Bologna: Home Cooking Class & Meal With A Local By Cesarine

Chef Maurizio and Marco provided us with a great afternoon cooking class in their home in Bologna. Maurizio is a great teacher, but also very gracious and lots of fun. We made 3 dishes, including handmade pasta for tortellini, drank wine, and then sat down for a great meal and conversation. We highly recommend Cesarine and particularly, Maurizio, for a unique Italian experience.

Simon was our chef. He solicited our menu requests in advance of the cooking class - much appreciated. He graciously opened up his home and kitchen to us. He was very knowledgeable about the science (as well as the art) of cooking. There was the right balance between demonstration and hands-on experience. Our "finished products" were superb. My wife and I are very confident we can replicate the recipes when we get back home.

Luca was amazing! He’s very knowledgeable and talented. He showed us techniques, answered our questions, and was very friendly! We had an amazing meal including a fabulous dessert! Such a wonderful experience all around!

It was a fun experience making fresh pasta with Roberta. I would definitely recommend trying this

We had such a wonderful experience at Paola’s home! From the moment we arrived, she made us feel incredibly welcome and treated us like guests rather than customers. Even though she didn’t speak much English, she went out of her way to make sure we could communicate by using a translator, which made the class fun, interactive, and easy to follow. The pasta-making experience was fantastic—we learned so much, and Paola was patient, encouraging, and clearly passionate about sharing her family traditions and recipes. It felt authentic and personal, making it much more special than a typical cooking class. The meal we prepared was absolutely delicious, and the entire experience was filled with warmth and genuine hospitality. To top it all off, Paola surprised us with a homemade dessert at the end, which was such a thoughtful and delightful touch. If you’re looking for an authentic Italian cooking experience in a welcoming home, I can’t recommend this class enough. It was one of the highlights of our trip, and we’ll remember it fondly for years to come. Thank you, Paola, for your kindness, generosity, and unforgettable hospitality!

We had a wonderful time at this cooking class in Bologna! The atmosphere was warm, cozy, and intimate, and the food we made was absolutely delicious. Rosa was an amazing host – so kind, welcoming, open, and passionate about sharing her knowledge. She made everyone feel comfortable and created a really enjoyable experience. The only reason we’re giving 4 instead of 5 stars is that we weren’t informed beforehand that there would be two cats at the property, which could be important for guests with allergies or who are not comfortable around animals. We also felt that the space could have been a bit cleaner. That said, these were the only downsides. Rosa is truly lovely, and we would still recommend this experience to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable Italian cooking class.

This we a great experience for my family of four. We made lasagna with ragu and bechamel, rolling out the pasta and assembling it all. The hostess shared more about Bologna and the food. Glad we did it.

6 hours after finishing our master class with Eleonora and Federico and we are still smiling! We had perfect communication from our hosts prior to the class, and we arrived to a very warm and inviting greeting into their beautiful home. Eleonora and Federico were attentive, extremely easy to talk to, funny and informative. Our lasagna making class was delivered at a perfect pace, going through each step, from making the pasta dough, rolling it out, making the béchamel sauce and constructing the dish. We even had time to make some fresh tagliatelle, which we ate as a small starter, before the main star of the show, the lasagne. We ate, with our hosts in their beautiful garden and drank several glasses of local wine with our meal. We will take away new skills, plenty of stories and valuable tips and fantastic memories. If you are considering booking this experience, do not hesitate, you will not be disappointed .

What a wonderful experience. Roberta was so welcoming into her lovely home. The kitchen was very impressive. We really enjoyed her teaching of some classic Italian dishes, which we had a great time preparing and even better time eating. She also made the most delicious mortadella mousse that I am still thinking about!! Highly recommend an experience with Roberta.

Veronica provided one of the best highlights of our multi-city tour in Italy. She invested so much time in sharing her knowledge of both cooking and the city of Bologna. There were four of us and she made us feel like we were all dear friends by the end of our time together. Also, she was very patient with us and our meal turned out perfect! I learned new techniques from Veronica and we ate every last crumb of the meal we all made. 5 stars and would highly recommend!

Simon agrologist that works for Barilla hence very educated about food and drink and a total joy to spend time in the kitchen with!!! His family interfaces with his class with olive oil and most exceptional sausage that he served with his home made bread 🥖

Rosa gave me one of the most memorable culinary experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Her beautiful home just outside the center of Bologna immediately felt warm, welcoming, and deeply authentic — the perfect setting to learn the art of handmade pasta. As an experienced chef myself, I was incredibly impressed by how intuitively she adapted the workshop to my skill level, shifting the format naturally so it felt less like a standard class and more like an inspiring collaboration between two people who genuinely love food. We shared wonderful stories, laughter, and memories throughout the experience, and it ended up being the absolute highlight of my time in Bologna — without question. The pasta we made together was truly some of the best I have ever eaten, and the care Rosa puts into every detail is extraordinary. She generously shared all of the recipes from the class so I could recreate everything at home, and she thoughtfully took so many beautiful photos throughout the experience so I could fully stay present and enjoy the moment. I also completely fell in love with her two cats, who somehow made the experience even more charming and unforgettable. Rosa is not only an incredibly talented teacher and cook, but also a genuinely kind and special person. If you are considering booking with her, do not hesitate for a second — it is a magical experience.

We had such a fun evening cooking with Maurizio! He and Marco were lovely hosts who made us feel welcome and comfortable in their beautiful home. And we learned so much about making pasta by hand! I highly recommend this cooking experience with Maurizio.

Perfect host! This was our favorite cooking experience we have ever done. A lot of it is because of Maurizio. He was very knowledgable, charismatic and welcoming. He made us feel at home from the moment we walked into his home. The day really flew by. The food was sensational. We highly recommend this experience but make sure you request Maurizio! OH, he also asked about our trip and made recommendations on places to see and where we can go based on what we had planned. We took his suggestions and were really happy we did. Thank you for an incredible day!

Very nice experience making pasta with Roberta! Love taking away the recipes and making them at home. She has a lovely home and awesome cooking/prep space in her kitchen very spacious.

The Cesarine Privat Pasta Class and Meals at a Local’s Home was fabulous!! There were 3 of us, and we had the best time. Our hostess, Roberta, was excellent. Her home was beautiful, and she could not have been more accommodating. It was approximately an 11 minute taxi ride to her home, and when we were done, she called a taxi to take us back to the hotel. Dinner consisted of our ravioli and tagliatelle which we made from scratch, and Roberta supplementing it with her homemade dishes. Would highly recommend.

We can't say enough good things about Rosa and our evening with her. The laughter, the wine, and the pasta making lesson ( along with meatballs and tiramisu) - was exactly what we had hope to experience. She has a lovely sense of humour and made the whole evening a night to remember.

Highly recommend! Federica A. and her daughter provided an experience of a lifetime! Both my husband and I are foodies that love to cook. Federica provided a fun step by step demonstration of each dish and recipes. Her home is warm and welcoming. We ate each dish on a beautiful terrace with a wonderful view of Bologna. Top notch lesson from beginning to end!

Taking a cooking class with Paola was one of the absolute highlights of our time in Bologna. From the moment we stepped into her beautiful home, we were welcomed not just as guests, but as friends. Paola opened her kitchen and her heart to us, guiding us through a hands-on cooking experience that was as joyful as it was delicious. We learned how to make a delicate squash soufflé, a perfectly crispy and tender cotoletta, and an indulgent, creamy tiramisu — each dish full of flavor, tradition, and love. Cooking with Paola felt like being part of a true Italian family. We laughed, shared stories, and sat down afterward to enjoy the meal we made together — which was truly one of the best we had in Italy. This was more than just a cooking class; it was a cultural exchange and the beginning of a new friendship. I wholeheartedly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Bologna. If you’re looking for something genuine, personal, and deeply satisfying — both for your palate and your heart — don’t miss cooking with Paola.

Authentic and warm experience in Maurizios lovely home. He was very kind and helpful in his instructions. We learned som good tips and tricks for further use in our own kitchen. And had an interesting conversation around the dinner table on the lovely terrace overlooking the old town of Bologna.

Very fun experience and Rosa was very friendly! The food that we made was very nice as well as the sauce Rosa prepared in advance :) Unique to have a personal view in someone’s life and kitchen!

Rosa is such a welcoming, warm and kind person. I surprised my date with this workshop and it was fantastic. We shared many laughs and drank delicious wine. Also, I now feel confident making pasta en tiramisu. Who would have thought :)

We had an amazing evening with Maurizio. He made us feel like family and welcomed us into his home. I am not the greatest of cooks (the wife is) but he made me feel so comfortable and confident and I discovered that I am pretty good if I follow directions! This was one of the highlights of our trip and I would highly recommend Maurizio.

This was a great experience and better than I expected. Rosa is very personable and we had great conversations while cooking. She pivoted since it was just me and I was able to take most of the food we made for dinner that night. It was so much fun to learn how to make the traditional Italian pasta and tiramisu. This was the first time I felt connected to Italy and I look forward to making the dishes when I return home!

Carla and Danielle were fabulous instructors and hosts! We had the best time making tortelloni, tagliatelle and sauce. The dessert was a creative and perfect take on tiramisu as well. I would highly recommend them to anyone who would enjoy learning from fun and experienced hosts!

Had an amazing time with Rosa. She made us feel at home with good conversation and great food! A wonderful birthday celebration. Thank you!

We loved our morning with Roberta. She is a very welcoming and gracious host. She really knows how to cook and how to teach others to cook. Her kitchen is beautiful. Roberta helped us to make balanzoni and tortelloni, each absolutely delicious. It was a very relaxing hiatus in our trip. Though we spent only one morning together, we felt as though we were leaving a dear friend, and it was hard to leave !

I spent very entertaining and educationally precious hours with Rosa as a cooking instructor. She had such a lovely way to tell me what to do and how to do it correctly. She was a perfect teacher for me and she served a delicious Lambrusco! Thank you very much, Rosa!

Rosa was warm, welcoming and funny! We had a great time making pasta and chatting. She was super adaptable for last minute changes once she found out I was pregnant and we made a delicious chocolate tort instead of tiramisu. Would highly recommend!

Rosa was a wonderful teacher, gracious host, and absolute joy. My wife and I very much enjoyed the cooking class, and we would definitely do this experience again.

This was a wonderful experience! We selected the cooking class because the weather was rainy and we thought it would be a fun indoor activity. Our host picked us up and drove us to the family home. There we learned how to make 3 dishes with his wife and son. We had the best time!! I would highly recommend this to anyone.

We loved this experience. We were paired with a woman named Rosa, who was extremely kind and she showed us how she cooked at home. I’d recommend this experience!

This was a wonderful experience! Hands-on in the comfort of Margherita's home. Margherita was a charming and knowledgable teacher. We learned to make two kinds of delicious pasta as well as tiramisu. What a fun day! We came home and practiced what we had learned and impressed all of our friends. Highly recommend!

The highlight of our time in Bologna! Roberta is a passionate and thoughtful chef, who took her time to tech us. It was incredible to be invited into her beautiful home. It felt like a combination of a cooking class and having a private chef cook your dinner with the extra care she took - and the amazing wine!

The highlight of our trip to Bologna! Roberta was amazing, and made us feel so welcome in her home. We had so much fun, and loved the experience. Was not only a great way to learn to make pasta (and tiramisu), but also a delicious dinner with amazing wine!

I had a great cooking class together with Cesarina Paola. We made some very delicious food together, which I look forward to recreate at home. It was a wonderful evening and I had a really great time.

Highly recommend, couldn’t ask for a better host to teach us traditional pasta making. Paola is amazing. The result of our pasta and tiramisu was delicious. It was our first time ever doing something like this and the outcome surprised us. The Tiramisu was so good I forgot to take a picture.

Fantastic experience! Christina and her husband Enrico were so fun to spend the evening with. We learned a lot, had a great meal, and made new friends!

Alessandra was absolutely wonderful! Sweet, kind and such a talented chef! The house was lovely and we enjoyed making 2 delicious pasta dishes and amazing tiramisu!!! This was an amazing experience!

Paola was warm and welcoming to us, and explained how authentic Italian pasta and dessert is made. We had great hands-on experiences preparing great food. The created meal was delicious to enjoy. A Cesarine cooking class is highly recommended as part of an Italian holiday, thank you!

Adriana was a fabulous host. During our visit we welcomed into her house walking distance from our hotel in the heart of Bologna. She was very accommodating as we wanted to make the traditional tortellini in the both, as this is a winter dish, she was still able to accept our request. During our time, we enjoyed some aperitivo . We made two types of pasta as well as some delicious tiramisu. Not only was the food and company great, her backyard where we ate was beautiful!

Our cooking experience with Roberta was amazing! She welcomed us in her beautiful home and shared her culture and skills with us. The recipes were delicious, with fresh herbs and great ingredients. We even got to try the local bread and wine. Roberta was great company, very sweet, and knowledgeable. Lovely kitchen and setting to cook in, we highly recommend the experience to anyone who likes to cook!

It was a cultural experience to be in the home of a local cooking with local ingredients. I highly recommend to foodies and non foodies. Our host Roberta was exceptional.

Our private pasta making class and dinner with Paola was PERFECTO! She has a lovely and inviting home and personality! Her English was great too and very friendly and easy to communicate with. The entire meal was excellent from start to finish and she did a great job teaching us how to make the pasta. We definitely didn’t walk away hungry! We left with full bellies and big smiles! A great experience from start to finish! BRAVO!

The host was ultra nice and understanding. We made 2 pastas and one dessert. It was the most memorable thing we could do coming to Italy from USA. We would do it again in every city we go to.

Elena and her husband have a warm welcoming home and it was a wonderful experience to cook together. What a delicious meal!

This was a great way to spend a few hours in Bologna. Elena and Saverio were welcoming in their eclectic home and instructed us well and shared insights in how to get the best flavours out of the excellent local ingredients. It was a delight eating the meal we had prepared.

I booked a cooking class in Bologna for my son and me. Rosa was amazing! We felt so welcome in her home....like part of her family. Her cooking instructions were perfect and we produced a three course meal (plus piadina) in our three hours. This included the best pasta I've ever eaten...and made it! The best experience of my Italian adventure. If I could give more than five stars I would. Thank you Rosa!

We had the most incredible time cooking with Rosa in the "Emilia Romagna: the queen of good food cooking" Cesarine course. A definite highlight of our three week Italian holiday! We did the class with our two daughters age 4 and 1.5. Rosa was so great with the girls! She got them both involved in every step even giving them their own workspace, aprons and rolling pins. In addition to the delicious food, we enjoyed spending the afternoon/evening talking with Rosa. We learned not only about Bolognese cuisine but also the Italian lifestyle and culture. I highly recommend Rosa's class to anyone looking for an intimate local experience.