In the kitchen · LUNCH EXPERIENCES
Every trip has one free evening too few. These 9 lunch experiences earn the slot, priced and timed so you can decide in minutes and get back to the fun part.
Travel by air-conditioned Mercedes minivan from Taormina, Giardini Naxos, or Letojanni to Savoca and Forza D’Agro. Walk through The Godfather film sites with guides such as Orazio, Denise, Carlos, and Antonio, then enjoy Sicilian pasta and Etna white wine on a coastal terrace.
“Very interesting, our guide was informative and friendly. Very good lunch in nice location”
Travel by air-conditioned Mercedes minivan from Taormina to Forza d’Agrò and Savoca with an English-speaking guide such as Antonio, Giovanni, Denise, or Valerio. See Bar Vitelli and the wedding church from The Godfather, hear real Sicilian Mafia history, then enjoy homemade pasta, bruschetta, wine, and often cannoli.
“This was up there as the best excursion we’ve ever went. The guide Giovanni was excellent. His knowledge and passion for the subject was outstanding. We saw all the places we remember from the movies and Gio had backup footage for those who had forgotten. The transport was spot on and the meal we went for after it was outstanding. If I wasn’t leaving Sicily today I would have went back and done it again!! We could have listened to him for hours. Superb guide and a great sense of humour as well, he kept us all going and nothing was a bother. Thank you Giovanni for making our trip…”
Start in central Sorrento with prosecco, then ride a short included minibus transfer to a restaurant near Massa Lubrense. With chefs such as Antonio, Antonino, or Massimo, you will make fresh pasta, ravioli, and tiramisu before sitting down to eat with wine.
“A great way to spend the afternoon, lots ofnfun and a yummy way to end the day. Maybe a little background music could make the atmosphere a bit better, it was awkwardly quiet but could have been our group! I appreciated that each person ate their own cooking rather than getting it mixed all together, you could then see how well you had done and a good way to control allergies too!”
Meet your chef near Porta Messina for a hands-on Sicilian cooking class in central Taormina. Make homemade pasta and pizza, taste cheese and wine, share a full meal, and take home recipes and a certificate. Chefs such as Luca, Maurizio, Francesca, and Giovanni lead sessions.
“Lovely traditional feeling restaurant with a very passionate guide/host. We started off with some pasta making, then had a break for nibbles and wine. Next we made the pizza dough, learned about the different recipes and traditions and created our own toppings. We were then able to eat our creations along with the pasta made earlier, again, accompanied by plenty of wine. We finished the evening with Cannoli and Limoncello. Great experience for the evening. We even got to keep our aprons and were sent the recipes for the food we had made. Going home to buy a pizza oven…excellent!”
Spend four hours at a Chianti farmhouse with Anna Maria and Valentina, learning to make three types of pasta and a Tuscan dessert. You will prepare lunch, taste pappa al pomodoro and fettunta, drink family vineyard wine, and take home recipes, skills, and a small cooking gift.
“My wife and I spent an afternoon learning how to make pasta from scratch and it was absolutely incredible! Hosted by the Annamarie and Valentina in a beautiful Tuscan farmhouse, the day was a perfect blend of hands-on learning and relaxation. We learned how to make three different types of pasta, all by hand, and enjoyed a delicious lunch complete with appetizers, wine, and, of course, our freshly made pasta. The hosts were incredibly accommodating, making the experience even more memorable. It took us hours trying to find the right course. "Chianti: Homemade Pasta Making Class and Lunch" was exactly what we were looking for. We can't wait to bring…”
Spend seven hours cruising from Bonifacio to the Lavezzi Islands, with sea caves, limestone cliffs, Sperone lagoon, and swimming stops. Your boat serves breakfast, Corsican charcuterie, lobster pasta, cheese, fruit, wine, and coffee. The French-speaking crew also provides masks and snorkels.
“Bellissima esperienza. Personale cordiale e simpatico! Cibo ottimo. L’itinerario bellissimo, con posti stupendi! La consiglio vivamente!”
Join Fabio and Maria at Masseria Casina Vitale near Ceglie Messapica. Tour the farm, learn to shape orecchiette by hand, then sit down to burrata, capocollo, focaccia, pasta, wine, and a local biscuit.
“Fantastic morning making Orecchiette pasta at a beautiful Masseria. Maria and Fabio demonstrated and helped us make the pasta then Maria made a delicious fresh tomato sauce to go with it. Lunch was 3 courses with wine. We had local ham, homemade focaccias and mozzarella, our pasta and then a local almond biscotti with coffee. A tour of the Masseria was also included. A fab morning.”
Spend three hours in a renovated villa 30 km from Florence, learning to make two or three kinds of fresh pasta with an Italian and English-speaking chef. Prepare sauces, eat your creations with local cold cuts, cheese, dessert, coffee, and a glass of Chianti, then take home the recipes.
“Excellent welcome, very good atmosphere and friendly group not to mention our beautiful creations and the technique transmitted by the chefs! Bravo”
Spend up to nine hours exploring Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius, then make handmade pasta and eat lunch at a local home. Driver Antonino has earned praise for smooth transport, clear explanations, photos, and a warm family welcome.
“We had an amazing day with Antonino! Our trip was off season in February. He was our guide at Pompeii and shared an incredible amount of information with us and thoroughly answered all of our questions. We ended the day on the terrace of his personal residence overlooking the port of Naples making pasta with his wife. She was a great instructor (very patient) and a wonderful hostess. He made sure to take and send many pictures/videos. Thank you Antonino! (sorry I don’t know how to spell your wife’s name)”
Pick a city, a shape of pasta, or a bench with the wine left open.
