cooks and our party included a professional cook, we learned many tips and much history of Florentine cooking. We enjoyed eating each of our courses paired with a perfect wine, and long after the cooking was over, we sat and sipped espresso and enjoyed the company of Mr. and Mrs. Castri and their lovely assistant and translator. In fact, by the end of the day, we all felt we understood everything Giuseppe was saying without translation, though perhaps that can be attributed to the perfect wines and excellent company. We all felt that this cooking experience was the best part of our two weeks in Italy and we will certainly cook with Giuseppe again should we ever be lucky enough to visit Florence in the future!!!

29/07/2007

Cooking class at Magici Sapori

Dear Guiseppe and Sandra,

Roger and I can’t possibly thank you enough for the pasta making class we enjoyed with you last week.  It was, without a doubt, the absolute highlight of our trip to Italy.  We searched everywhere to find a course that would meet our needs.  We wanted only to learn how to make pasta by hand.  We wanted a small, intimate atmosphere with true locals teaching the course.  We wanted the course to be hands on.  With Magici Sapori we received that, and so much more.

You both were so warm and friendly.  Our class began at 9:30, and by 10:00 you were serving us warm foccaccia and prosciutto and opening the first bottle of red wine!  I cannot believe how much we learned in one day.  By late afternoon we had made 4 different types of pasta by hand, along with various fillings.  We were cooking, tasting, eating and drinking the whole day.  We also made a huge batch of Biscotti di Prato, which we enjoyed warm from the oven with a glass of Vin Santo.

We really felt as if we were spending a day cooking with family. Guiseppe and Sandra even thought to have us call our son who was studying in Florence to come and join us for the meal.  He arrived in time to sit down and enjoy the first of four incredible pasta dishes that we had created.  Guiseppe and Sandra served each pasta paired with a different sauce that Guiseppe cooked before us, and each dish was eaten with a wine that Guiseppe matched up to the dish.  I cannot imagine how I was ever able to eat and drink so much, but I do know that I was enjoying every minute of it!

I would encourage anyone to take a class with Magici Sapori.  We received so much more than we thought we were going to get.  Guiseppe continually shared his wealth of knowledge about Italian wines and local cuisine.  He gave us the best recommendations for dining in Florence and where to purchase wine and vinegar to take home.  By the time we left Guiseppe and Sandra at the end of the day, we were hugging and kissing and feeling as if we were leaving dear friends.  Our family has been to Italy almost a dozen times, and we will definitely remember this day as one of our best spent in Italy ever!

By the way, 3 days after we returned to the States, we woke up early one morning and made 2 pounds of tagliatelle pasta, which we later cooked with a porcini mushroom sauce.  We followed the recipe from the Magici Sapori notebook, using the lessons that we learned from Guiseppe, and it was a total success!

Grazie per tutto!

Debra and Roger A.

24/04/2008

Dear Giuseppe and Sandra,

Thank you. A million thanks. My daughter said our lessons with you were the highlight of her first trip to Europe. High praise indeed from a 13 year old. I trust you know how wonderful your school is. But does everyone else? Just in case they don't know what awaits them at Magici Sapori, excuse me while I speak directly to them.

From the most experienced professional chef to the novice who hasn't mastered how to boil water, I recommend Magici Sapori with the greatest confidence that your experince will indeed be magical. You will learn not only how to prepare dishes both complicated and simple, but you will discover the reasons, both practical and scientific, that make them delicious. Therefore, even if a dish seems simple -- perhaps one you've made 1,000 times or one that requires only three or four ingredients -- do not hesitate to have Giuseppe show you how to prepare it. Why? I thought I knew a lot about cooking as well as the reasons and methods behind a recipe's directions. I knew nothing.

Two minutes into my first lesson, I knew I had spent my money wisely. Every few minutes I was grabbing a pen to write another secret that made me smack my head and mutter, "Of course!" I'm too selfish to share the two dozen or so secrets I picked up in only two lessons at Magici Sapori, but let's just say that I would have gladly bribed Giuseppe the same amount of money for three of the secrets what I paid him for the pair of seven-course meals worthy of five stars. Meals, no matter how sublime, come and go. Cooking secrets last forever.

I'm a bit of a nerd who likes to know the why behind the how. So is Giuseppe, and that's why I really fell in love with Magici Sapori. He is a culinary history buff who charmed the staff at the National Library in Florence into dusting off ancient books containing centuries-old Tuscan recipes. With Giuseppe's extensive research into the history of Tuscan cooking and his natural talent as a teacher, the lessons become your doorway into the rich culture that created them. A most delicious history lesson. Think Harvard with excellent food and wine. Lots of wine. And lots of laughter. I don't know how other cooking schools operate, but having experienced the magic of Magici Sapori, I'm in no rush to find out. Food. Secrets. Wine. Magic. Culture. History. It's no wonder my daughter and I slept for 12 hours after our first lesson.

Kudos also to Giuseppe's elegant wife Sandra, a lovely woman whose warm and charming presence in the state-of-the-art stainless steel kitchen brings a touch of home to the experience. Adding to the fun -- especially when they gently disagree -- is Giuseppe's translator, a beautiful young woman named Claudia whose own culinary knowledge is impressive. By the end of the lesson, you feel as if you've met relatives you never knew you had but always longed for. If you're even half as charming to this wonderful trio as they will no doubt be towards you, they may share some of the secrets that their experience, studies, and ancestors have bestowed on them. Be warned, though. You pay for the lessons ... and the fantastic meal that results from those lessons. The secrets, however, are a gift.

I only have one complaint. I am not the executive producer of the Food Channel. If I were, I would sign up this magical trio, produce their cooking show on cable, and collect the royalties. Then my daughter Anna and I can take all the lessons we want from Giuseppe and Sandra. We love you,

Lisa McCormack and Anna Gencarelli

15/06/2006

Dear Giuseppe,

We would like to thank you for teaching us so many wonderful things in the cooking classes this past October.

And to ask you to do it again!  More intensively!!

In April 2007, F. and I want to organize a week of culinary activities.

We are very excited about this new opportunity, and are looking forward to hearing back from you soon.

Regards, Lynn

03/12/2006

I enjoyed meeting and spending time with you learning about your incredible cuisine...  I miss being there every morning...  I hope we can get together again in Florence or in California...  Maybe we can organize a group class in California during the Autumn...

Thank you for teaching me so many incredible recipes.!  I have been practicing many of them already:  Peposo, Anatra  all' arancia, Melanzane a la vinaigrette, Lasagne con Ragu di carne, Crespelle alla Fiorentina, Crespelle di funghi e di asparagus...

I now have a much better appreciation for the Cucina Toscana and its origin and history. I wish I could have stayed longer...

Attached please find some photographs that I took of the ingredients, Maestro and its team.

Warm regards,

                                  Ed. T.

26/03/2006

L. and I would like to thank you so much for the wonderful cooking experience that we had at your school.  We were there right after Easter.

The food was delicious and your hospitality was excellent and heartwarming.

We talk about all of you and how much fun we had.  L. has tried out some of the recipes and we are eating well.

Arivederci for now.  Hope to see you soon.   Molto Grazie!!!

                                        L., C., G. & A. L.

01/05/2006

Caro Giuseppe,

Mille grazie ,era troppo gentile  di portare le mie cose a  la scuola. Le due sere nella vostra scuola erano indimenticabile esperienze per me. Tutte i due menu con i vini, che hai fatto con noi erano meravigliose.

Qui a Danimarca ho fatto involtini di vitello alla fiorentina e melanzane marinata per mia famiglia.

Spero che ci vediamo.Ho voglia di ancora andara nella vostra scuola di cucina.

Tanti cordiali saluti a voi tutti.

I. G.

23/05/2006

Hello Mr Giuseppe and Mrs Sandra,

I just wanted to thank you on behalf of my entire group for the incredible cooking class at Scuola di Cucina -  Magici Sapori! Though we are all experienced cooks, we each felt that we learned several valuable tips while cooking with you! We loved the recipes you shared with us and treasure the book you provided for us to take home.  Your is incredibly clean, modern, and beautiful, and we really enjoyed the time with you and your wife and also with Claudia. Not only did we learn to cook Florentine, but we feel that we made new friends!

Certainly the cooking, the eating, the drinking such wonderful wines was well worth the money paid but best of all was the time with you and the magic of your company. We all agreed that  cooking with you was our very favorite experience for the whole two weeks we spent in Italy!

Thank you again for our class. Should you and your wife ever be in Austin Texas, please call me. We would happily host you for a few days and treat you to our regional specialties!

                                                                Sincerely, Liz R.

July 19th 2007

Hi Guiseppe and Sandra,

It did get the recipe and I will also thank you for a very good, nice and fun cooking class!

I had in very enthusiastic words described for my colleagues at work and my friends about you and I told them this a perfect thing to do when you are visiting Florence.

Even if you just take a "long weekend" you can use one evening to this and I had actually got some friends that became vey intrested...special when I told them that they don't have the pressure of actually cooking (if they don't want to)... they could just sit and watch you preparing the meal, having a glass of vine and writing down the tip that you're giving during the preparation.

So they said "I'm in next time you'll go there"...so I might arrange one myself :-)

All the best to you all and I hope to see you soon again!  Kind regards,

                                                                Eva

20/05/2007

Dear Giuseppe and Sandra,

Have finally gotten around to say thankyou so very much for an absolutely wonderful day of cooking. Julia, Alana and I have not stopped talking about the day we spent with you.

Not only did we learn so much in the culinary delights of Tuscany we spent time with two lovely people that made the whole experience unforgettable.

We have already cooked some of the recipes that we chose from that day and we think of you all when we sit down to eat.

John and Andrew both loved the food we took back to them especially the Tiramisu.

From the preparation to the cooking, to the eating and tasting of the specially selected wines the day was a truly unforgettable one for both my daughters and I. We will definitely be coming back for more.

Cannot recommend the experience more highly.  Thankyou

                                                      Deborah, Julia and Alana C.

21/08/2007

Giuseppe y Sandra “Magici Sapori”

Muchas gracias por compartir sus secretos de cocina!!! 

Fue una experiencia maravillosa haber compartido con ustedes un sábado tan especial entre sabores, gustos, colores y olores!!!!

Gracias por la profesionalidad, el empeño, el gusto, y el afecto que se recibe en "Magici sapori".

Durante un tiempo cuando estaba en Guatemala, almorzaba al menos 3 veces a la semana con mi abuelita.  Siempre me preparaba un pedazo de pollo y una ensalada de tomate... y era un sabor tan especial... un día le dije...

Abuelita, usted siempre me prepara la misma cosa... y siempre lo disfruto tanto... que le echa… ella me contesto...  Mucho amor, y eso hace la diferencia.

Me parece que ustedes dos, usan ese mismo ingrediente, "el amor"  y eso hace la diferencia!

MUCHAS, MUCHAS GRACIAS!!!!!!

Hivy

27/02/2006

Cara Giuseppe e Sandrina,

Ho avuto un esperienza memorabile. Mi ho divertito molto. Lo hanno fatto piacevole. Mentre tutti mia vita, ho avuto una lezione solamente, molto anni fa. Era molto noioso, perche non ne ho imparato niente. Mi piace cucinare e cucinavo molto.

Mi sono piaciuto tutti gli ottimi piatti. E tutti miei sensi hanno stimolerato. Vorrei ritornare.

Grazie mille!!

Lydia M. T.

14/07/2007

Dear Giuseppe and Sandra,

Thank you for a wonderful experience for our family.  We left your cooking school with beaming faces, full stomachs and newfound friends!

I hope you enjoy these pictures.

Kind regards,

Kirsten D.H.

16/04/2007

Cari chef,

mi ricordi affetuosamente e con molta gratitudine le meravigliose classi di cucina a Magici Sapori / Firenze nel mese di luglio 2006. Quando sono ritornata agli Stati Uniti ho cucinato per i miei amici. Amano le ricette che hanno dato a me.

Quest'anno, mia figlia Christina ed io ritorneremo in Italia. Siamo a Firenze il mese di Giugno. Sarò possible di prendere ancora classi di cucina per noi?

Maria W.

09/05/2007

Ciao a tutti!

Mi dispiace per il mio italiano. Ho fatto il tuo corso di cucina un anno fa. Buonissimo!! Il mio nome e Leelah S.

Adesso io studio in L'accademia di belle arti in Firenze. Io e la mia amica (Yolanda J.) vuole fare ancora questo corso.

Grazie Mille!!

Leelah

09/11/2006

Buon giorno Giuseppe!

Come vai? Sono Filippo di Lussemburgo, ho partecipato com molto piacere al tuo corso di cucina due settimane fa. Mi piaceva molto imparare da te con gli altri studenti.

Sono tornato a casa sabato scorso anche se volevo rimanere a Firenze. Però ci sono dei compiti che mi aspettano qui a Lussemburgo, cioè l'Università.

Ho appena letto le tue note di conferenza sulla storia della cucina fiorentina di cui posso utilizzare molte informazioni per un compito che devo fare per l'Università. Sto scrivendo qualcosa sull'Italia nel Medioevo. Ti manderò una copia se vuoi, però è in francese.

Ti auguro una buona fine della settimana con i saluti più cordiali.

                                    Ciao Filippo

27/04/2006

Buon giorno Pepe,

Susan and I want to let you know we  have enjoyed our first recipe that we learned  at our extraordinary cooking class with you.  It was the highlight of our honeymoon.

We prepared the pesto alla genovese -- favoloso!

We are looking forward to our next class.               

Buon Natale

Bert R. and Susan L.

11/12/2007

On our one month trip across Europe my wife and I  had the opportunity to spent a week in Florence.  We had enjoyed everything Italy had offered us and really couldn't take anything else away.  Giuseppe and his cooking school soon changed that.  Our one on one day of cooking, drinking, history and eating was the highlight of our Italian experience, something that I  tell everyone traveling that direction everyday.  What is obvious to us is how Italy is defined by the culinary differences from region to region, and how each defend their regions recipes and techniques as that quintessential essence of how Italy should be represented.  This world within a world was revealed to us by Giuseppe, with his meticulous attention and passion for the history of Italian and Florentine cooking, his genuine love for food, and above all else, the joy in which he shares the secrets of his craft. 

Giuseppe only makes up 1/3 of the team.  With beautiful wife manning the espresso machine and his true equal in the kitchen and equally passionate translator Linda completed the truly special experience.

Two months after our trip the only lasting evidence one month in Europe is our new found cooking ability.  This class is something everyone should have on their list.

Thank you.

T. &  I.

20/07/2008

other language

“Great food, great company!”

During a recent stay in Florence, I was fortunate enough to participate in 3 classes at the Magici Sapori Cookery School with Giuseppe Castri. I was told the classes would last for approximately four hours, however, often they lasted for much longer, during which time we worked as a team to prepare a delicious meal of an antipasto, primo, secondo, and dessert. Giuseppe, his wife Sandra, and translator Linda were fantastic! Such an incredibly generous and lovely group of people who made these lessons very entertaining, informative and fun! Each course of the meal was accompanied with the appropriate wine and we were fortunate to try a sample of the regions finest cheeses as well. These were more than just a regular cooking class - they were an experience! I will most certainly take part in more should I ever have the opportunity to return to beautiful Florence!

                                                                                                                                               Adelaide

10/03/2009

The cooking class was absolutely terrific. We were supposed to be there to 9 and we left after 11. We also considered it one of the highlights of our already fabulous adventure.

                                        F & T.

08/08/2009