Hands-on Traditional Italian Cooking Class in Bologna

Meet Giovanna

Giovanna is a retired teacher, she taught Italian, Philosophy and History to high school students. Currently she collaborates with the 'Love Italian Project' to offer history and Italian lessons to foreign students. Giovanna loves speaking to new people, getting to know different cultures, wandering in the historic city center and on the hills of Bologna, reading novels and visiting art museums. Another passion of hers is cooking and she has always loved cooking for family and friends - holding dinner parties at her terrace is her favorite thing to do. Giovanna learned to cook from her mother in the countryside of Mantua and then she enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen to create her own recipes. She is now excited to meet new people and share with them her passion for history, cooking and good Italian food and wine!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal (1 - 3 guests) Giovanna lives in a beautiful apartment in downtown Bologna, in the historical center, with her friendly Jack Russel named Nemo. She is excited to share with you a home-cooked Italian meal, dishes she often cooks for her family and friends. Giovanna can also prepare a traditional vegetarian or vegan Bolognese meal if you don't eat meat or seafood, so please let her know your preference while booking the experience online. Her recipes are simple and made with high quality, fresh and seasonal ingredients. She will not only share her delicious food but also the traditions around food and hopes to make you fall in love with Bologna! A few traditional Italian dishes that you might try at Giovanna’s table are chickpea with radish and rocket salad, crostini with stracchino and mushrooms (toast with cheese and mushroom) and risotto with seasonal vegetables and parmigiano. You will end your meal with a dessert such as seasonal fruits or red fruit crostata (fruit tart) or tenerina (chocolate cake).

Cooking experience (1 - 3 guests) In your Italian cooking class in Bologna you will learn to cook authentic Bolognese dishes with your host Giovanna, in her home kitchen. In your 2-hour hands-on Bologna cooking experience, learn to make crostini with vegetables and local cheese, risotto with seasonal vegetables such as pumpkin or asparagus, and tenerina and a moist chocolate cake. Or you can learn to make tagliatelle al ragù or gramigna with sausage and tiramisu. Giovanna will share her family recipes, tips on how to perfect each dish and stories of growing up in the countryside. After cooking, share the meal you helped prepare in her beautiful, green terrace, only during the spring and summer months when the weather is good.

Market visit (1 - 3 guests) Meet Giovanna at her apartment and then walk together for 10 minutes to tour the Mercato di Mezzo - the city’s first covered market filled with stalls selling vegetables, fruits, pasta, meat, bread and cheese. Here you can shop for fresh, seasonal produce or eat at one of counters selling food and wine. In your one hour tour of this market, Giovanna will take you to her favorite vendors so that you can see the local produce and buy a few ingredients for your cooking class.

Traveler reviews