Maggie's Farm

I have a few friends who have taken trips to France or Italy to attend 5-day to one week hands-on cooking schools. Generally, husband and wife participate although one is usually more interested than the other. Some also offer classes for youth.

Many of the schools run from around noon or 1 through suppertime, when the students eat their creations together. The meal planning and local shopping are part of most courses except for the ones sited on farms.

People have told me that these have been the most fun they have ever had while traveling because it gets you into the culture and away from the "sights."

Here's a small sample.

Just for fun, you can google "tourist cooking schools near Paris," or "in Provence", or "in Italy,"  etc. As you know, each region of Italy has its own cuisine and its own different produce.