Traditional Bolognese Cooking with a Loving Italian Mother

"Spectacular! We loved our time with Giovanna and her family. We learned some key tips on making pasta and a bolognese sauce. We laughed, learned that Francesca is a New England Patriots fan! The family simply loved the evening. The wine just like the conversation continued to flow. Simply a must"

"We could not have chosen a better way to spend our first night in Italy. Gio and her daughters welcomed us into their home, and we learned how to make traditional Bolognese dishes: verdure gratinate, tagliatelle al ragù, and involtini. It felt like we were in a cooking show! And the food came out so delicious!

Throughout the course of the evening, we got to know Gio and her family, and they were wonderful teachers, hosts, and guides. They even gave us some very useful tips on traveling in Italy!

Also, during the tour through the city (and the walk up to Gio’s home), there were many of Gio’s friends and former students who greeted us. It was clear that she is loved by the people in this community. And for one evening, we got to see why. We felt very fortunate to have had this experience."

"Very authentic and traditional. A great way to spend a day in Bologna. A couple of tips that
make all the difference."

"My cooking class with Giovanna was a wonderful experience. The cooking class was the highlight of my trip. I highly recommend this experience as she gives you a background of Bologna and their culture. She did everything according to the details of the experience. She met me at the meeting location, we spent some time shopping at the markets she enjoys and we walked to her home to begin cooking. We made everything on her list, which was delicious. An added plus was that her two daughters joined us. They were lovely and were kind to help with translating. Overall, the experience felt personal and intimate like you were visiting a relative's home. This type of cooking class is a true Italian experience! I will definitely sign up again the next time I visit Bologna."

"What a fabulous experience . Charming warm lady shopped with us while giving us history
about the town. Then we went back to her home and helped her make a delicious meal. So
much food and wine! ❤️ I would recommend this to everyone"

"Just what we had hoped for - Giovanna was a passionate enthusiast of her town, generous and kind to show us the highlights of the market quarter, the authenticity of living in Bologna and shopping for local ingredients. We cooked a feast for lunch and she was both well informed, warm and patient with us, just a delight to be part of her extended family. Highly recommend this!"

"My husband and I had the most wonderful time at Giovanna’s lovely home with her two daughters. We were immediately welcomed and put to work cooking our dinner. Giovanna, Lara and Francesca taught us how to cook bolognese, two different pastas, a vegetable salad, and a second course all while also teaching us about Bologna and their specific family history. We felt like part of the family, and are so excited to keep in touch! We would HIGHLY recommend."

"This is by far and away the best experience we have had traveling. I wish I could give this 10 stars. We cooked, we laughed and we drank wine! Giovanna was amazing and my husband and I learned so much and are excited to make this at home! I recommend you book as soon as possible!"

"Giovanna is very warm, inviting, knowledgeable and charming. She welcomed me into her home with open arms & introduced me to her two daughters Who also cooked with us. Our market walk was lovely with her pointing out all the different foods and going into different shops where she knew most of the vendors. We walked to her house and began to make Tortellini in a butter & sage sauce. We also made a Bolognese sauce to show me how the traditional sauce is made. Because it takes four hours to cook we did not eat it but I did taste it all along the way. To round out the meal we made a Polpettone which is a fancy word for meatloaf in a traditional Bolognese style along with vegetable gratinee. We had a traditional antipasto starter with prosciutto, mortadella, salami and pancetta with parmigiano Reggiano cheese. We had a little wine to cap off the meal that we devoured & I was so full that I passed on cookies for dessert. I can’t say enough good things about Giovanna and her family. I would highly recommend this tour and when I come back to Bologna I will look her up again."

"We were lucky enough to get Giovanna all to ourselves! She gave some history on the market and we followed her as she went into different proprietors for meat, vegetables and cheese. We were warmly welcomed into her kitchen where her daughter joined us for a lovely meal and lively conversation. We felt like we made a new friend in Bologna. Highly recommend if you want an immersion into Bolognese Culture."

"We felt like we were in our family kitchen. Giovanni and daughters were wonderful. Lunch was DELICIOUS."

"Highly recommended! I had a wonderful time with Giovanna. Walking around Bologna, sitting at her kitchen table, discussing travel plans and cooking together. She speaks some English, so it helps if you speak a little Italian, but it all added to the feeling of authenticity and warmth I felt during our time together. Hope to repeat the experience soon!"

"This was an amazing experience and absolutely so much fun. Giovanna was so charming and accommodating. She and her two daughters were just the best. Thanks ladies"

"Words can’t describe how incredible an experience this was! Giovanna is truly a master of her craft! She and her family were warm and welcoming, her instructions were clear, and the food turned out perfect!! If you have the opportunity to cook with Giovanna , don’t hesitate! It will be the experience of a lifetime! She is now my friend on Facebook, and I’m excited for the opportunity to stay in touch with her, and her delightful daughters!"

"A wonderful way to get to know Bologna. Gio and her daughters were so incredibly generous and friendly! I had the best time exploring the market with her, and learning how to buy food like a pro. As we walked, she gave me a history lesson about the city, and I feel as though I understand Bologna and Italian food culture so much more. After the market, I felt so welcomed into their home, and I learned how to cook wonderful food. The meal we shared was so special for having made it together."

"A piece of real Italy. Gio and her daughter were so generous and friendly. We had fun learning to cook the recipes. There was so much good food. The conversation flowed and I was sad the evening ended"

"Bij echt Italiaanse mensen thuis koken, hoe leuk is dat?!
Dochters spreken goed Engels en brachten me na afloop zelfs even naar het appartement met de auto.
Het was een heel gezellige avond!"

"We had a lovely evening with Giovanna. We were made to feel very welcome in her home where we were taught some traditional Bolognese recipes including Gramigna with sausage, gatto di patate and a selection of antipasti. Giovanna and her family were really friendly and we had an interesting evening with them learning about Italy, food and Bologna itself.
The only thing to make clear is that you don't actually make pasta on this course, which was not a problem for us but may be what some other people are looking for.
We would highly recommend this to anyone, We would go back again in a heartbeat and this was a really highlight of Bologna for us. Informal, local food and an opportunity to see a more authentic side of Bologna."

"My brother and I are obsessed with Italian cuisine and had high expectations for our first trip to Bologna. Spending an evening with Giovanna and her family well exceeded our expectations and was by far the most amazing part of our trip. She was so warm, so friendly, so knowledgeable about the history of the city and the cuisine and her two daughters who cooked with us were just the coolest people. We made an unforgettable meal, talked about food, politics, art, sports, culture and more food for the better part of 4 hours. I cannot recommend this experience enough, and I cant wait to return to Bologna and enjoy another meal with Giovanna and her family."

"We booked with Travelling Spoon and had an excellent time with our host Giovanna. We booked the combined experience - to see the markets and hear some local insight and history, and then return with Giovanna to her home to cook and eat together.
It really was the highlight of our long weekend in Bologna.
Giovanna and her daughters were a delight - funny, interesting, kind, and they made us feel very welcome. Giovanna taught us several dishes and showed us the best places to get food in Bologna. She was thoughtful about constructing a menu around the dietary needs of my friend and made sure we could all experience some traditional cooking.
We had a great time drinking, cooking and talking together and learnt a few skills at the same time. We were so stuffed with food we could have rolled ourselves home, and there was enough leftovers for us to take home.
For us this was the perfect experience, to cook with Italians in an Italian home, and afterwards we knew which shops and market stalls to return to. Brilliant."