Valter Roman, The International Kitchen
If you asked Valter what he wanted to do when he was a child he would have always said "a chef"! Even at 10 year old he had all the tools of the trade as well as his chef's whites! Hence many an evening in an Italian kitchen with grandma and mamma picking up the traditions and kitchen culture that are today the essence and basis of any modern successful Italian chef.
Valter 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 specialize 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! Valter then moved on to become Head Pastry Chef at the five star resort and old hall hotel of Slaley Hall in the North of England, host to many a PGA golf tournament. It was here in the wild and beautiful Northumbrian forest and moorlands that he discovered a passion for golf.
However, craving the "bella vita" of Italy 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, who has encouraged him to be experimental but not lose sight of the true Tuscan flavours and disciplines in cooking. To compliment his vast kitchen knowledge, Valter also studied for 3 years with the AIS (Italian Sommelier Association) to become a sommelier, fueling a passion for the wonderful Tuscan wines the region has to offer. When he's not in the cooking school kitchen, you'll find him and his young professional team at his restaurant, the Gazebo at Locanda L'Elisa in Lucca.
Valter's kitchen is the centre of a 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 secrets of his Tuscan kitchen either on one of our specially organised 6 day residential cooking courses, as private chef in your holiday rental villa or "At Home with the Chef"; small, unique and individually designed cooking courses in the chef's home.
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