Castles and Kitchens

"Francesca was amazing. I’m gluten intolerant and she adapted recipes for me to be able to make pasta!! Incredible experience, lovely atmosphere, incredible food and Francesca is a wonderful teacher!"

"Il Mulino de Camporata is on the edge of Gaiole in Chianti is in the middle of the historic Chianti wine country, and the week with Fran and Dean takes full advantage of that. Walking with Fran to the produce market, custom tours of classic wineries, making pasta and smushing tomatoes into the sauce, the pizza making day with Ciara and Ciaro, all the Chianti you want, touring Etruscan tombs with Dario, a nightly fine Italian dinner: that all really happens. The setting is iconic: a 1000 year old converted mill on the edge of Gaiole. And the best part is they make it fun."

"Absolutely loved our Living in Tuscany with Fran, Dean, and Gavin! Such gracious hosts in a beautiful relaxing villa. The family dinners I think were our favorite part, although cooking with Francesca and learning all about wines, olives,Tuscan culture and history with Dean and Gavin were close seconds. Thank you so much for having us!"

"A Frantastic Birthday Feast Catered by Fran Arniotes Maybe it was the moment when our Instagram-savvy son filmed a long panning shot of the antipasto board that Fran Arniotes had set out for us. Or when many of our 20 guests kept returning for seconds. But clearly, the birthday dinner she provided from her Castles and Kitchens catering service--bursting with Mediterranean delights of meat, fish, veggies, fruits, and cheese—cast a spell on our guests. Of course, it helps that Fran’s vibrant personality also radiated from the kitchen, alerting our guests to the next wave of food about to appear. Also, her thoughtful signs pointed out which dishes were gluten free or vegetarian. When the treats appeared—sardines with sundried tomatoes and capers, fresh-baked focaccia, stuffed mushroom caps, ratatouille, grilled flank steak with chimichurri, as well as radicchio salad with shrimp, among others—so did the smiles. My wife, Liz, and I weren’t surprised. Having attended a Mediterranean cooking and wine tasting class at her Castles and Kitchens store in Conifer earlier this year, we knew that culinary magic was headed our way. Mille grazie, Fran, for turning our Evergreen house into an Italian villa for one night."