Italian food is special. And no, I am not talking about pizza, gelato, or pasta (although that's of course a big part). I am referring to the use of simple and local ingredients to create memorable dishes. In the countryside, you find some of the truest and most authentic flavors and recipes born from the land itself, passed down from one generation to the next. Italian food is not just about what is on the plate, it is about the moment at the table, the people, the laughter, and the stories that are shared between bites.

Meet Giada Mattioli, chef, teacher, and an amazing person to cook and laugh with, or watch cook while you enjoy incredible food and a glass of wine.

Tuscan cooking is passion, beauty, love, and outrageously delicious. In Giada’s kitchen, pasta is not just food, it is tradition, conversation, and connection. She uses recipes passed down from her Nonna, many of which were scribbled into the pages of an old planner. This charming calendar is like a book of treasure, filled with handwritten notes, splashes of sauce and wine, and memories of meals cooked together.

That is what makes her food so special. These recipes were not stored in a fancy notebook or cookbook, they were written wherever there was space to make sure the flavors, feelings, and family stories were never lost.

Today, Giada keeps that spirit alive, teaching curious travelers how to cook the dishes of her childhood and experience Tuscan life the way locals do, through simple ingredients, shared tables, and a whole lot of joy, of course with a glass of wine in hand.

A special thank you to Giada for generously sharing some of her favorite recipes from her nonna with us, and for welcoming us into her kitchen to film her showing how to make the perfect handmade pasta from scratch.

These are just a few of the dishes that Giada shares with our travelers during her cooking classes on our tours.

Want to meet Giada for a delicious class? Check out our upcoming tours for this spring and join us in Cortona for a hands-on experience. https://www.grapestained.com/tours 
https://www.tuscanycookingclasseswithgiada.com/

Giada’s Tagliatelle

Tagliatelle is a classic ribbon-shaped pasta, silky and tender, perfect for soaking up rich sauces. In these videos, Giada shows how simple ingredients, just flour, eggs, and a touch of extra virgin olive oil, transform into fresh pasta right in your hands.

There is something magical about watching flour, eggs, and hands come together to tell a story and leave you with a delicious memory. Don’t forget, it only takes a few minutes to make beautiful pasta with natural ingredients. Much quicker and far more delicious than a store-bought version full of preservatives, just saying 😉

Giada’s White Ragù

White ragu is a classic in Tuscany, where the focus is on local ingredients and simple, soulful cooking. In this dish, pork, veal, and sausage are slowly cooked with aromatic vegetables, fresh Mediterranean herbs, and a splash of Chianti. A rich vegetable broth keeps it tender and comforting, letting the flavors meld over time.

The result is a savory, herbaceous, and extremely cozy ragu that feels like a hug in a bowl. This ragù will bring Tuscany into your kitchen.

Giada’s Chianti Cooked Sausage

Chianti is not just for drinking, it’s a beautiful way to cook sausages and bring them to life with explosive flavor. In this recipe, the sausages are browned in extra virgin olive oil, simmered with Chianti, and finished with a splash of water, letting the wine infuse every bite.

Half a bottle goes into your ragù, half into your sausages, and maybe sneak a glass or two for yourself while cooking to bring it all together 😉

Giada’s Fagioli della Nonna

These beans are the perfect side dish for any meal, hearty, savory, and full of Tuscan flavor. In this recipe, garlic, fresh sage, and a touch of chili combine with cannellini beans to create a simple yet deeply comforting dish.

It is very important to use dried beans that you boil yourself, not canned beans, to get the right texture and flavor.

Giada’s Cantucci

Cantucci are the classic finisher to any Tuscan meal, best enjoyed with a glass of Vin Santo. Some call it dessert, we call it adult milk and cookies. These crunchy, chocolate-studded cookies are simple, comforting, and full of tradition. To enhance their flavor, you DIP them into your wine. Yes, you heard that right.

Cantucci e Vin Santo is a timeless ritual in Tuscany, meant to slow down the end of a meal, share stories, and savor moments with friends and family. The best Vin Santo is often not the finest bottle in the cellar, but the one poured with love, laughter, and memories that taste a little like home.

Thank you for joining us in Giada’s kitchen, exploring her family recipes, and sharing a little bit of Tuscan tradition. From handmade pasta to cantucci, every dish is a story, a memory, and a taste of home.

Cheers!
Ryan