Sioban trained as a chef under Neil Perry and worked at Martin Boetz’ Longrain Thai restaurant in Sydney before traveling to Tuscany in 2001 to live and chef there.

Since 2012 Sioban has split her time living between Margaret River in Western Australia where she owns and runs an accommodation place and cooking school and living in Tuscany where she conducts small – personalised weekly tours. Now in its tenth year, Mad About Tuscany’s success can be measured by guests’ glowing reviews.

Sioban has a reputation for exceptional service and hospitality in her Australian accommodation and cooking schools and Tuscan tours.

To find out what our visitors have to say, read five star TripAdvisor reviews of Wildwood Valley Cottages, Wildwood Valley Cooking School, and Mad About Tuscany Italian tours.

 Meet Margaret

A bit about Margaret who will be conducting the tours with me

I was born and raised on a dairy farm in the Southeast of South Australia. From there I did a stint at Boarding School in Victoria before heading to the Nullarbor Plains to Governess on one of Australia’s largest sheep stations. On completion of my year in the desert I was off to Uni to undertake a bachelor’s in education. After a stunningly brief career as a teacher, I headed to Europe in search of adventure!

I began Nannying for the rich and kind-of-famous in Milan before opening my own English play school for children. From there I took my organisational skills to a photographic studio where I liaised with Advertising and Model Agencies as well as Make-up Artists and Location Finders to bring together photo productions for advertising campaigns.

Between working and going out I discovered the amazing world of food that is the backbone of Italian culture. I learnt to make risotto alla milanese from a bonafide Milanese, I perfected potato and stinging nettle gnocchi with Signora Tranquilla in the mountains above Udine, I learnt how to roll and make ravioli with Nonna Bruna, and I’ve eaten at the best hidden Trattorias in hundreds of little towns throughout Italy!

Amidst eating and having fun, I met my Italian husband and had 2 children. Yearning for a quieter life, we moved to the mountains above Cortona where we opened a farm holiday rental business, running cashmere goats, chickens, and rabbits for meat as well as an insanely huge veggie garden.

The next 15 years saw our little business grow and morph to our needs until we decided that it was time for another change!

Once again back in the Southeast of South Australia I am ready for my next adventure which will see me joining Shivy on her amazing ‘Mad About Tuscany Tours’ where my energy and enthusiasm, coupled with my intrinsic knowledge of Italy will guarantee a unique experience for all!