When you ask people why they want to visit Italy, there’s no question that food is at the top of many lists.
Yet sometimes you want to go beyond just enjoying a nice meal and some vino at a restaurant.
You want to see how authentic Italian food is actually made. Or, you want to tour a famous Italian food market with a local for an insider’s perspective.
That’s where the Rome-based company Cooking Italy comes in.
Cooking Italy offers Italian cooking classes and food tours all around Italy, including Rome (of course), Florence, Venice, Bologna, Palermo, and about a dozen locations in total. The company also has cooking classes in Madrid, Spain.
The classes and food tours are led by local chefs, guides, and restaurant owners who know what they’re doing. All you need to do is sign up, take part in the fun of preparing the meal, and then–Mangia/Eat!
Here’s just a sampling of the types of food experiences offered by Cooking Italy:
–Florence Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class
–Florence Food & Wine Tour in Oltarno
—Rome Food & Wine Tour by the Vatican
–Palermo Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class with Wine (sign us up!)
–Pasta Making Class in Trastavere
—Rome Pizza & Gelato Making Class by the Vatican
You get the idea. The pasta and tiramisu combo class is available in Cooking Italy’s many locations across Italy.
When you’re on their website, you can search for a tour by city location.
Although prices vary, many of Cooking Italy’s cooking classes range from 50 to 69 Euros. Most cooking experiences take about three hours.
One example of a class offering: For the Rome Pasta Cooking class, you might make ricotta and spinach ravioli, fresh tagliatelle with tomato sauce, and then traditional tiramisu. You can enjoy Prosecco while cooking and white and red wine or soft drinks during the meal.
Yum!
When finished cooking, you’ll share the meal with your fellow cooking companions and cooking guides.
The Story Behind Cooking Italy
The story of Cooking Italy actually begins at Rome’s Colosseum. Henry David Cunningham, who’s a native of Ireland, came to Italy in 2007. He and his business partner Joshua were working as tour guides at the Colosseum.
Yet they noticed that there was one question they were asked most frequently: “Where can we get some good pasta and pizza near the here?”
This started a kernel of an idea, which grew into a food and wine tour in Rome’s Prati district. That’s where Mercato Trionfale, Rome’s largest food market, is located.
From there, Henry and Joshua began to expand their business to include wine tastings and cooking classes. The company started in 2018; they also began to grow Cooking Italy in other cities.
Tips and Surprises When It Comes to Italian Food
If you’re interested in a cooking experience in Italy but you’re newer to the Italian food scene, one thing that may surprise you is how different the food is in each area.
“The north is vastly different from the central and the south” when it comes to food, Cunningham says.
Here’s an example: Yes, pasta is common around Italy. Yet in northern Italy, you may find a lot of risotto (an Italian rice) or polenta (ground cornmeal) depending on where you are. In Sicily, you may find couscous dishes on the menu along with pasta.
If you want to find “authentic” Italian food, Cunningham advises finding where the locals go–in addition to taking a class or tour with Cooking Italy, of course. Do some research online, and ask contacts in Italy or seasoned visitors for recommendations. Seek restaurants on side streets versus ones that are right beside big tourist attractions.
A Few Other Things to Know About Your Cooking Italy Experience
—The classes will be held even if there are only a handful of participants. This is good to know if you’re visiting off-season.
–It’s a good idea to book early if you’re visiting during the height of tourist season.
—Bigger cities like Florence, Venice, and Rome have classes and tours year-round. Other cities where Cooking Italy is located may have more classes only in the busy touristy months. However, you can always ask to find out what’s available.
—Cooking Italy and its employees like to provide a concierge service for customers. That means they’re happy to offer Italy travel advice about topics beyond just their cooking class. “We’re like a local friend. We have an office with 12 to 15 people,” Cunningham says. If you’re signed up for a class or tour, don’t hesitate to message or call them with other Italy travel questions. You can get answers to questions in English.
Contact Cooking Italy for Your Next Cooking Class in Italy
Ready to sign up for a cooking class during your Italy visit?
Find Cooking Italy’s contact info here.
Their website also sells several Italian food products, including pesto, Italian pasta, limoncello (mmmmm), and garlic.
Cooking Italy is always looking to partner with local chefs and food guides as well as travel agents.
Enjoy and buon viaggio/happy travels!
