Host offerings
Chiara’s passion for cooking began as a young girl when she cooked with her grandmothers, both excellent cooks. She added to her culinary repertoire over time by working with a friend who owned a restaurant, and went on to fulfill her grandmothers’ dream of opening a restaurant! She is eager to showcase local produce and even has her own beehive, vegetable garden, and fruit trees, and grows ancient grain that she uses to make homemade bread. As much as possible, Chiara uses products from her farm. She enjoys using modern technology to experiment with new techniques of cooking and makes creative dishes using a sous vide machine and special freezer. Food allows Chiara to connect with her grandmothers – through cooking they shared a private vocabulary of care, love and passion. She loves cooking with herbs and wild flowers that she picks because she wants to share the beautiful aromas of her region in her food.
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 - 25 guests) Meet your host Chiara at her family home, a traditional, 15th century stone farm estate that she restored and converted into a B&B. Enjoy a refreshing drink and hear the sounds of Italian music from the 20s before your host invites you to a tour of the ancient property and estate, during which you might pick a few herbs and flowers for your meal. You will then join Chiara at her dining table to enjoy a creative, regional Bolognese meal. Your meal will include an appetizer, pasta, vegetable side and dessert. Your menu may include dishes such as a crescentine (a typical fried bread only made in Emilia Romagna) or tigelle (fire-roasted bread) with parmeggiano reggiano or mortadella, tagliatelle with prosciutto di Parma and lemon zest or gnocchi with ragu, and a seasonal side vegetable like mangold (regional greens) cooked in olive oil and garlic. Your meal will conclude with a dessert of torta di castagne (chestnut cake) with zabaione (liqueur-flavored cream) or homemade ice-cream made from fresh, seasonal fruit.
Cooking experience (1 - 25 guests) Experience the warmth of Italian family cooking in this pasta class in rural Bologna at a charming 15th-century stone farm estate. During your Bologna cooking class learn to make authentic pasta from scratch in a cozy, traditional setting. Join your host Chiara at her professional, stainless steel kitchen to learn to cook a creatively-inspired regional Italian meal from Monte San Pietro recipes, passed down from her grandmother. Inspired by innovation in the cooking world, she is keen on assembling dishes with regional ingredients but changing their form to make them more exciting. Instead of the traditional peas and pasta dish, Chiara might make a cream of peas that is drizzled over her pasta. Your hands-on cooking will last about two hours. Learn to cook three dishes from scratch during your cooking experience; a pasta such as tagliatelle with prosciutto di Parma and lemon zest, a seasonal vegetable side such as cavolo nero from the garden with garlic and olive oil or a fennel and root vegetable gratinato, and a bread made from ancient wheat or dessert. Enjoy learning about creative ways to recreate regional Bolognese dishes before you sit down at the table to share the meal you helped prepare with Chiara. Perfect for families and food lovers!
Notes: Please note that all culinary experiences are available only from Wednesday to Sunday <br><br> Please meet Chiara directly at her home, if you are driving. If you decide to take public transportation (bus #83), let Chiara know at least 3 days in advance and she will plan to pick you up from the bus station and drop you off after. Also, Chiara can arrange to pick you up from the city center of Bologna, by a professional driver (price not included and to be paid directly to the taxi company upon meeting).
Languages spoken: #<HostLanguage::ActiveRecord_Associations_CollectionProxy:0x00007f75cdb2fa08>
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.
Pricing (per person)*
| 1 person | 4 people | 5+ people | |
|---|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | Not offered | $40 | $35 |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | Not offered | $90 | $75 |
| Alcohol | $4 per person | ||
| *Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout. | |||
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| In-Home Meal | 12:30pm - 02:30pm | |
| Cooking Experience + Meal | 10:30am - 02:30pm |
Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.
