Aug 10, 2025
A gem of an experience in the mountains above Lake Como - Be prepared to join a new Italian family during this one in a lifetime experience. Luca and Patrizia welcomed us into their home and made us feel like family. Also, making the pasta, pesto and tiramisu from scratch and then eating them were incredible and we learned a great deal about Italian cooking!
Review provided by Viator
Jul 23, 2025
- Patrizia’s cooking class was the highlight of our trip! Her warmth, passion, and incredible knowledge made us feel right at home. We learned to make fresh pasta, sauces, and dessert from scratch, all while enjoying great conversation and wine. The food was absolutely delicious, and the whole experience felt like cooking with family. Highly recommended for anyone wanting an authentic taste of Italy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jul 20, 2025
- If you are even considering taking a cooking class in Italy—do not miss this one with Patrizia. It was hands-down the highlight of our entire trip. From the moment we stepped into her beautiful home, nestled among a lush vegetable garden with views that truly take your breath away, we knew we were in for something special.
Patrizia is not only a phenomenal cook but an incredibly warm and generous host. She taught us how to make two types of pasta completely from scratch, and walked us through the magic of creating a tiramisu so simple, yet so unforgettable that I genuinely cannot wait to recreate it at home. The flavors were exquisite—pure, fresh, and deeply satisfying.
She went above and beyond at every step. While we cooked, she served us a gorgeous Italian Pinot Noir and the most delightful focaccia to snack on (baked by her, of course). She brought out a selection of cheeses, shared her homemade pesto, and even prepared a tomato sauce for our pasta using her personal stash of tomatoes—just tomatoes, nothing else, and it was divine.
To top it all off, Patrizia sent us beautifully written recipes afterwards, and even gave us thoughtful restaurant advice for our next day's trip to Milan. Her kindness, expertise, and passion for food made this an unforgettable experience.
If you love Italian food, genuine hospitality, and unforgettable memories—this is the experience for you. Thank you, Patrizia! 💫🇮🇹🍷🍝
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 29, 2025
The Heart of Italian Hospitality and Cooking - Our home cooking class with Patrizia was truly one of the highlights of our trip to Italy! From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with warmth and enthusiasm that set the tone for an unforgettable evening.
Patrizia guided us through the hands-on preparation of Paglia e Fien pasta, a beautiful green and white tagliatelle and classic tiramisu. What we expected to be challenging, especially making the pasta from scratch, turned out to be both fun and surprisingly simple thanks to her clear instructions, patience and passion for cooking.
The entire experience felt like cooking with a longtime friend in her cozy, authentic Italian kitchen. Along the way we learned not just the recipes but also tips, techniques and stories that brought the food and culture to life.
The best part was sitting down together at the end of the class to enjoy the fruits of our labor, a delicious homemade Italian meal. If you are near Varenna and want to experience the heart of Italian hospitality, don't miss a class with Patrizia. She has a gift for making you feel right at home while turning cooking into something magical.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 28, 2025
Cooking with Monica - Monica is amazing. Her kitchen is unique and beautiful. The food is out of this world. She’s so welcoming and kind. And you leave feeling so full.
Review provided by Viator
Jun 13, 2025
Best cooking class in Italy! - This cooking experience was one of the highlights of our trip to Lake Como! Patrizia was warm and welcoming inviting us into her home. We started the day by touring her gardens and cutting fresh herbs for the meal. The cooking experience was so much fun. Patrizia was patient with us as she taught us how to make tiramisu, pasta and focaccia bread. I highly recommend this experience and if you’re in Bellano make sure you get Patrizia as your guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 7, 2025
Cooking Experience with our Family! - We had a wonderful experience as a family during this experience with Monica in Varenna. She was very patient with us, shared a lot of family stories and was very sweet with our children.
Review provided by Viator
Jun 4, 2025
Hospitality yo the max - Our hostess was amazing! She showed us her beautiful garden and home. She cooked according to my dietary restrictions. She was engaging and educational and fun! It was a favorite activity of our entire trip!!
Review provided by Viator
May 31, 2025
Amazing Experience, a Highlight of our week in Italy - This was so much fun and so convenient! It was a block from the Royal Victoria Hotel, in a very unique room. Our chef was Monica Airoldi who was warm, engaging, and an excellent cook. She only does groups of 4 because she finds it easier for all to be involved. We started by each of us making a tiramisu in a dessert glass that could then chill while we made our raviolo from scratch. It was very simple and delicious. Monica had premade the ravioli filling, so it went smoothly at prepping time. The 3 hours went very quickly! It was me, my husband, our 24 year old daughter and her boyfriend, all of us felt this was one of the best things we did in our week in Italy.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
May 22, 2025
Best Way to End Trip to Italy - Patrizia, was wonderful. She helped us navigate to the location after we got lost, she explained details of her village, she made us both feel welcomed and showed us grace as we didn't quite do everything right with the pasta.
She was very attentive and kept in mind any allergies we may have. Definitely recommend this experience as it was a wonderful way to end our trip to Italy.
Fresh pasta, local ingredients, and she shared her homemade tomato sauce with us, and made us fresh focaccia. Highlight of our trip, and the view of Lake Como could not be beat. Beautiful experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
