Honoring time and the natural process in cake design

JOIN JASMINE in Bella Toscana

“I’m fascinated by materials curled by the effect of time, boasting the articulation of use and wear from life past. Its beauty is so rich. I recreate this look of aging afresh, in food, ironically, abusing my decorative sugar surfaces with a delicate hand, pushing the sugar’s potential for that richness beyond what I’ve previously known or seen, forging textures that play with light and shadow. Each cake shows me something new…” ~ Jasmine Rae

ABOUT Jasmine Rae

Jasmine’s extraordinary cakes are truly that: extraordinary. Each is its own stunning work of art, designed with carefully chosen ingredients to create an edible masterpiece. Her cakes have been featured in the following online and print publications: The Lane, Martha Stewart Magazine, The Knot, Brides Magazine, Grace Ormond, Wedding Style Magazine, Style Me Pretty, OnceWed, Borrowed and Blue, Green Wedding Shoes, Modern Luxury Brides Magazine, Snippet and Ink, Magnolia, Rouge, San Francisco Magazine, Huffington Post, Flutter, Carats & Cake, Grey Likes, 7×7 Magazine, Pacific Weddings Magazine, Flutter Magazine, The Cake Blog, 100 Layer Cake … and many more.

ABOUT THIS EXTRAORDINARY Workshop 

“This course is about learning principles that may help YOU find YOU, your own voice, a voice you may want to share with the world in the robust form of a thriving business. This course isn’t about a formula, isn’t about tips and tricks, or how to be me. I’m extremely proud of what we have created for you, because it’s about using myself as an example of a journey. Although this workshop is rooted in practicality, technique, and lessons, it’s also beautiful – and most importantly, it’s about me sharing with you my perspective and principles, as well as my approach to myself as an artist. My hope is that you will do the same so you’ll end up with something uniquely YOU.” ~ Jasmine Rae

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival

• Highlights: Arrival, welcome and orientation
• Aperitivo, dinner

Upon your arrival at Rome Fiumicino Airport, our private driver will transport you to the Italian countryside, and your boutique hotel accommodations in the unspoiled village of Città della Pieve. After check in, you’ll enjoy a walking tour of the historic center of the village, with trip facilitator, Pamela Haack, before joining Jasmine Rae in the studio space for an overview of the upcoming workshop.

This evening you’ll enjoy a welcome aperitivo and delicious, regional-style dinner.

Day 2: Studio, Saffron, Bruschetta

• Highlights: Instruction with Jasmine, sketching lesson, saffron tasting, bruschetta lesson
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning after a delicious breakfast, you’ll join Jasmine for a full morning session in the light-filled studio space. Afterwards, it’s off to our friend, Alessandro’s, shop for a private saffron tasting and light lunch.

In afternoon you’ll continue your class time with Jasmine, including a village walk and sketching lesson. Afterwards you’ll join your fellow students at a nearby trattoria for a delightful bruschetta lesson followed by a family-style dinner cooked alle brace (over coals). 

Day 3: Studio, Pienza 

• Highlights: Instruction with Jasmine, visit to Pienza, organic flour mill
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning, after breakfast, you’ll head back to the studio with Jasmine for another fantastic morning of learning and creating.

After lunch it’s off to the Val d’Orcia region of Tuscany and the adorable hill town of Pienza where you’ll be able to shop (so many artisan shops!) and explore the winding alleyways that open to spectacular views over the valley below. Afterwards we’ll continue to a medieval castle, turned organic flour mill, where you’ll enjoy a private tour of the facility, and view the centuries-old practice of stone-groinding flour. After a fascinating tour of the mill, dinner will be served up in the mill’s cozy restaurant. 

This evening you’ll enjoy aperitivo at a local trattoria, that includes a bruschetta-making lesson and dinner cooked alle brace (over coals). 

Day 4: Studio, Dolce Lesson, Pizza

• Highlights: Instruction with Jasmine, dolce lesson, pizza night
• Breakfast, lunch

This morning, after another delicious breakfast, you’ll join Jasmine in the studio for a fabulous morning session, followed by a walk to our friend, Cristian’s, bistro for a delightful, hands-on dolce lesson followed by lunch. So fun!

Afterwards you’ll have a chance to relax a bit, before heading back to the studio with Jasmine for a full, afternoon session. This evening you’ll enjoy wood-fired pizza at a cozy, local pizzeria. 

Day 5: Studio, Farewell Celebration

• Instruction with Jasmine, celebratory aperitivo & dinner
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner

This morning, after another delicious breakfast, you’ll join Jasmine in the studio for a full morning session, as you immerse yourself in a final day of creativity and inspiration. 

Lunch will be served up at a nearby café. followed by a continued afternoon session with Jasmine. Of course you might take a break to walk the village on your own, or sketch the spectacular panoramas you’ll find at every turn. In late afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to complete your final project with Jasmine before gathering together with your fellow students at a private location to celebrate the culmination of this inspirational workshop.

Day 6: Departure 

Early morning departure to Rome Fiumicino Airport.

VENUE: Boutique Hotel Vannucci

Hotel Vannucci began as a project of Vittoria Spinola, daughter of King Vittorio Emanuele II, who fled Pisa (and an arranged marriage with her elderly husband) to start a new life with her lover in Città della Pieve. Here, she and her soon-to-be new husband, Paolo, built two villas that became luxurious holiday accommodations for wealthy Romans vacationing in the countryside. In 1903 one of the villas became Hotel Vannucci, and today it maintains the elegance and refinement of its inception, with luxurious sleeping rooms, marble bathrooms and inviting gardens. A stay here is truly special, nestled just outside the medieval walls of the historic, and unspoiled, village of Città della Pieve. 

VIEW the Photo Gallery

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• 5 nights stay at Hotel Vannucci in Città della Pieve
• Private group transportation to/from Rome Fiumicino Airport on arrival and departure days
• Private group transport service to/from all towns and sites included in the itinerary
• All breakfasts
• All lunches
• 5 dinners featuring regional specialties and local wines
• Visit to organic flour mill
• Saffron tasting
• Italian baking lesson
• Daily, in-depth instruction with Jasmine Rae
• Daily accompaniment with a Strada Toscana team host or guide

Not included: Airfare, ground or water transportation outside of that listed in the trip itinerary, alcoholic drinks, wines or meals ordered “on your own”, gratuities for drivers and hotel staff

The Unexpected is Part of the Journey: Sometimes unexpected things come up. If there is unscheduled closing or schedule change, we carefully pivot to include something that is equally as wonderful and interesting, so that the quality of your experience is never at risk. ☺️

DATES & DETAILS:  6 Days/5 Nights

• Dates:
  • October 28 – November 2, 2024 – OPENING SOON
• Trip Price: 
  • $3,995 – $4,495 USD per person (select room type upon booking)
• $700 deposit is required to secure your space on this retreat
• Arrival/departure airport is Rome Fiumicino
• Review our terms and cancellation policy here

OPENING SOON