When was La Cucina Caldesi founded?

La Cucina Caldesi opened its dedicated kitchen studio, next door to Caffe Caldesi in July 2005.

Who owns La Cucina Caldesi?

La Cucina Caldesi is privately owned by restaurateurs Giancarlo & Katie Caldesi.

Where did the idea for La Cucina Caldesi come from?

Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi were running cookery classes over the last few years from the kitchens of their two Marylebone Lane restaurant locations, Caldesi Tuscan restaurant and Caffe' Caldesi.  Due to increasing demand, they decided to open a dedicated school  offering the chance for the public to work with professional chefs and wine experts; that is how La Cucina Caldesi came about.

Are the courses suitable for men and women?

Absolutely, men and women are both welcome, the ratio is approximately 68% female and 32% men.  We also run a course entitled 'Men in the kitchen', which is geared for men only and gives them a chance to learn the essentials of mastering a 3 course lunch/dinner.

What age are the students?

All ages, usually between 20 - 65 years, but there is no age limit.   We also offer childrens cookery courses from 5 years - 12 years and also for teenagers.

If you are,  or have a teenager who would like to join one of our scheuled courses that is not classifed as a 'teens' course, please call the office, T: 0207 487 0750/6/8 to discuss the suitability.

What sort of cooking will I do?

The majority of our cookery classes are hands-on, so everyone can get involved as much or as little as they like.  Any courses that are demonstrations, will be clearly marked.

The majority of our courses teach Italian cuisine or with dishes with a mediterranean slant, some courses have a contemporary twist to them making them more suitable for everyday modern cooking.

Does the school provide the recipes and food ingredients?

Yes.  All ingredients and recipes are supplied.

How many students are there in a class?

For a scheduled course we aim to have a maximum number of 16 students, we sometimes have extra people booking to join as lunch guests, we aim to have a maximum of 6 guests joining us for lunch.  

For our tailor-made cookery classes our sizes range from 8 - 26 people.

What do I need to bring with me?

Wear comfortable shoes as you will be on your feet for quite along time.  Non-slip shoes are essential for working in a kitchen.

We provide La Cucina Caldesi aprons for all our students to wear during the course; (these can be purchased for an extra charge, please contact the office for further details).

We provide all the recipes you will need.  It would be a good idea to bring a pen and note book.

Please bring with you your confirmation of your booking if you have been given the course as a gift please bring your gift voucher with you.

Do we get to eat the food we make?

Yes, the majority of our courses include lunch/dinner which consists of the dishes you have prepared yourselves.  This will be specified in the course details.

How do I know which course to take?

We have explained under the course headings what is involved in each cookery course, this will give you a clearer idea as to the sorts of dishes that will be cooked and the level of experience needed.  If you have any queries please call the office on Tel: 0207 487 0750/6/8 and we will happily help you to choose a suitable course.

Do I need some cooking experience?

At La Cucinia Caldesi it doesn't matter if you don't have any cookery experience, we are a cookery school and it is our job to teach you.  We want you to leave us having learnt a new skill,  (or two) as well as having had lots of fun and perhaps even made some new friends.

We have a few courses which are aimed at the keen beginner and other courses which are more suitable for kenn enthusiastic cooks with more experience.  Call the office on Tel:  0207 487 0750/6/8 if you want some more information about any courses.