My very good friends, the Rener Family, have asked me to tell you about the cooking classes at their restaurant, La Chiusa. Guests at have been enjoying Dada's, Rener's and now her daughter Masha's, wonderful cooking for many years. La Chiusa has been written up to critical acclaim in many guidebooks, and an article was written about this outstanding restaurant in the magazine, Metropolitan Home.

More than three decades ago, the Rener family moved to Umbria, restored an old stone farmhouse, and began an organic farm and restaurant. This is now a forty acre working farm, on which they raise organic fruits and vegetables, as well as organically raised chickens, geese, and sheep. They use no chemical pesticides, fertilizers, or weed killers. Food is grown naturally, in a healthy environment.

The menu at La Chiusa changes with the seasons, and, depending on the seasons, so do the dishes taught at La Chuisa. In the fall, for example, you are likely to learn how to make tortellini, filled with freshly picked wild mushrooms, in a chestnut sauce. The breads are legendary, and students in her class are likely to learn how to make the cheese bread, which is baked in their wood fired oven. A typical meal at La Chiusa might be a starter of a mixture of beans and gnocchi in a tomato sauce, accompanied wine and bread. This might be followed by homegrown Tuscan-style braised lamb, with olive oil and herbs, served with grilled leeks and fresh peas from the garden. The dessert may be made with cherries, picked just an hour before dinner. All homemade and organically grown, of course.

The cooking class is given over a 4 day period, Monday thru Thursday. The cost for the class is 400 EURO per person. Masha will hold the class for a minimum of 2 people to a maximum of 8 people. This cost doesn't include dinner each day, the cost for the dinner is 35 EURO per person. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, the classes will be from 4:30PM to 7:30/8:00 PM ( if only 2 people are enrolled, then classes will be from 5:30 PM to 7:30/8:00 PM ),and, on Thursdays, when bread will be made, classes will be from 9 AM to 12:30 PM.

Because the restaurant gets especially busy in July and August, cooking classes may not be available in those months. If you would like more information about the classes, or to confirm current availability and prices, please contact Masha at lachiusa@lachiusa.com. Thank you.

Please contact Christine@calboccia.com, (behrsin3@earthlink.net), if you would like additional information. Thank you for your inquiry.

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