Mortar Pesto Lesson With World Champion And Local Menu

Hands down one of the best experiences we’ve ever had. Lorenzo and Camilla were absolute experts and made everything so fun. The setup was beautiful and well crafted. We went with our 3 kids and everyone had an amazing time. Having the experience of making pesto, in the city where it was invented, with a world champion, in their home will be a core memory forever.

We had a wonderful time at the pesto making class! Our hosts were warm, welcoming, and made the entire experience so much fun. The food was absolutely delicious, and it was such a treat to learn the art of making fresh pesto in such a lovely atmosphere. A perfect combination of great hospitality, authentic flavors, and a memorable experience.

This was bar far the most authentic and friendly experience we’ve had while in Italy. The entire family is so sweet and hospitable. The outdoor garden is gorgeous. Lorenzo was very communicative and picked us up from the port. Camilla was so sweet and an excellent teacher. We each got to make our own pesto and we’re never going back to Barilla again. There is a reason why Camilla is the world champion! The pesto, focaccia, and pasta were delicious and oh the tiramisu, oh my goodness amazing and beautifully presented. We were also offered white wine as well as an aperitif to end the meal. Lorenzo took pictures and videos through the class for us and even gave us some tips on where to visit when dropping us off. It was incredible value! The food, the people, and the overall experience was of the highest quality. It felt like family!

Learning to make authentic pesto with Lorenzo and Camille was the highlight of our afternoon. They are such a welcoming and passionate couple who guide you through every step of the process with ease. Not only did we walk away with the secrets to making incredible pesto, but sitting down afterward to enjoy it over fresh focaccia and trofie pasta followed by tiramisu made the experience truly special. Thank you, Lorenzo and Camille, for such world-class hospitality and unforgettable memories!

It's not every day you get to learn how to make pesto from The World Pesto Making Champion! What a wonderful experience, all while learning about the importance of the tools, process and the ingredients. Our kids loved it too. The hospitality was so amazing that, afterwards, our son thought we had been visiting friends. Highly recommended.

Lorenzo and Camila were such wonderful hosts! When we booked, we didn’t realize our accommodations were about an hour away. They were incredibly understanding of our situation and immediately put our minds at ease by allowing us to keep our reservation even though we arrived a little late. Camila made the pesto-making experience both fun and informative, explaining each step with enthusiasm and patience. Her encouraging teaching style made our party of three feel like confident chefs in no time! The meal we prepared was absolutely delicious, and the tiramisu was truly mouthwatering—the perfect ending to a fantastic experience. We wholeheartedly recommend this class to anyone visiting the area. Thank you, Lorenzo and Camila, for your warm hospitality, kindness, and for sharing your knowledge and passion with us. It was an experience we’ll always remember!

Lorenzo and Camilla were absolutely fantastic! I learned how to make authentic pesto from such a warm, beautiful couple in their back garden from a World Pesto Champion!! It was lovely to hear all about the beauty of the whole experience from the equipment to all the ingredients. They were incredible and the pesto tasted delightful - would highly recommend as a fun way to learn more about Genoa and Genovese pesto

This was a wonderful experience that is definitely worth doing while visiting Genoa. The hosts were very friendly and hospitable and made the class fun and easy. It was nice to hear about all of the local ingredients used and the impact on the taste and texture of the pesto. I don't think I will ever be able to eat store bought pesto again. Thank you for a fun, tasty and memorable moment on my vacation!

This was the perfect cooking experience! My husband, my daughter, and I all enjoyed ourselves immensely! The hosts were kind, knowledgeable, and accommodating. My daughter is 9 years old, and they did an amazing job teaching her to make pesto along with the adults. Making the pesto was a treat, and the food we ate was delicious! Thank you for such a wonderful experience for our family!

This was great experience and I fully recommend it! Camilla and Lorenzo were super welcoming, great teachers and a wonderful company. They were so nice and accommodating - I ran late and also was the only person in the session and still it was the full experience. It was great - both just having a regular human conversation and also very detailed explanation of all steps of the preparation process and the reasons behind them. I loved learning about all the details that make real pesto and how the different treatments of the different ingredients contribute to the flavour. I am so excited to try this again at home!

Making traditional Genovese pesto by hand with Camilla and Lorenzo was genuinely one of the highlights of my Italy trip. The experience was held in their beautiful garden home in Nervi and somehow felt both incredibly warm and personal while also being extremely professional and high quality. Camilla is the 2022 World Pesto Champion and her passion and knowledge are incredible. We made pesto by hand using traditional mortar and pestles while she explained the ingredients, techniques and history behind authentic Ligurian pesto. The basil had been picked fresh just before the class and every ingredient was thoughtfully sourced locally. We ate the pesto with amazing local focaccia and fresh trofie pasta cooked by Camilla — easily the best pesto I’ve ever had. Wine, tiramisu, digestifs and wonderful conversation made it even more special. Such a thoughtful, authentic and memorable experience. Highly recommend.

We had a wonderful experience taking this pesto class with Camilla, the world pesto champion, and Lorenzo. What made it especially special was that we were the only two students that day, so it felt like a private and very personal experience. The class took place in a lovely setting in Pegli, and from the moment we arrived, we felt warmly welcomed. Camilla and Lorenzo had everything beautifully prepared, with the mortars, pestles, and ingredients set out for us. Lorenzo interpreted for Camilla, which made the class easy to follow and relaxed. We learned not only the traditional ingredients for pesto, but also the importance of using the right tools - a marble mortar and a wooden pestle - and the care required to make true pesto by hand. The class gave us a real appreciation for how much effort, patience, and good ingredients go into something that can look deceptively simple. Camilla explained each step clearly, from pounding the garlic and pine nuts to working in the basil, cheeses, salt, and olive oil in the proper order and proportion. It was hands-on, fun, and deeply rooted in Ligurian tradition. After making the pesto, we enjoyed it with fresh focaccia and then with pasta, along with wine and later a beautiful tiramisu dessert. The whole experience felt generous and intimate rather than commercial. We also loved getting to take photos in the garden and spending a little time with their family as well. It turned out to be one of the most meaningful culinary experiences of our trip. Camilla and Lorenzo were warm, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what they do. Highly recommended for anyone who wants more than just a cooking class - this felt like a real connection to Ligurian food and hospitality.

I was unforgettable experience. Location, ingredients, guide, food, everything was wanderfull. Preparing pesto according to the traditional recipe and learning all details from the world champion make from the cooking class an unique experince.

OMG this was the most amazing experience ever!!! So casual, relaxing, and amazing to actually get to make homemade Pesto with a World Champion. The ingredients were so fresh, the pesto tasted so good, the focaccia was rhe best I have had yet in Italy. I would recommend this experience above and beyond any other experience I have had yet. I have traveled a lot and done several cooking classes. The couple made you feel like you were part of their family and the environment was so pleasing being on the patio. I will say come with some muscles because make pesto is a workout. LOL. But so worth it. I will definitely be doing this one again when I come back to Genova. Sincerely, Angela and Natalya

We wanted a truly unique local, personalized experience and that's exactly what we received. And... the pesto and homemade tiramisu were incredible. Exceeded our expectations.

I booked this pesto class as a surprise gift for my partner’s birthday. It was actually one of the reasons I chose Genoa as destination for this special occasion. And it turned out to be the best decision ever! Camilla and Lorenzo were absolutely wonderful and went above and beyond to make sure the class would be an unforgettable experience for both of us. They even suggested to prepare a special tiramisu birthday cake with candles which truly melted my heart and ultimately brought an enormous smile on my partner’s face. On the day of the experience, we were welcomed in an authentic Ligurian house where we instantly felt at home. Camilla’s explanations were very clear, we learned so much about the true origin of pesto and the right proportions of all ingredients. The simple fact of using a real Carrara marble mortar was pretty impressive and the fresh basil plants we used smelled soooo good! After all the effort we put into preparing our own pesto came the rightful reward – the tasting part :) Our pesto got paired with a crunchy focaccia freshly prepared by Camilla’s grandmother as well as the typical Ligurian pasta called trofie. This delicious meal was crowned by a divine tiramisu birthday cake and even some digestives including limoncello and other local spirits. All in all, we had a wonderful time with Camilla and Lorenzo who are genuinely lovely and would absolutely recommend this pesto class to everyone looking for an authentic experience in Genoa!

We had the best time at Camilla's pesto making class! She has a lovely, warm location at her residence in a beautiful seaside neighborhood near Genoa. I went with my 6-year old daughter and everything was perfectly and thoughtfully prepared, from tasty kids juice, to a smaller mortar for her small hands. We were picked up from near the Genoa aquarium and it was very convenient. I also loved hearing the story about Camilla's championship win -- it was very inspiring. Be sure to taste (once, twice...!) Camilla's winning pesto, it is so delicious!! My daughter and I loved everything. Thank you so much!

Very fun, local and authentic experience! It was easily the best experience of our Genova trip. The hosts are very friendly, welcoming and hospitable and make you feel at home. We learned a lot about making pesto using local ingredients and it was the best pesto we have eaten. It was easy to access from the train station (less than 10 minutes walk) and is in a beautiful neighborhood of Genova. The pesto, focaccia, trofie pasta, and tiramisu were all delicious and authentic. We would do this again in a heartbeat.

Best pesto class in the whole world!!! Lorenzo and Camilla are professionnal but mostly genuinely such sweet people <3 They took the time to explain every step and answered all our questions. Of course the pesto is delicious, probably the best we ever had!! This class is truly a must do for anyone staying in Genova. You’ll leave their place with so many memories, in your head and on your phone given that Lorenzo took over 100 pictures of the session :) We could only recommend this class it was the best!!!

Our hosts, Lorenzo & Camille, greeted us with warm smiles. Even though we are home chefs, this pesto cooking class was still very informative and fun! We felt like we were at home with family. So accomplished and thoughtful hosts! We lived every moment! They even arranged to have us picked up & dropped off at our accommodations. Thank you for sharing your kitchen and family recipe with us!

We had a great time learning about how to make pesto with Camilla and Lorenzo! They were both very warm hosts and Camilla was an excellent teacher. Would definitely recommend adding to your agenda in Genoa!

We had such a lovely time here. Camilla and Lorenzo made us feel at home in a traditional Italian family home. We made pesto and learned about the important techniques to get it just right. If you are in Genoa you NEED to book this. 11/10

My husband is a self-proclaimed pesto aficionado, and this was the perfect experience. If you’re looking for generic, cookie-cutter, cattle herding experience, this is not for you. Instead, here you are welcomed into a warm Italian home and brought in on a proud granddaughter’s award winning version of her Nonna’s recipe. The entire experience exudes kindness and authentic Italian hospitality! Look no further, your dream pesto class is this one. Ps. they also offer pickup service so you don’t have to argue with a taxi and can partake in the aperitif.

Seriously, the best pesto I’ve ever eaten. Camilla and Lorenzo were fabulous hosts and teachers. I cannot eat gluten and they made all the accommodations so that I was able to enjoy every step of the experience. This is a rare occurrence for me, so very appreciated! While Camilla’s home is a bit away from the city, being there added to the intimacy and authenticity of the experience. Lorenzo takes pictures and puts them on your phone before you leave. They thought of everything to make sure the experience is great! I can’t wait to try making Camilla’s recipe at home!

This was an incredible experience of real genuine Genovese hospitality in addition to ancestral home recipe for delicious pesto making . You don’t just get an amazing recipe and class , but you also experience true Genovese hospitality. I had a great time the hosts were incredible , friendly and lots of fun !! It’s hosted in a cozy home in the mountains of Genova taking a great detour from the city and getting a real vibe of the locals . This experience is not to be missed !

We had such a lovely time at the authentic pesto making class in Genova! Camilla and Lorenzo were both fabulous! They were both patient and explained each step thoroughly!

We had so much fun learning how to make pesto with you! The kids had a blast! Thank you for being patient with them and making them feel special :) We loved the cozy vibe of your home & authenticity of the experience :)

We took part in Camilla’s pesto class together with my 15-year-old son and it was an unforgettable experience! The organization was absolutely professional: Lorenzo kept in touch with us all the time, quickly answered every question, adapted flexibly to our request for an earlier time slot, and even helped us personally with parking. The class itself was very family-like and welcoming. Camilla explained everything clearly and shared all the little secrets and tricks behind making the perfect pesto. The atmosphere was relaxed, fun, and truly authentic – my son also said it was one of the best experiences of our trip. We spent one and a half hours full of laughter, learning, and delicious flavors. We can’t wait to come back! Highly recommended to anyone visiting Genoa and wanting to discover the real taste of the city.

This was a delightful afternoon. We learned a lot about pesto and spent time with a wonderful family. Camilla and Lorenzo were great fun. I only wish we could have spent more time with them. If you love pesto, you will not be disappointed. If you want to spend time with a great local family, you will not be disappointed. David and Anna Marie

Camilla was amazing! We’re a family with two kids (7 and 9 years old), and she was incredibly patient and engaging with them. Every detail was thoughtfully organized — from the pesto workshop to the delicious food, including focaccia and pasta. Without a doubt, it was our favorite activity during our three-week trip to Italy!

Fantastic experience! I had never made pesto from scratch before, and now I not only know how to do it, I actually prefer it over store-bought. The instructor was friendly and really knowledgeable. The atmosphere was relaxed and great even for someone like me who’s not exactly a kitchen pro. I’d definitely do it again!

We usually have cooking class experiences, but this is the first time we have found an experience so meticulously curated!! From the moment we arrived until we left, we felt welcomed like family members. Camilla and Lorenzo explained everything to us with professionalism and passion. We made an absolutely amazing pesto, we understood the differences between homemade pesto and store-bought pesto, and we have the recipe to replicate once we return home! The table was meticulously arranged, just like everything we ate. We will definitely return to them for more experiences, thank you guys💚

The best culinary experience I've ever had in Italy. I would like to thank the charming couple Camila and Lorenzo! It was a trip that I was doing alone. Despite being low season they did not cancel! They honored the reservation and I did the class alone! The place is beautiful, first-class ingredients, very fun class! Everything perfect and delicious! I met Nonna (who taught Camila the recipe), a cute girl! Learning the genovese pesto was an unforgettable experience. Don't stop doing it!

I attended Camilla’s cooking class dedicated to Genoese pesto and it was a truly memorable experience. The atmosphere was welcoming and authentic, perfect for immersing yourself in Ligurian tradition. The chef has passionately explained every step, from the choice of ingredients to the correct use of the mortar, revealing little secrets that make the difference. Making pesto by hand was relaxing and rewarding. After the lesson, we sat down to enjoy our work: a delicious dinner, simple but rich in flavor, accompanied by excellent wine and the pleasant company of Lorenzo. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who loves Italian cuisine and wants to experience something authentic and fun at the same time.

A magnificent authentic experience when visiting Genoa! Camilla and Lorenzo were super welcoming and we felt like guests at their home! Camilla is a true champion and connoisseur and thanks to her explanations my husband and I made a great pesto, which we will make again at home! A little more, cooking class with Camilla and Lorenzo you can also visit the villa Durazzo Palavicini and its beautiful garden, which are located a few minutes away. Thanks to Camilla and Lorenzo!

As a Genoese I was curious (and a bit skeptical!), because pesto I have always made at home ... but not quite as tradition dictates. This cooking class made me rediscover the real way to prepare it: antique mortar, wooden pestle and original ingredients as per tradition. We also hand-picked the leaves from the Basil seedlings... a simple gesture that really makes a difference. An authentic experience that deserves to be lived.

We went for Valentine’s Day as a couple and it was a fantastic experience! My girlfriend and I are from Genoa and we know the recipe for pesto, but when a world champion tells you step by step how to do it best, you have an extra gear! Super recommended experience not only to tourists, but also to Genoese because we all make pesto, but to do it at its best you need to know the tricks of the trade! 😊 super recommended activity! Trying to believe

Great experience very complete! Camilia and Lorenzo made us discover their recipe for pesto and lots of anecdotes, very good time between friends!

Friendly and knowledgeable staff, clear and engaging explanations. Excellent artisan pesto! Top! To be redone immediately.

This isn’t just a cooking class – it’s a journey right into Liguria’s soul. Standing side by side with world champion Camilla Pizzorno, who generously shares her secret pesto recipe and craft tips, is an experience you never forget. Getting to bump basil in an antique mortar over 100 years old feels like participating in a living tradition, where every scent and movement carries history. The freshly cooked pesto is served with fresh focaccia, handmade trofie or gnocchi – and ends with a delicious Genoese pandolce that finishes it off. Everything is accompanied by local wines and classic Italian liqueurs such as limoncello, mirto and amaro Camatti – a perfect balance of flavours and culture. The environment is as magical as the food – a lush garden in summer and a cosy heated outdoor space in winter, making the experience just as charming all year round. A course filled with passion, warmth and genuine Italian food. 👉 Highly recommended to anyone who loves authentic food and wants to experience something for real!

I really enjoyed this experience! Welcoming was warm and we were able to make our pesto with Camilla's wise advice. Then we were able to enjoy the pesto with focaccia and trofies (probably the best pesto I've ever eaten!) and there were also other Italian dishes (like Camilla's mom's delicious frittata 😍). Thank you:)

I am delighted with the experience because beyond learning some of the secrets of the authentic Pesto alla genovese from the world champion (just that!), I had a pleasant time: Welcoming very friendly, exchanges and nice anecdotes, pro tips, delicious tasting, and we leave with lots of photos / videos souvenirs. If for the moment the site is a little off-center, the move is worth it! I highly recommend