One-Day Cooking Classes in Italy

Spend a very special day with Chef Vincenzino. After many years as chef/owner of a restaurant, he decided to run a cooking school from his home, enjoying the people who love food, and “eat it with the heart and not just the mouth!” You will meet the chef and walk together to his private home located in a historic alley of Ravello, strolling through the pedestrian road that crosses the village. With Vincenzino, who speaks English, you will learn how the traditional secrets of the local chef, including how local people choose vegetables and local wines. Then it is on to Vincenzino’s home, gloriously situated on a clifftop 350 meters above sea level. You will proceed with the hands-on preparation of your lunch, from starter to dessert… wine, water and coffee included. Weather permitting, lunch will be served on the terrace (option valid only for 2 people) to enjoy the spectacular view of the Mediterranean, or in the dining room.

Marida, Roberta, and their mother, known in the area as “Aunt Angela” (zia Angela), welcome you to their beautiful villa in Sorrento. This is a relaxing, private oasis in the very center of town; beautiful flowers, gardens full of lemon trees and a small vineyard. Lessons are in the well-equipped kitchen and in the outdoor barbeque area, where you will grill your mozzarella cheese on the lemon leaves off the trees in the grove. Your day will begin with a welcome snack (around the pool when weather permits), and is followed by a three-hour hands-on lesson during which you prepare a complete meal. Classes are assisted by an interpreter and are based on menus of traditional Italian cuisine with particular emphasis on Neapolitan recipes. All the recipes will be clearly demonstrated in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. During the class you will have the opportunity to visit the villa’s wine cellar for a tasting of their own wine, which you will also enjoy after the class with your lunch. Lunch will be served by the pool, under a “pergolato,” or in a nice winter garden by a warm fire. This is truly a special day with a warm and welcoming family!

Please note: the class may be with Zia Angela or another member of the family, and the afternoon class may be a pizza class.

The villa is a direct 15 minute taxi ride from Piazza Tasso, the main square in the center of Sorrento.

NB: One-way transfer from Positano is 65 euros (2-4 people in a car) or 95 euros (5-7 people in a minivan). Or you can take the Sita blue bus which takes 30 minutes to arrive at the Sorrento train station.

Located in the heart of Sorrento, this popular local restaurant is devoted to art: both of photography and cuisine. That’s because the chefs here believe that what you look at while dining is just as important as what you eat. When it comes to food, the chefs are all about using local ingredients. They cook with vegetables from their garden, fish caught in the Mediterranean Sea, and other products from the local market. In this professional kitchen, learn how to make traditional Neapolitan cuisine using seasonal ingredients, and how to pair that food with local wines.

Your day will start at 9 a.m. with a pickup from your centrally-located hotel in their “ape calessino.” Then you’re off to the local market, grocery stores, and dairy shop to pick out ingredients for your hands-on cooking class. Once in the kitchen of the restaurant, receive an apron and chef’s hat, and start cooking! You will learn how to prepare three courses, an appetizer, entree, and dessert. Such dishes may include parmigiana di melenzane (aubergines, tomato sauce, and mozzarella), ravioli alla caprese, and torta della nonna (Italian cake). After your hands-on cooking class, enjoy your creations in the restaurant along with some wine.

Located in the food basket of Italy, Bologna is a city rich in gastronomical traditions. While the setting for your Bologna class is a professional cooking school, prepare to have some fun as you learn more than just recipes, but also cooking techniques and food presentation. No matter what your skill level, the class will be tailored to you.

Classes are led by one of three professional chefs at the school. All are passionate about Italian cuisine, particularly regarding the foods and dishes that hail from their beloved city of Bologna.

The full-day class begins with a visit to the famous Bologna market. As you make your way there, the chef will tell you about the history of the city and monuments. At the market, the chef will purchase and explain what ingredients are needed. You will also have the opportunity to sample some salumi, parmigiano reggiano cheese, prosciutto di parma, and other local products. Once in the kitchen, you’ll start by making some regional pasta using the authentic “mattarello” (rolling pin). For lunch, enjoy your pasta creations with some local wine, because as the chefs say here, a meal without wine is just breakfast!
After some time to rest, you’ll return to the kitchen in the afternoon to make a full meal, including antipasti, salad, main dish, side dishes, and dessert. Dinner will also be paired with wine.

The half-day class includes a market visit as well as the cooking class, featuring a full menu, followed by a meal with wine.

Dessert and pastry classes are also available. You’ll be making wonderful traditional dishes, such as Italian pan di spagna, strudel cake, torta mimosa, cookies and biscotti, or panna cotta, among many others. The course will be followed by either lunch or dinner with wine. You can enjoy the desserts you have made at the school, or take them home. You’ll also go home with lots of jarred hand-made preserves: a delicious Italian treat!

Spend the day with Chef Micaela in Parma, home to the famed Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and the fine Parma ham. Micaela knew from the time she was a young girl that she had a true passion for cooking. Although she obeyed her parents and completed her college education with a business degree, she has since gone from a “white collar” to a “white apron,” pursuing her calling! Speaking perfect English, she is delighted to share her knowledge with you. Your day will start around 7:45 a.m., when Micaela picks you up to visit a local producer of the world-famous parmigiano cheese. You will then return to Micaela’s home for the class, which begins around 9:30 a.m. and goes through the preparation of an entire meal. The class ends at approximately 2:30 p.m., after your lunch with wine.

If you would like, you can supplement your experience with a visit of a winery. Please inquire for details and prices.

Situated between the Po River, the Apennine Mountains, and the Adriatic Sea, the region of Emilia Romagna is naturally the most fertile area in Italy. But that’s just one reason Emilia Romagna is considered the food basket of Italy. The area is home to well-known Italian foods, including Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, prosciutto, porcini mushrooms, mortadella, balsamic vinegar, asparagus, piselli alla pancettta, and a number of other dishes.

After being picked up at your centrally located Parma hotel, your tour guide, Laura, will take you to a nearby beautiful agriturismo, a source of wonderfully fresh produce. With the chef, you can make fresh pasta particular to the region — such as tagliatelle, lasagna, or gnocchi — or desserts, such as chocolate salami, fruit pie, tiramisu, and plum tortelli. (Please let us know your preference at the time of booking).

Following your cooking class, take your lunch outside and enjoy stunning views of the beautiful fields full of apple trees and gardens of herbs. After lunch, Laura will return you to your Parma hotel.

Emilia Romagna is known as the food basket of Italy, and with the region’s production of some of the best Italian food products, it’s not hard to see why. Discover the centuries-old origins of your favorite Italian foods — including parmigiano cheese, prosciutto, and balsamic vinegar — in this unique food tour from Laura, a guide in Parma.

This full-day tour starts with a pick-up at your centrally-located Parma hotel, and then it’s off the to the parmigiano factory, where you’ll witness the cheese-making process, walk through the “bank” where the wheels are stored, and taste some cheese, as well as honey, cream of balsamic, and wine. Next, visit a prosciutto factory, where the low-fat delicious meats are aged.

You’ll take a break from the the tours with a lunch at a beautiful local castle. Here you’ll savor a plate of deli meats, and such dishes as tortelli d’erbetta e di zucca (ravioli with herbs and ricotta, and ravioli with pumpkin), two types of cake, and Lambrusco and Malvaasia wines. Emilia Romagna is known for its sparkling wines, because it pairs wonderfully with the locally-produced meats, such as the prosciutto!

Lastly, stop at the balsamic factory. After learning about the production process — in which the balsamic is typically aged for 12 years, you’ll have one last tasting of the refined, sweet vinegar that resembles syrup.

Your full, exciting day discovering the origins of Parma products ends with a return transfer to your Parma hotel around 4 p.m.

If you are looking for a really personal and authentic experience, look no further! Sarah and Anna Maria are two charming home cooks who delight in showing you all the secrets they have learned through generations of their family.

You will meet with them to visit either the market in the morning, or the local food shops in the afternoon. No matter what the time of day, in this half-day cooking class you will discuss the best way to select fruits, vegetables, meats, etc., and then return to their lovely and centrally-located apartment to participate in a hands-on cooking class.

As Sarah and Anna Maria share their secrets, you will prepare a three-course meal that includes pasta, a second course, and dessert. You then enjoy the fruits of your labor, which will be accompanied with a good red or white wine. The meal ends with coffee, grappa or limoncello, a true Italian meal! If you have room for anything else, your hosts will take you for a great gelato in their neighborhood!

Daniela’s culinary skills were passed down to her from her great-grandmother as she started to cook at the tender age of fourteen! Following a lifelong dream, she studied at the renowned Italian Cooking School “Gambero Rosso,” attended the diploma class at the French Culinary Arts School “Le Cordon Bleu,” and followed a course at the International Cooking School of Naples.

Her food is delicious, her menus creative, her presentations simple and elegant, and she communicates her very own “home-style cooking.” Her passion for cooking, her fun-loving personality and her lively sense of humor make this a fabulous experience! Daniela truly delights in teaching.

There is no better way to get to the heart of any city than through its food – and that doesn’t mean just eating, but shopping for, cooking and understanding it too. Enjoy a hands-on cooking experience in the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere of Daniela’s beautiful own home set in the heart of ancient Rome. This is the perfect Roman cooking holiday where you will be surrounded by Italian culture, Italian food and Italian wine, creating a menu from the best seasonal ingredients available.

Your day begins at 9:30 a.m. when you meet Daniela at a local market in the Testaccio neighborhood to shop for your ingredients. You will return to her home for the 2-hour lesson, and lunch will be served around 1:00 p.m. in Daniela’s beautiful dining room or in the garden (depending on the season).

This is a wonderful experience! You will meet your chef in the morning or afternoon and begin your tour combining the discovery of Italian cuisine with visits to some of the most wonderful historic and artistic treasures in the city. Walking by such spots as the Trevi Fountain, Piazza di Pietra, Piazza Navona and the Pantheon, you will delight in the visits to some of the chef’s favorite places to shop: the bakery with the wonderful, chewy bread for bruschetta; a stop in the Jewish ghetto to buy very special dried beef, (of course, not without greeting the butcher as a long lost friend!); then another stop to a bakery for perhaps a fresh ricotta and chocolate cake for dessert. Lastly, it is on to a fantastic local Roman market (only during morning tours). Many of the area markets are filled with an abundance of vendors selling everything from scarves, fruits, coffee machines, fish, meats, and fresh vegetables, to fresh flowers.

Next it is on to a magnificent palazzo apartment, located in a historic building within a block of the Spanish steps. The class will include the preparation of a meal, followed by dinner. If weather permits, perhaps you will take your wine glass on the terrace for a great view of Rome. This is not a class for the serious or advanced cook. Rather it is a charming Roman experience, walking the monumental parts of the city, seeing the market and local stores, and capped with a simple but delicious meal.

Join gastronomic researcher, noted-international author and chef Stefano Cirillo on a unique culinary excursion in Rome! In addition to teaching cooking classes he is working on a television program dedicated to Italian cooking called ‘Following Stefano’ as well as a new book. Stefano’s cooking classes are taught in his home, a villa on the famous Appia Antica.

• The full-day experience begins around 9 a.m. and includes a visit to the Arco di Travertino Market, a hands-on cooking session with close to 10 different dishes, lunch and tasting of five Italian D.O.C. wines. Your day will end around 5:30 p.m.
• The ½ day immersion begins around 9 a.m. and includes a visit to the Arco di Travertino Market, a hands-on cooking class with 4 traditional dishes, lunch and tasting of 3 Italian D.O.C. wines. Your day will end around 2:00 p.m.

You will need to arrange your own transportation for this class either via taxi (it’s about seven kilometers from the Colosseum) or Metro (near the ‘Lucio Sestio’ station).
Stefano is also pleased to offer special vegetarian courses on request.
Please note: Stefano is a food historian and re-creates dishes that have no printed recipe. If you do not wish to take notes during the class we highly suggest a small cassette recorder.

There is also the option of doing a historical and gastronomic tour of Rome with Stefano. This includes transportation, a light lunch at an Enoteca in central Rome, a tasting of extra virgin olive oils and five D.O.C. wines of the region. After lunch you will continue on to Ancient Rome and the Caracalla baths and follow the ancient streets of the Roman countryside where you will enjoy three more gastronomic specialties. This tour is truly a unique way to explore Rome and beyond!

To Chef Stefano and Clea, history and food can be taught as one. While the two chefs come from different backgrounds — she a biologist, he a lawyer — they share a love of cooking that has been passed down to them through generations of mothers and grandmothers. In this fabulous day-long getaway into the Roman countryside known as the Castelli Romani (or Castles of Rome), delve into the rich, secret history of Italian food.

Your day begins at 8:30 am in the city center of Rome, where you will meet Stefano and Clea for a trip to the market to purchase ingredients for the day’s class. Afterward, the couple will transport you to their rural house, known as “Casale,” approximately an hour drive from Rome during which you can enjoy the peaceful, verdant, and enchanting landscape of the lakes area.

Stefano and Clea will teach you to prepare a traditional Italian meal, including a home-made fresh pasta, a second course, and a side dish. (They are pleased to offer a special vegetarian course on request.) Lunch will follow based on your efforts, including a good quality local wine and ending with a real Italian caffe and dessert.

Following your meal, your day is not over, for Stefano and Clea will take you on a walking tour in the delightful town of Nemi, which is famous for their fragoline di bosco, otherwise known as wild little strawberries. (Out of season, this tour will be replaced with a visit to Castel Gandolfo, a papal summer residence since 1597 on the lake of Albano at the same cost).

The day ends before the sun goes down, when Clea and Stefano transport you back to Rome.

Your adventure begins at 8:30 a.m., when you meet Chef Fabio or one of his collaborators at a central location in Rome. Depart for the ancient village of Mazzano Romano, located 30 minutes outside of Rome. Inside this medieval village, you will feel as if you’ve entered another world! Weather and season permitting, you may pick ingredients from the extensive garden and may even have the opportunity to choose the eggs right from the farm. During your lesson, Chef Fabio will take you through the course of a meal. This is a simple class, not intended for serious and/or advanced cooks, but rather a delightful time spent in a country home, enjoying a simple lunch or dinner with good local wine.

Once you have finished your meal, it is off to the unique village of Calcata, where you will visit some of the artisan shops. Return transfer to the center of Rome.

During summer months only, Chef Fabio also offers an evening class with pickup from a central Rome location around 4:30 p.m. and dropoff around 11:00 p.m. In this afternoon class, enjoy a cooking lesson and dinner on the terrace of a Medieval Village!

Please note that all the chefs that teach with Fabio are highly qualified, and that it is not possible to guarantee a particular chef for your class.

Experience a cooking class like no other in the kitchen of the beautiful medieval Castello di Torre in Pietra, a castle located 20 minutes outside of Rome. Not only will you tour the wine cellar, but you’ll also get to spend the day cooking authentic Italian dishes with Chef Sarah, a home cook who calls Rome home.

Your day begins with a pick-up from a centrally-located Rome hotel. Then it’s off to the castle, which is situated on an estate of 150 hectares that includes rolling hills, vineyards, olive groves, and farmland. This terroir is perfect for the cultivation of vines and grapes. After stopping in the castle’s store to purchase some local products for the class — such as pasta al farro, oil, and honey — you’ll start cooking with Sarah. She will share her family cooking secrets as you prepare a three-course meal. Following class, enjoy your lunch in the castle, accompanied by the castle’s very own wine. Your day ends with Sarah returning you back to your hotel in Rome.

Experience Italian culture and learn about food traditions while dining with a true Italian family!

Located just 15 minutes from the heart of Rome, Cecilia and Emidio — along with son Bruno and Granny Teresa — open their doors and welcome you to a home-cooked dinner. The dinner promises to be an authentic experience in a friendly atmosphere. The outgoing family not only adores inviting new people into their home to share stories but also to serve true Italian cuisine created from recipes passed through generations. Don’t worry if you don’t speak Italian; the family speaks English, and they are willing to teach you a few Italian phrases!

Guests have their choice of either a meat or fish menu. Both menus come with mineral water, wine, and coffee. Cecilia or Emidio will pick you up at a centrally-located hotel. Your return transportation is on your own, but your host would be happy to call a taxi for you after a night of laughter, great food, and memories to last a lifetime!

Watch Cecilia make a delicious Italian dinner in her private home just 15 minutes from central Rome, and then enjoy the dinner with her family.

In this very special cooking demonstration experience, you’ll discover the family’s cooking secrets that have been passed down for generations. As Cecilia cooks and shares her love of cooking, enjoy wonderful Italian wine in a friendly atmosphere where you’ll be welcomed like family.

The dinner that follows includes a delicious aperitive — a toast of Italian sparkling wine — as well as three courses: pasta, entree, and dessert along with coffee. Not only will you enjoy a fabulous traditional Italian dinner, but you’ll get to experience the culture first-hand by having a dinner with a true Italian family. Have no fear if you don’t speak Italian; they all speak English too!

Before your demonstration begins at 5:00 p.m., Cecilia or her husband Emidio will pick you up at a centrally-located Rome hotel. Your return transportation is on your own, but your host would be happy to call a taxi for you after a night of laughter, great food, and memories to last a lifetime!

If you are spending some time in Rome, you might consider one of the many tours we offer.
Please note: cost of entrance tickets not included.

• Tour of the Vatican (3 hours):

Includes Roman and Greek Statues Gallery, Gallery of Tapestries, Gallery of Maps, Raphael’s Stanzas, the Sistine Chapel, St. Peters Basilica, and St. Peters Square.
Private tour includes pickup at centrally-located hotel, VIP priority pass, and entrance ticket. Semi-private tour includes VIP priority pass and entrance ticket, but no pickup. Available Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday). Five-hour in-depth tour options also available, please inquire for details and prices.

• Ancient Rome Walking Tour (3 hours):

Includes Colloseum, Roman Forum, Palatine Hill, Circus Maximus, Mamertine Prison, Capitoline Hill, Trajan’s Forum, and Venice Square.
Includes pickup at centrally-located hotel. Tour generally starts at 9:30 a.m. Five-hour and chauffeured tour options also available, please inquire for details and prices.

• Christian Rome Walking and Driving Tour (3 hours):

Includes the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the Papal Apartments, the Baptistery, the Holy Steps, the Church of the Quattro Coronati, the Church of St. Clemente.
Includes pickup and dropoff at centrally-located hotel. Tour generally starts at 9:30 a.m.

• Catacombs and the Appian Way Walking and Driving Tour (3 hours):

Includes the Appian Gate and the Roman Walls, the Appian Way, the Catacombs, the Basilica of St. Paul, the Aventine Hill, the church of St. Saba.
Includes pickup and dropoff at centrally-located hotel. Tour generally starts at 9:30 a.m.

Other tours (private and semi-private) available on request, including Baroque Rome, Exclusive Vatican Gardens Tour, full-day Rome tours, and excursions outside of Rome (to the Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi Coast, to Tivoli and Villa d’Este, etc.). Please inquire for details and prices.

Ligurian cuisine is best known for its pesto, but other culinary traditions abound here too! Chef Guido will lead you on a gastronomic journey through Rapallo, a lively town known as Tigullio Gulf’s pearl. Departing from the music stand on the town’s promenade, head to the colorful local market in the heart of Rapallo’s historical center. Here you will shop for ingredients and learn the importance of herbs in Ligurian recipes.

Next, you’ll discover the secrets of Rapallo pasta, such as herb pansoti, by visiting a local pasta factory. You’ll even use the rolling pin to make a perfect pansoto, which is ravioli pasta shaped in triangles. Then it’s off to the kitchen with Chef Guido. Before getting to work, taste three Ligurian-style focaccias with some local white wine. Then it’s time to learn all about the infamous pesto, from preparing the basil leaves to working with the garlic and using the pestle and mortar. You’ll even learn the proper Italian way to pour wine! During this class, Guido will regale you with Ligurian shepherd’s stories, making this an even more wonderful unique experience. Once you’ve finished making the legendary emerald green sauce, you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor with a pesto bruschetta tasting.

But a gastronomic journey in Rapallo isn’t complete without dessert. You’ll also learn the recipe for and history of pandolce, also known as Genovese Christmas bread. A tasting will follow with a matching moscato wine from Portofino.

In the hills above Rapallo, you’ll find the unusual restaurant of “U Giancu” where Chef Fausto leads lessons in the regional cuisine of Liguria, often making use of the herbs and vegetables in his extensive garden behind the restaurant. The lesson starts at 9:00 a.m. at the restaurant for the class which lasts about three hours, and is followed by a degustation with fresh baked focaccia and wine. You return that evening to the restaurant for a gourmet dinner with wine. Included is a copy of Fausto’s cookbook and a gaily-colored U Giancu apron.

Just a few minutes drive from Bellagio’s city center and Lake Como, an elegant restaurant in Bellagio is home to the award-winning imaginative Chef Luigi. While young, Chef Luigi worked in the illustrious Villa D’Este for seven years and has already won 39 gold medals in international culinary competitions. Still, Chef Luigi is humble and energetic as he talks about using local ingredients and teaches his hands-on pasta cooking class in his family-owned restaurant.

Your culinary adventure begins at 10:00 a.m. when Chef Luigi himself picks you up from your hotel lobby, post office, or ferry gate, and regales you with tales from his kitchen on the ride over to his family’s restaurant. Once at the restaurant, relax for a moment with a cup of coffee with the chef and then explore the herb garden behind the restaurant. The hands-on cooking lesson begins at 10:30 a.m. and focuses on creating homemade pasta fresca, packed with fresh shrimp and vegetables, as well as risotto and tiramisu. After enjoying your lunch on the terrace (weather permitting), the chef will not let you leave empty-handed. In addition to taking home a selection of herbs, Chef Luigi will also send you off with a 100 ml bottle of olive oil, eight ounces of Principato di Lucedio Carnaroli Rice, an apron, a diploma of participation, as well as a recipe book (in English) focused on dishes typical to the region. Your class ends at 2:00 p.m. when Chef Luigi returns you to Bellagio with all of your culinary souvenirs.

Wine is not included but is available for purchase.

“Le Gemme di Artemisia” is a stylish restaurant on the shores of Lake Garda, where stunning views abound. As well as running an outstanding restaurant, the owners, Andrea and Lara, take great pleasure in offering hands-on cooking classes taught by Chef Andrea. Born in Verona, Chef Andrea has had an illustrious international career as a fine chef, but his desire has always been to return to his roots and open his own fine restaurant. He has accomplished his dream and invites you to share his passion. Chef Andrea speaks fluent English.
The class will run from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will include the preparation of a starter, first course, main course and dessert. Lunch will follow with local wine, water and coffee.

Enjoy a day to remember with a young couple from Milan who will introduce you to the pleasures of Lombardian cuisine. Fabio and Nicoleta have traveled throughout Italy and abroad to hone their palates and cooking skills, and the result is a couple who appreciates fine food, diverse cuisines, fresh ingredients, and good company! Your experience will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a pickup from your Milan hotel, followed by an approximately half-hour transfer to their home in the peaceful and green oasis called Brianza. Here you will visit the farm where you will choose the organic products for your lesson. Fabio and Nicoleta are passionate about healthy and sustainable foods and protecting the environment, so you will utilize many ingredients made or grown on site. During your lunch you will explore traditional Milanese dishes, as well as prepare a starter, first course (such as the famous yellow Milanese risotto or pasta with zucchini and shrimp), second course (perhaps a Milanese cutlet), and dessert. After your lesson, which will last approximately 2 ½ hours, you will enjoy lunch based on your efforts. The lunch will be accompanied by a selection of Italian wines chosen for you by Fabio. After lunch you will be re-accompanied to your Milan hotel.

If you are staying in Milan for more than a day, you may want to consider adding a tour with Fabio e Nicoleta:

• Tour of Lake Como and Lake Lecco: visit the most beautiful villages near the lakes by car and boat.
• Tour of Milan, including Leonardo’s “Last Supper,” the Cathedral and the Castle Sforzesco.
• City tour of Monza, including the Villa Reale Palace, Formula 1 circuit, Monza’s park and city city center.
• Tour of Bergamo, including the old city and artisan and food shops.
• Visit of a Franciacorta winery to learn about this wonderful sparkling wine, and optional visit of designer shops outlet.
• During the month of October, Saturday and Sunday only, you can experience “Chestnut Fest,” including a trip to Lake Maggiore, a farm visit where you will pick chestnuts and enjoy lunch.

Experience the wonder of the complex and exotic cuisine of Sicily. Your instructor will be the TV personality Eleonora Consoli, a noted authority on Italian and Sicilian gastronomy, the author of Sicily-La Cucina del Sole and many other cookbooks, and a regular contributor of articles to magazines such as Vogue, Cuisines du Monde and Voyager. The courses are held in her typical Sicilian home dating from the 18th century, in one of the most characteristic villages on the slopes of Mt. Etna, 15 km from Catania. Classes will be based on well-known Sicilian recipes, paying particular attention to pasta, fish and vegetables. Eleonora’s aim is to combine the cooking class with the culture, traditions, habits and customs from which the cuisine has evolved. Each lesson will last around three hours and features a complete menu, with the meal and wine to follow.

Chef Vincenzo began his restaurant career at the tender age of 12. After working for many years in the US, his passion for his homeland and its food brought him back to Palermo. He opened his own restaurant in 1999, which is today one of the best-known and popular restaurants in the city.

Your day will begin at 9:00 a.m. with a visit to one of Palermo’s historic and bustling markets, where you will shop for fresh, seasonal ingredients with Vincenzo. Return to the restaurant, located in the main shopping district near Piazza Croci, for your hands-on cooking class. If you are lucky, Vincenzo’s mother and mentor, Mama Lucia, may be on hand to assist him with the class. The lesson will focus on typical Sicilian dishes like veal scaloppine with Marsala wine, zucca all’agro, or pasta with Erice-style pesto. Lunch, served with delicious Sicillian wine, will follow. This class will last until approximately 2:00 p.m.

Join Elisabetta and Marco, both fluent in English and passionate about cooking, for a wonderful learning experience in their cooking class. Their approach is characterized by a reverence for fresh ingredients, simple preparation and a harmonious combination of ingredients to bring out the natural flavors of food. The classes are held at Elisabetta and Marco’s country home in the Tuscan town of Colle Val D’Elsa, 20 km from Siena. In each class a complete menu is prepared, and the session is followed by the meal complete with a DOCG wine.

What mysterious force drives some of us to relinquish all we know for the promise of a dream? Here is one account. In the early 90’s a Florentine family led by Laura, Giorgio and their two sons left behind the bustle of their famous city for the lure of a simple life beneath the Tuscan sun.
Laura will teach you the secrets of typical Tuscan dishes, and you will learn with her how to make “chicken liver crisp breads,” the “ribollita,” “pasta and beans,” “stuffed boar,” “chicken cacciatore” and many other dishes. The courses are held in the morning from 9:30 a.m. or in the afternoon from 4 p.m. and last around three and a half hours, for a minimum of 2 people and a maximum of 10, except where particular requests are made. The course will finish with a lunch or dinner during which you will have the chance to taste and comment on the cooked dishes.

Locanda del Molino is located in the charming town of Cortona and is very famous for its traditional Tuscan cuisine. The hands-on lessons are about three hours long and include the preparation of an appetizer, pasta, sauces, main course and dessert. Some of the dishes you may create are crostini neri, panzanella, sfoglia and ravioli, tagliatelle, papardelle, tagliolini, a variety of sauces, wild boar salami, roasted duck, zuppa inglese, castagnaccio and tiramisu. The menu, of course, will depend on the season, and there is a large fireplace in the kitchen, so often the main course will be roasted in the fire!

One of the wonderful cooks of the Locanda will lead you on this culinary adventure. Note that while some of the chefs do not speak English, their warmth and enthusiasm will clearly transmit their love of cooking and teaching. (There will always be a translator for the class.) The class will culminate with a meal based on your efforts. And, as the Locanda is owned by the Baracchi family who produce wonderful wines at the famed IL Falconiere, you will have a fine wine to accompany your meal!

Just outside Florence, nestled in the countryside near the charming town of Figline Valdarno, is the popular Relais Torre Guelfa, owned by English speaking Chef Claudio Piantini. Chef Claudio is widely considered one of the rising stars in Tuscany and his hands-on cooking lessons are second-to-none, offering you the opportunity to learn, prepare and experience an unbelievable number of dishes. The classes are held in Chef Claudio’s special teaching kitchen at his charming countryside property, the Relais Torre Guelfa. Prior to the class Claudio will proudly show you his fabulous fruit and vegetable garden, perhaps picking some items to use in the class. After the lesson, your meal is served either in the dining room, or, if weather permits, on the outdoor terrace or around the swimming pool, set amidst Claudio’s own vineyards. All classes last around three hours and are followed by an abundant meal (lunch or dinner) with wine.

The class includes roundtrip transfers from the Figline Valdarno train station on request. We recommend for the morning class the train departing Florence SMN at 9:09 a.m. and arriving Figline Valdarno at 9:34 a.m., and for the evening class the 3:09 p.m. train from Florence SMN arriving Figline Valdarno at 3:34 p.m.

Barbara is a native Florentine, and has been fascinated by food since she was a small child. Her father is a noted musician and opera singer, and she had the opportunity to travel widely throughout the world with him, observing and absorbing different culinary styles. Following her acquiring a degree in political science, Barbara began her journey into the world of cooking. She has worked at the famed “Cibreo” restaurant in Florence, and was a teacher at the Scuola di Arte Culinaria Cordon Blue for three years. In 2002 she became a sommelier, and in 2003 she began giving cooking lessons.

Now you can join Barbara, who speaks perfect English, for a daily class beginning at 10:00 a.m., when you visit the wonderful Sant’Ambrogio market. Then on to her “atelier” where she has created a cozy, welcoming atmosphere and teaching kitchen with all modern equipment for the hands-on cooking lesson, followed, of course, by your wonderful lunch with wine. If you only have time for a one day class in the Florence area, this is a great experience!

If you prefer to have a “country” experience after the market visit, you have the option of returning with Barbara to her lovely country home, Le Mortinete, a wonderful house built in the 16th century located at the beginning of the Chianti area. It is a rare opportunity to be just a few minutes from the center of Florence but in the heart of the Tuscan countryside! The house has a very well-equipped kitchen where you will have your hands-on lesson, and a garden circled by olive trees and roses, where, weather permitting, you will enjoy your lunch. If you choose the country experience, Barbara will take you from the market to her home by car (her car holds up to 4 people besides herself), and she will call you a taxi to take you back to Florence after the class (a taxi ride is about €20-€25).

Step into the elegant and tasteful world of Chef Laura. She has been working as a chef for 15 years, in the kitchens of princesses to private catering to cooking lessons for individuals. She is also a certified sommelier, who can do wine tastings or wine pairings with meals. Her approach to cooking is very Italian: the best and freshest seasonal ingredients that make for the tastiest and healthiest meals.

Your day will begin with a visit to the Sant’Ambrogio market, which is a great experience in itself! Chef Laura will be your guide through the market and explain how to make the best food selections. After about an hour, you are on to her beautiful apartment right in the center of Florence! What a privilege to be able to spend a morning or afternoon with a native Florentine in a unique palazzo apartment filled with sculptures, paintings, and so artfully designed. Your class will go through a full meal, which afterwards you will enjoy al fresco on the lovely terrace overlooking the garden (weather permitting) or in the beautiful dining room.

Chef Laura will also do private dinners or lunches in her home for a minimum of 4 people.

Despite the large variety of gourmet restaurants in Florence, none of them provide a completely authentic experience of the Florentine lifestyle. To get to know the people and the culture, nothing is better than sharing a rich, homemade dinner with a Florentine family in their own home. You will learn more about every day life, as well as the traditions and customs of its inhabitants in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

The houses selected will be within walking distance from most hotels in downtown Florence. If a home is chosen in the countryside, transportation will be provided to and from the guests’ hotel without any extra charge.

Families hosting dinners have been scrupulously selected by associates of The International Kitchen.

Located midway between Florence and Siena, the Osteria La Gramola, recognized by the Guide Michelin, is the setting for a hands-on cooking class in traditional Tuscan cuisine. Chef Cecilia Dei and Sommelier Massimo Marzi, join you in the kitchen for a day to discover the ingredients, flavors, wines and history of the Chianti area and the Tuscan people.

Enjoy two different course options. During the standard course you will learn to prepare a three-course country lunch: 1st course of soup or pasta with sauce, 2nd course: main dishes, 3rd course: desserts. Afterwards, you eat the meal you have cooked together, complete with tastings of local wine, typical products and Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil. The class begins at 10:00 a.m. and lasts approximately four hours. If you choose to do multiple classes, different menus will be offered for each class.

A second option is a shorter pasta lesson, which includes the preparation of hand-made pasta, followed by a light lunch with typical Tuscan starters and the pasta we prepared together dressed in different traditional sauces. The pasta course lasts approximately two hours.

Explore the lesser known corners of Florence with a native Florentine guide: discover small churches, perfumes, frescoes, bakers and enjoy tastings along the way! Your day will be an extraordinary sensorial experience! Your three-hour tour departs from Piazza Santa Maria Novella and finishes at the Sant’Ambrogio market. Along the way there will be time to dedicate to the stunning frescoes of Domenico Ghirlandaio in Santa Trinita church. The bright colors of the female and male noble clothes will take your breath away! Enjoy the antique perfumes and traditional scents prepared by the Dominican friars at the ancient pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella. Visit the oldest pharmacy of Europe and try some of its world-famous products such as the almond moisturizing hand paste and the pleasant floral pot potpourri.

Walk along the “Via delle Belle Donne“—the street of the “beautiful ladies“—and reach Via Tornabuoni, famous for its elegant shops like Armani, Pucci and Ferragamo. Savor an espresso or cappuccino with chocolate while sitting in a comfortable renowned cafe of the town before getting into the medieval heart of Florence and Piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio, and the Duomo of Florence. Proceed through narrow alleys surrounded by high tower houses and Renaissance palaces, which hide colorful warehouses in their cellars. These artisans sell their precious porcelains, papers, fabrics and leather goods below frescoed ceilings and vaulted roofs. Stop at a local forno (bakery) to taste the irresistible focaccia with olive oil and a pizza slice right from the oven! According to the season, we will also try the best local cakes made with grapes, custard, apples, peaches and raisins. End your day at the exciting local market in the authentic district of San Lorenzo, located in a historic 19th-century building. Here you will taste the best sheep’s milk cheeses and hot salamis from the Tuscan countryside.

The terroir of Tuscany offers the ideal conditions for growing grapes for such famous wines as Chianti Classico and Super Tuscan blends. Pair these wines with the beauty of the region — a landscape of rolling green hills and miles of vineyards and olive grounds — and you have the makings of a fabulous history and wine tour in the countryside.

Your day starts at 9:30 a.m., when you depart from Florence. After admiring the best view in the city — from the Piazzale Michelangelo — head to Montecchio Farm, a villa that follows centuries-old traditions to make their Chianti wine. Visit their ancient cellars, where the wine is aged, and sample wines that are known for their delicate bouquet of violets. Then, it’s on to the Casamonti Farm for a tour as well as to sample the gastronomic delicacies of Tuscany, including cinta salami, olive oil, cheeses, a spectacular balsamic vinegar, and, of course, wine.

An aperitif and lunch is also included during this perfect day in Tuscany. You’ll feast on even more Italian culinary specialities made with produce straight from the farm’s garden. Such dishes served may include fettunta and vegetable canapes, a variety of homemade olive oil preserved vegetables, a first pasta course with ragout, homemade cheese with balsamic, as well as homemade dessert.

Your wine and culinary tour continues in the afternoon with a stop in the medieval village of Castellina in Chianti. Take some time on your own to stroll down the Via del Volte; previously an underground tunnel used by guards during ancient times, today it has shops and restaurants as well as interesting views of the countryside from the tunnel’s small windows. Perhaps you can also visit the Palazzo Banciardi or Palazzo Squarcialupi, palaces that once belonged to noble Italian families.

Back on the tour, you’ll depart for Monteriggioni Castle, which was built in the 13th century as a military garrison. Next, see the art city of Fiesole that offers another fantastic view of Florence, and perhaps even a gorgeous sunset, depending on the time of year! You may stop to visit the San Francesco cloister, the cathedral, Etruscan tomb, or the Roman amphitheater.

Around 7:00, you’ll be returned to Florence with a full stomach, lots of beautiful pictures, and memories to last a lifetime.

If you are spending a little extra time in Tuscany, you might consider one of the many tours or excursions we offer in the region.

3-hour guided walking tour of Florence:
US$195 per person for 2 people – US$145 per person 4 or more

2-hour guided visit of the Galleria degli Uffizi (Tickets included):
US$170 per person for 2 people – US$125 per person 4 or more

3-hour combined visit of the Galleria degli Uffizi and the Galleria dell’Accademia (Tickets included):
US$245 per person for 2 people – US$195 per person 4 or more

2.5-hour green gardens walking tour (private) in Florence:
US$220 per person for 2 people; US$195 per person 3-4 people; US$165 per person 5 or more (Please inquire for details); Available Tuesday through Sunday; Tickets to Bardini and Boboli gardens not included.

Full-day driving tours:
US$325 per person for 2 people – US$225 per person for 4 for any of the following (Please inquire for details): Siena and San Gimignano, Chianti Food & Wine, or San Gimignano and Chianti

Full-day driving tours:
US$375 per person for 2 people – US$250 per person for 4 for any of the following (Please inquire for details): Cortona & Montepulciano, and Montalcino

Full-day driving tour:
US$450 per person for 2-3 people; US$275 per person for 4-6 people; US$200 per person for 7-8 people for the Cinque Terre and Italian Riveria tour (departure from Florence). Please inquire for details

The truffle is one of the most mysterious and alluring products of the vegetable kingdom.  Its secrets are always closely guarded and the market value by pound of this black and white tuber can exceed that of diamonds!

You now have the opportunity for a very exciting experience near the town of Città di Castello, about 30 miles north of Perugia: you can go hunting with an award-winning truffle hunter in the luxuriant and verdant hills of Umbria.  You will first meet with Matteo, who provides some essential information about the truffle and how, where and why the truffles grow as they do.  Then you start the hunt in the woods with Sole, their amazing dog.  You will witness the incredible communication between the truffle hunter and his dog, an understanding that goes well beyond commands.  This is truly a special experience.

After your hunt, you will return to the farmhouse where Matteo’s wife Elisa will reveal the secrets and the magical ways to wash and preserve truffles and how to create wonderful and typical dishes during a demonstration (note that this is not a hands-on cooking class, although a hands-on class is available on request for groups of 4 or more).  Finally, you will have a lunch feasting on these wonderful dishes, complete with good local wine.

Note that if inclement weather forces the cancellation of the class, the cost of the class will be refunded minus a $25 per person administrative fee.

Join us for a wonderfully authentic cooking experience at the Villa Vincara, an early 19th-century private villa located near Deruta in the heart of Umbria. Deruta is a medieval town famous for its fine ceramics and situated just a few miles from Perugia, Assisi, and Todi. The Villa Vincara is a private residence whose owners have created a charming, authentic atmosphere for your hands-on cooking class. Get ready to step back in time and into a slice of real Italian life!

The class is taught in English by Chefs Tiziana (who is also a professional sommelier) and Zoila. The course will cover a complete menu: antipasti, 2 primi piatti (pasta, soup or risotto), 1 secondo (meat or fish), and dessert. You will use the fresh produce you pick with the chefs from the villa’s herb and vegetable garden, along with items gathered at the local produce market.

Optional additional services (please inquire for details):

• visit to local produce market (Tuesdays only) – add $50 per person
• olive oil tasting – add $50 per person
• an olive harvest visit to a local olive oil mill (November only) – add $125 per person
• a wine tasting with a professional sommelier – add $185 per person
• a visit to one of Deruta’s famous pottery factories – please inquire for price

Christine Hickman, personal chef and teacher, invites you to join her for a hands-on cooking lesson in her beautiful newly reconstructed home in central Perugia. Located in Umbria, the “Green Heart of Italy”, the medieval Etruscan city of Perugia is a thriving cultural and language center, and the chocolate capital of Italy. Christine has worked and studied in both the United States and Italy for many years and draws on her knowledge of both languages and cultures to make her classes a unique and enjoyable experience. Menus always focus on the freshest seasonal ingredients as well as Umbrian specialties such as truffles, Pecorino cheese, and Torta al Testo. Traditional pasta dishes, specialty desserts and the finest local wines are also featured. Technique classes on specific subjects (hand-made pastas, gnocchi, desserts and sauces for example) are also available on special request. Classes begin at 10 a.m. and last approximately 3 hours. Following, we will relax and enjoy the wonderful meal you have helped prepare accompanied by distinctive local wines, water and coffee.

Dating back to the early 1900s, Osteria al Assassini continues to be a bacacro — an informal restaurant and wine bar — that locals love to frequent in the heart of Venice. Cooking classes are led by the passionate and energetic Chef Giuseppe Galardi, also known as Giusy, who has owned and operated the restaurant since 1988. He changes his menu daily to feature different gastronomic specialties of the city. On Tuesday, enjoy stewed or braised meats; on Wednesday, “bollito misto” and sauces; on Thursday, five different kinds of “baccala”; and on Friday and Saturday, traditional fish and seafood dishes.

Your cooking class begins on the Rialto Bridge, where you’ll meet Chef Giuseppe and head to the local market, which is packed with stalls of fruits, vegetables, and of course fish. Back at the restaurant, Giusy will teach you a variety of Venetian specialties depending on the season, such as capesante alla Giusy, risotto di gambrei e zucchini, and seppie in nero con polenta. You will also learn how to make the local aperitivo, a delicious spritz! After enjoying your creations during lunch, Chef Giuseppe will present to you a cooking certificate, an apron, as well as recipes that you can take home.

Once an ancient baker’s shop, now a local restaurant and wine bar, Osteria Acqua Stanca is the result of two women’s dreams to share their passion for gastronomy. Prior to renovating the osteria, Caterina Nason was an architect who yearned to share her cooking; and Giovanna Arcangeli worked as a catering manager in the famous Harry’s Bar. At Acqua Stanca, they combine their love of slow food and serve traditional Venetian cuisine based on regional products in a personal and peaceful setting.

In Chef Caterina’s morning cooking class, discover the secrets of Venetian cuisine as you learn how to make a first course (either risotto, ravioli, lasagna, or pasta and beans) and a main course (pilchards cooked Venetian-style or codfish, both very traditional dishes). Chef Caterina will also teach you how to make a famous Venetian drink based on white wine, a spritz! Lunch will follow, including wine and Venetian cookies or cake.

The chefs also lead an afternoon desserts class. During this two-hour course, prepare such desserts as traditional Venetian cookies, chocolate cards, cakes with whipped cream, meringues, tiramisu, and bussolà. Following your hands-on cooking class, enjoy the desserts during tea time. Both courses include a participation certificate, souvenir apron, and English recipes.

Can’t choose between the two? Book both classes for a full day of cooking and fun in the kitchen at Acqua Stanca!

On the beautiful Lido, Chef Marika Seguso strives to teach authentic Italian cooking with everyone who steps into her kitchen at the luxurious Acquolina at Villa Ines. While Chef Marika initially started a catering company in New York — after she graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education and worked with famed Chef David Waltuck — it is Venice and Italy where her passion for cooking took root as a child.

Chef Marika returned to Italy to share her passion and creativity for Venetian dishes, which she makes modern. With a variety of food menus to choose from, those who take part in Marika’s classes will not only deepen their knowledge of Italian food, but also of the country’s culture and traditions.

Your day begins at 10:30 am in Marika’s warm and functional kitchen equipped with modern technology. You will learn how to cook a multi-course meal, some recipes of which have been featured in Food and Wine magazine. No matter what the menu, expect to use fresh herbs grown in Chef Marika’s garden as well as local products.

Those who book a particular date first will choose which menu they’d like to create during the class. For the full list of menu options, click here. Be sure to mention your menu choice at the time of booking.

After many years working as a private caterer, Patrizia decided to offer cooking classes in her lovely apartment, with a view of the bell tower of St. Mark’s.  The day begins with a visit at 10:15 a.m. to the colorful Rialto market, then on to Patrizia’s apartment.  You will prepare a simple but genuine Venetian meal, complete with good local wine, water and coffee. And, of course, no meal in Venice is complete without a grappa to top it off!

Patrizia also offers an evening cooking class which begins at 6:00 p.m. Dinner will follow based on your efforts on her terrace where you can enjoy the spectacular view! Evening classes are only available during the summer months and a market visit is not included.

Note:  Patrizia speaks limited English and there is a translator for this class.  This class is not suited for those looking for advanced cooking or techniques but is a wonderful experience with delightful local people.

Join Arianna and Monica for a one-day class just a couple miles outside Venice in Arianna’s private countryside home! Your day will start with a pickup from Venice’s Piazzale Roma and transfer to the nearby Riviera del Brenta. Learn to prepare a simple but delicious multi-course meal based on traditional recipes: amazing appetizers, fabulous first courses, scrumptious second courses and of course delicious desserts! The class will be followed with a meal based on your efforts served with excellent local wine. The menu will vary according to the season and will employ only the freshest local ingredients, some of which may be picked from Arianna’s own garden. The emphasis is on fun, and on learning to make Italian “home-cooking” that can be replicated once you return home.

The wide, fertile plains south of Verona are the ideal environment for growing corn, vegetables, fruits, and rice. The practice of rice growing is backed by centuries of tradition, which began when Venetian vessels returned from China bearing exotic spices that Italians quickly discovered could be incorporated into their dishes.

During this unique cooking class, a driver will pick you up at your centrally-located Verona hotel and drive you down beautiful countryside lanes through tobacco and corn fields (a 20-30 minute ride). Pass by sprawling rice paddies until you reach the charming village of Isola della Scala and an ancient rice mill that has been in operation since the 17th century. Here, you’ll discover how the Italians grow Vialone Nano rice and process it — using both modern and centuries-old practices — as well as how the rice is traditionally used in Italian cuisine.

In a restaurant kitchen, you’ll assist the chef in the preparation of three gluten-free courses: traditional risotto all’Isolana (risotto with pork, veal, rosemary, pinch of cinnamon, and Parmesan cheese), a risotto with seasonal vegetables, and a rice flour cake. Enjoy your creations during lunch with some good local wine.

After your class, you may wish to stop in the rice mill store — where you can buy rice, rice flour, and other rice products that can be brought home with you — before you’re returned to your Verona hotel.

Situated just north of Verona, the Valpolicella region is known for its red wines — particularly Amarone — but also for its lush valleys and fertile plains, as well as its traditional cuisine, such as polenta, seafood dishes, and barbecued meat.

Your driver will pick you up at a centrally-located Verona hotel for a 20-minute ride along the Adige river and past beautiful Valpolicella hillside vineyards to the quaint town of Santa Maria di Negrar. Many years ago, three local ladies started a cooking school here, and they’ll happily welcome you to their kitchen.

The class begins with an introduction to — including the history of — Italian cuisine in the Veneto, as well as information about typical ingredients and products used. Then it’s time to start cooking! With the chef, you will prepare three recipes, including a handmade pasta course, second course of either meat or seafood (such as lake fish), and a dessert. Tiramisu and wine biscuits are just two of the many desserts popular in this area of Italy. Your class will conclude with a lunch based on your efforts paired with a delicious local wine. Participants will also receive a recipe booklet before their driver returns them to Verona.

If you have some time while visiting Venice, explore the beautiful city by boat with a guide. While on the waters of the Venetian lagoon, discover history and traditions, including ancient churches and local cuisine! The bragozzo boat was once a typical fishing boat of the Adriatic sea until it was replace by modern fishing boats; with a flat bottom, it is perfectly designed to sail through shallow waters.

• Venice-St. Andrea (3 hours)

Includes island of St. Andrea along Vignole (including fortress with a panoramic view of the lagoon). Restart along the Lido to see the islands of San Lazzaro deli Armeni (this can be visited instead of St. Andrea), S. Servolo, San Clemente, Le Grazie, Giudecca, and San Giorgio Maggiore. Return through St. Elena and along Venice’s Arsenale.

• North Lagoon (3 hours)

Includes St. Francesco del Desserto (passing through St. Erasmo) and visiting the salt marshes; a monastery sight-seeing tour around Burano, traveling through Mazzorbo and Murano. The trip finishes either at a glass factory or the island of San Michele to see a monumental cemetery. Return to Venice via public transport.

• Fortress Tour (3 hours)

Includes island of St. Andrea along Vignole (including fortress with panoramic view over the lagoon); visit of S. Erasmo’s Maximilian Tower with the opportunity to swim; return to the beautiful canal “bisato” to Murano. Finish either at a glass factory or stop at the island of San Michele to see the monumental cemetery. Return to Venice via public transport.