Meet Margherita in Piazza Giuseppe Verdi and walk to the ancient market of Quadrilatero, a mecca for foodies and historic architecture buffs. The 'Quadrilateral' is a bustling area in Bologna’s city center with craft and trading traditions dating back to the middle ages. Here you will find stalls selling everything from fresh fish to local fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, regional wines, homemade tortellini pasta and fresh Italian breads. A walk down the narrow streets lined with shops, vendors, and places to eat while Margherita introduces you to the local produce and how it is used in traditional Italian cooking. Enjoy a cup of coffee before you walk back to Margherita's apartment to cook with the ingredients you bought at the market (if you've selected the cooking class option).
In your 2 hour hands-on Bolognese cooking class learn to make pasta from scratch. Margherita will take you through the step-by-step process of making the dough, shaping it, cooking it and also preparing the sauce to go with it. You can choose one from these different pasta options - tortellini burro e salvia or strichetti al sugo di tonno or pasta e fagioli or spaghetti alla Bolognese. After cooking, sit down to share the dish you helped prepare along with a few dishes that were pre prepared.
Margherita, a Bolognese, lives with her husband, Filippo, and my their son, Ferraù, in a beautiful home that has belonged to her family for a long time. She lives in the historical center of Bologna, and is excited to share her love for the history of the city and its culinary traditions. You can expect to try recipes from her city - dishes that are typically eaten in people’s homes in Bologna and also from her family recipe book – which has been passed down through generations. Through this experience you will learn about the history, cuisine and culture of Bologna. A few dishes that you might try are frittata di cipolle (eggs and onions), spaghetti alla Bolognese (Spaghetti served with a rich and flavorful meat sauce), Pollo alla cacciatora (chicken stew) and tiramisu. On the days Filippo is available, end your meal with some traditional music, as he would love to play the cello for you!
Margherita's apartment is on the 1st floor and there is no elevator, so you need to walk up 39 steps. She can accommodate a lactose free, gluten free, vegetarian and vegan diet, on request. Perfect Bolognese cooking class for beginners, families and food lovers.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Antipasto: Frittata di cipolle or Spuma di mortadella or Bruschetta Primo: Tortellini burro e salvia or Strichetti al sugo di tonno or Pasta e fagioli or Spaghetti alla BologneseSecondo: Pollo alla cacciatora or polpette ai piselliDolce: TiramisuMargherita grew up in Bologna and learned to cook from her mother and grandmother. She loves learning about the history of cuisine in general and Italian cuisine in particular. As a Bolognese, she has a passion for local ingredients, food, cooking and sharing stories of the origin of various dishes she serves. Margherita would also love for travelers to try the real ‘spaghetti alla Bolognese’! Join her on this journey into Italian history and traditions while you share a traditional Bolognese meal. Margherita is excited to meet people who are curious about Italian culinary traditions and exchange stories and culture with them. It is also a great way for her to practice speaking in English!
"A really nice afternoon with the lovely Margherita. We were so well taken care of. My daughter 23 and my son 21 years old learned a lot about Bologna and the surroundings as well as the food. We first took a walk in Bologna's food district and then cooked together some delicious Italian pasta. And tiramisu! Margaritha was generous and patient with us. So happy that we had this opportunity to meet the lovely Margaritha."
"One of my family’s favorite memories from our 10 day Italian trip! Margherita was so welcoming, we loved touring the market, and food was incredible! Her apartment is located in the university area, with a conservatory nearby - so we were treated to arias from operas throughout our class. That combined with views of the beautiful courtyard, amazing food and wine - this was a wonderful experience that my family will never forget!"
"Highly recommended. Very friendly and knowledgeable teacher. The food we made was
delicious. Very nice way to spend a morning."
"Thanks so much to margarita for her patience and kindness.
My son and I loved visiting her home and learning how to make pasta properly! Delicious menu too.
Apartment is super location for those staying in historical centre."
