VALTER has many memories of evenings spent in a large and busy Italian kitchen with “nonna” where he picked up the traditions and kitchen culture that are today the essence and basis of any modern successful Italian chef.He studied professionally at the Istituto Alberghiero di Casargo, a culinary institute on the border between Italy and Switzerland, which over the years lead to several successful positions in renowned restaurants throughout Italy and the world.During his travels he met up with Ugo Amato in London, an acclaimed pastry chef who encouraged him to specialise in pastry.They worked together for over 2 years preparing and creating some of the most sought after pastries and cakes in London and also supplying the British Royal family.In order to improve his English, it was time to move out of London to the wild and beautiful forests and moorlands of Northumberland in the North of England (one stop before Scotland and close to Hadrian’s Wall – once part of the Roman Empire!).He became Head Pastry Chef at the five star resort of Slaley Hall Hotel, host to many a PGA golf tournament where he made Colin Montgomery’s victory cake whilst also discovering a passion for golf. It was here where he also met Julia. However, craving the “bella vita” of Italy and after spending 3 years under the English rain Valter returned to Tuscany and has been involved in cooking schools for many successful years now, working alongside the formidable Tuscan chef Alvaro Maccioni of La Famiglia in London.To compliment his vast kitchen knowledge and encouraged by a dear friend and master sommelier, Raoul Ferrari, Valter studied for 3 years with AIS (Italian Sommelier Association) to become a sommelier, fueling a passion not only for Italian wines, in particular Tuscan, Sicilian and Piedmonte, but also those (old and new) from around the world. Valter’s kitchen is the centre of a warm and welcoming Italian family home where he looks forward to taking you on an inspiring culinary journey of good food and fine wine and sharing with you the tips, tricks and secrets of a chef either on one of our specially organised 6 day residential courses, winter weekend programmes, one-day hands-on cooking sessions, as a private chef in your holiday rental villa,or on one of our special chef and wine tours of Tuscany.
VILLA SERVICE SRL THE TUSCAN CHEF, INSPIRING CULINARY JOURNEYS Tel/Fax: +39 0583 971464
