In the kitchen · LUNCH EXPERIENCES
Every trip has one free evening too few. These 15 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…”
Walk the woods of a family farm near Chianti with truffle hunters Gian Marco or Luca and Tabu, their Lagotto dog. Then make fresh tagliatelle and eat it with truffles, local antipasti, wine, olive oil, and vineyard views. The four-hour experience is in English and limited to 12 people.
“Exactly what we expected and more. The hosts, Nico taking us on an adventurous hike through the gorgeous forests in Tuscany with the truffle hunting licenced expert, Luca, with his beautful truffel hunting dog, Tabu. It had rained a few days before, which made smelling the truffel a bit harder than usual, but Tabu found quite a few and in particular one big one that we later had grated over our freshly made pasta. Nico explained the different truffels, seasons and rules of hunting. After the truffle hunting, Nico's lovely father guided us through making fresh tagliatelle from scratch. Meanwhile Nico and the family had prepared us a mouthwatering cheese…”
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!”
At Cofferi 1242, a professional hunter and Lagotto Romagnolo lead you into the Chianti woods for an hour of truffle hunting. Then Fabrizio and his family guide you through fresh tagliatelle before serving lunch with truffles, wine, olive oil, and vineyard views.
“The activity was amazing from the beginning to end. It was the start of the black truffle season and thanks to Gianmarco and his dog Tabou (sorry if there are mistakes in the names), we found several black truffles. Our host Fabrizzio then showed us how to make fresh pastas which we later ate with the truffles we found, all this with a spectacular view. An immense thank you to Fabrizzio, his wife Carmela and son Niccolo for a day that our group will remember for a long time. The best day of our 17 day trip in Tuscany. Strongly recommend. Oh yes, Fabrizzio's wine is pretty delicious too!Read more”
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.”
At a farmhouse in Chianti, Francesco welcomes you, while Valentina and Anna teach you to make several fresh pastas and a local dessert. You then eat your work, plus a generous Tuscan lunch with wine, in the garden. The four-hour class is limited to eight people and runs in English with translation help when needed.
“Annamaria & Valentina were very hospitable & instructive in our Tuscan Pasta making class. We learned how to make 3 different fresh pastas, then cooked 2 of them to eat, plus a dessert we prepared and ate. Additionally, they had prepared a typical Tuscan charcuterie board for us to enjoy as the first course. We thoroughly enjoyed the time we all spent with them & would do it again.”
Join Mamma Ivana for a three-hour tortellini lesson at Giardini di Borghetto near Verona. You will mix and stretch pasta, prepare the meat filling, shape the traditional Love Knot, then sit down to eat with wine, water, and homemade Sbrisolona tart.
“It was a very heart warming experience. Helped that they were bilingual and that they had so much expertise in their area. We came in as a big family and had so much fun. It was truly the best.”
At a private cooking class near Barberino Tavarnelle, chefs including Vilma, Tommaso, and Luca guide you through fresh pasta and seasonal sauces. You will prepare two or three pasta types, share local meats and cheese, then eat your work with Chianti wine, dessert, coffee, and recipes to take home.
“Nice house and industrial kitchen. Kind hosts and good preparation so we got right to the fun. Very nice dinner with group”
Join Elena, Bruna, and Francesco at their home in Tenno for a four-and-a-half-hour pasta lesson and lunch. You will work with semolina and water, prepare several pasta shapes and sauces, then eat your creations with seasonal organic produce from their garden.
“We had such an amazing time learning pasta making techniques followed by a wonderful lunch. 10/10 experience!”
Spend seven hours at La Gavitella Restaurant in Praiano with chef Thomas and a group of up to six. Make bruschetta, ravioli, tagliatelle, and tiramisù, then eat your work with sea views before relaxing at the beach club.
“The best day! The boat shuttle to Praiano was very easy to get to and was so beautiful. The pasta making was so fun and Thomas was very energetic and made it a great experience. They take pictures while you are cooking and give you a certificate at the end. The day beds are included after the pasta making and was so relaxing and enjoyable. 10/10 experience!”
Meet at Lo Studio restaurant in Trastevere for a 2.5-hour pasta class with an Italian chef. You’ll make ravioli and cavatelli from scratch in a group of no more than eight, then eat your pasta with dessert and Italian wine.
“Great. A class with our chef at the top of pasta cooking. Super accessible and friendly and the children really enjoyed it too.”
Pick a city, a shape of pasta, or a bench with the wine left open.
