About Italy Eats!
Italian Cooking Classes
Tasty Tuscan
Cooking Classes
in Beverly MA
Book any cooking, pizza making or specialty food class for 8 or more and receive your reservation for free!
Click here for details about
our Tuscan Special
Shelly Green
Shelly was born in Holland and came to America at the age of three. Growing up, the kitchen was her preferred playground. While other kids were out playing, Shelly would be watching "In the kitchen with Julia Child" on TV.
By the time she was seventeen, she was running her own deli out of the back of a small convenience store in Laconia, NH.
Although she did well, she realized that cold cuts and unadventurous local clientele greatly limited her culinary creativeness and ambitions. Shelly knew that if she were to ever develop her talents and discover her potential, relocation to the big city (Boston) would be necessary. It turned out to be a fortuitous move.
It was there where she met her soul mate, Raffaele, and Italian born businessman with a passion for life, and an expectation for authentic Italian food, set impossibly high by a lifetime of this mother's "cucina casalinga" (home cooking).
The experience also made her realize that the "business" side of the food service industry took a lot of the fun and freedom out of the equation. She chose to pursue a food "lifestyle" instead by making cooking, entertaining, and culinary travels a centerpiece of her lifestyle. Her passion for Italian cooking grew from numerous family gatherings, where the matriarchal "nonna's" would prepare handmade pastas and other traditional dishes. Shelly was amazed to find out that many of the recipes, passed along for generations, were centuries old!
Shelly and Raffaele attended "La Vera Cucina Italiana" cooking school in Umbria, Italy in 1988 where Master Chef Donoldo Soviero took much of the mystery out of cooking. Shelly was immediately hooked. At that moment, she decided to make it her mission to attend as many cooking schools as possible. With each season she has learned the many different and flavorful dishes of Italy, each region having its own personality.
Shelly and Raffaele reside in Beverly Farms, MA. She is presently teaching Italian cooking in her specially designed Tuscan kitchen at home. She also puts together small intimate trips to Italy where "hands-on" cooking creations are a must.
The trips can also be designed so they are of an "a la carte" nature, with one being able to design a vacation based on personal interests.
Her colleagues and close friends from Italy have created a variety of custom trips. These custom trips are sure to leave an indelible mark in your memory about the food, the people, and "La dolce Vita" (the good life) in hopes that you will want to return again and again.
Alessio Farolfi, Chef
Alessio presently lives in Florence where he was born. He came on board with Italy Eats! in 2010 and is our "in-house" chef and trainer when we do our cooking weeks in Italy. Alessio is multi talented and has worked in London, Milan & Bologna as a chef. He is a culinary graduate of Aurelio Saffi Firenze. In 2000 he became owner of his own business, La Boutique della Trippa in Florence, specializing in tripe. He has been recognized by i Espresso, Gambero Rosso, La Gola in Tasca e Osteria d'Italia. He also participate in a culinary program called Cibi di Strada (Road Food) on the Gambero Rosso Channel. the equivalent of the Foot Network. Aside from being a great chef, Alessio is full of knowledge about Tuscany and is excited to share that with Italy Eats guests! Another talent he pursues in his off time is tennis. Perfect for our tennis holidays in Italy! His food and his humor makes him very "Italiano."
Maurizio Buccioni, Private Driver
Maurizio was born and raised in Rome. He started his own company back in 2001. Maurizio loves to show visitors the sites of Rome, steeped in history, and its surroundings. His portfolio of clients is testimony to his talent and discretion.
Shelly met Maurizio in 2004 at Meo Patacca, a popular restaurant in Trastevere, one of the few lively tourist places one must visit at least once (live, old Roman music, long tables covered in checkered table clothes, dining al fresco, etc...) She has been calling on Maurizio ever since. Today he takes visitors from North to South and anywhere in between on very special excursions one doesn't normally see with other traditional tour companies. He has a vast knowledge of interesting sights to see and things to do.
When hiring a private driver in Rome, it's hard to know who you are choosing for your special vacation. Maurizio also offers transportation from airports and cruise ships.
Maurizio has been working with Italy Eats! for the past 7 years and has become a close friend and colleague. Check him out at www.limoitalyrooms.it and tell him Shelly sent you!
