Nicola will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to a few local shops for your market tour. You will explore a vegetable, meat, cheese grocer and purchase a few ingredients for your cooking class. Walk through the different shops and explore with your host local and regional produce sold by his favored vendors. Your market tour will last about 30 minutes.
Join your host Nicola at his parent’s home in Santa Maria to learn to cook an authentic Italian meal. Prepare a southern Italian meal from recipes that have been passed down through generations of your host’s family. Your hands-on southern Italian cooking class involves learning to make 3 dishes made from scratch from Nicola’s mother Lia and will last about 2 hours. Start by learning to make Cilento pizza, homemade pasta like ravioli or fusilli in the Cilento style accompanied by a meat sauce and a vegetable dish. Nicola will act as your translator as his mother Lia does not speak English. You will learn to cook regional dishes that you may not find in restaurants but that are easy enough to recreate on your own. Enjoy learning about the tips and techniques involved in Southern Italian cooking and culture before you sit down at the kitchen dining table to share the meal you helped prepare with host Nicola and his parents. Your meal may include dishes such as Cilento pizza, handmade pasta in a sauce, and main of meat or fish and vegetables. Your meal will conclude with a dessert of fresh fruit or dessert and limoncello or artisanal spirits. Wine is included in the cost of your experience.
If you are staying within 15kms of Santa Maria di Castellabate, Nicola offers free pick-up and drop-off that is included in the cost of the experience.
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.
Cilento pizzaHandmade pasta with raguEggplant parmigiana or stuffed peppersFresh fruitLimoncelloNicola enjoys sharing the food, culture and soul of the region of Cilento with travelers from around the world. The people of Cilento tend to live longer than in other parts of Italy, which they attribute to the regional cuisine and positive attitude. The food of the region of Cilento (referred to as the birthplace of the Mediterranean diet) is based on traditional aspects of the Mediterranean diet that includes fresh and regional ingredients, fruits, vegetables, seafood and extra virgin olive oil. Nicola is passionate about meeting people and helping them enjoy the region of Cilento. In his words, “Arrive as a guest and leave as a friend.” Meet a warm and inviting Italian family in the region of Campania.
"A highlight of our vacation throughout Italy! Truly an authentic cooking experience with a Nona and her family. We were met at the port and brought to the house where Nona Lia, and her grandson were waiting. After donning our aprons, off to the kitchen for an afternoon of making pasta that melted in your mouth, cilento pizzas, sauce, and my favorite - spinach ricotta ravioli. All made by hand. I have since purchased one of the ricotta crimpers - so much easier! The time flew by as we were busy and laughing and becoming an extended part of the family. Thank you Nicola and Nona Lia for a heartwarming and delicious class!"
"Nicola greeted me in the morning and we walked downtown to buy some ingredients. It was fun right from the start! From there, we went to his home where I met the family and dove right into preparing a four course meal together. This family is just like my own, passionate about celebrating food. I felt right at home. In this house, life centers around sharing meals together and the happiness they bring. In just a few short hours, you will feel as though you made new friends, and enjoyed the most memorable meal on your trip. The food was absolutely fresh and DELICIOUS! I highly recommend the experience!"
"Nicola, mama, and papa welcomed us into their family with open arms. We learned how to cook authentic Cilento-style pizza, ricotta & spinach ravioli, tagliatelle & Parmesan. We had bread, wine, and local desserts as well. It was the most intimate, authentic experience we could have asked for on our honeymoon! It is truly a core memory we will never forget and we left feeling like we made lifelong friends!"
"This experience exceeded my expectations! From the initial meeting with Nicola and his mother Lia and hanging out in their lovely home, they made us feel like family. Lia showed us how to make a fried pizza, homemade pasta, eggplant parmesan and slow cooked pork and beef. The food was incredible; however, the experience was far better! Highly recommended if you find yourself in or near the awesome village of Castellabate!"
