Andrew Billows had so much fun during his day at an Italian cooking school late last year that he’s planning to run something similar in his Adelaide agency.

Andrew Billows with the hills of Montecatini in the background

The Phil Hoffmann Travel branch manager was among agents touring Italy for about 10 days with Venture Holidays.

During a 3-night stay in the Tuscany spa town of Montecatini, an hour by train from Florence, the group got to spend a day at a cooking school run in a villa by the head chef at their hotel.

It began with an early-morning excursion to produce markets and shops to buy fruit, vegetables and meat, followed by a visit to an olive press factory.

"If you’ve never smelt fresh olive oil you’re really missing something", Andrew says. "It was amazing".

By 10.30am, the agents were developing a taste for prosecco, a popular Italian sparkling wine

And by noon, in full kitchen gear (aprons on and towels hanging out of back pockets) they were on to the cooking bit.

"We started off chopping up vegetables, learning about various cuts of meat and making pasta", Andrew says.

"Then we were invited to prepare a ravioli dish.

"Halfway through, it was explained that what we were making was what we were going to be having for lunch. That really focussed our minds".

Andrew came away feeling the whole day was "just such a great experience", due in large part to the chef’s sense of humour, his passion for his work and the way he discussed cooking techniques and the use of ingredients.

"It was all so casual", he says. "You didn’t feel you were being lectured to. You felt part of the whole thing.

"It was a really inclusive experience. Just a fabulous day".

So much so that he intends trying to re-create the atmosphere at his Glenelg agency.

New premises it’s hoping to occupy from late January have an area suitable for client presentations, with an adjoining kitchen.

"It’s an ideal set-up for staging cooking demonstrations", he says.

"I’m a bit of an amateur when it comes to cooking. But we could have a French or Italian chef come in to prepare various dishes.

"It would be a great selling tool with European holidays".

Venture Holidays promotes wine and cooking classes in Tuscany under the banner ‘Our Table in Tuscany’. For details, click here