Cooking Class At A Cesarina's Home With Tasting In Siracusa

Gilda was absolutely amazing. My spouse and I brought our moms on a vacation to Sicily and wanted the best experiences for them. Gilda far exceeded that. She welcomed us into her home and treated us as family. She is an amazing chef and our dishes were delicious.

We were unable to get to the class because we were never sent the address. We took a taxi to the only point that was provided and then found out that it was not the address by the time we realized we were not provided the address and contacted Viator and viator contacted the provider, the provider informed us it was too late for us to come and the class was cancelled. We are requesting a refund.

Gilda was OUTSTANDING! Truly enjoyed learning from her. She was a lot of fun, and made the experience memorable. Definitely a highlight of our vacation.

Don’t waste your money on this experience! Our host was on her phone most of the time and acted annoyed. Also, when I asked for the recipes she said she would give them to us if we gave her a good review. Overall, the experience was a waste of time and money.

It's was an amazing hands on experience. Ewa was a gracious host who made us feel at home and the food we prepared and ate ws spectacular.

Fantastic experience at instructor’s home. Very personalized. Greeted with a wonderful lunch with many dishes to try. Learned to make 3 different dishes and how to make several different pasta’s. Host showed us her garden and fruit trees. All ingredients were fresh from the garden. We tried 4 different homemade cellos, lemon cello, orange cello, and 2 others. So much enjoyed visiting with the host and learning to cook Sicilian dishes. Highly recommended.

My wife, our two daughters (16 and 23), and I spent this evening in Gilda Failla's home in Ortigia for a cooking class, and it was one of the highlights of our time in Sicily. Gilda's kitchen is small and cozy, so when it came time to make pasta, we moved to her dining room table, which turned out to be perfect — plenty of room for all four of us to flour the surface, roll dough, and shape cavatelli side by side. There was something wonderful about the whole family working elbow to elbow, flour on our hands and clothes, laughing at our uneven first attempts and slowly getting the hang of the little ridged shapes as Gilda moved between us, gently correcting technique with real patience and good humor. She has a natural way of teaching that never feels like a lecture. While we worked the dough, she told us stories about growing up in Ortigia, about Sicilian cooking traditions, and about why certain ingredients and methods matter the way they do. Once the cavatelli were shaped, we moved back into the kitchen for the cooking itself, and Gilda walked us through building the sauce with the same care and clear explanation she'd brought to the pasta-making. Nothing felt rushed. She explained the reasoning behind each step, which made the techniques feel genuinely learnable rather than just something to watch. By the end of the evening, all four of us — independently — said we wanted to make cavatelli at home. That's the best compliment I can give a cooking class: it didn't just entertain us, it actually taught us something we plan to use. When the food was ready, we invited Gilda to sit and eat with us, but she politely explained that wasn't something she does — a boundary she held warmly but firmly. It didn't take anything away from the evening; if anything, it reflected a kind of professionalism and respect for the experience that we appreciated. We ate the meal we'd made together as a family, with Gilda checking in from nearby, clearly pleased with how it had turned out. This was exactly the kind of experience we hoped to find in Sicily — hands-on, personal, and rooted in real tradition rather than a tourist routine. Gilda is a wonderful teacher: warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making sure everyone at the table (or in this case, the dining room) leaves with something real. If you're in Ortigia and want an evening that's more than just a meal out, book a class with Gilda. We're already talking about making cavatelli together back home.

Great class. Really enjoyed making pasta from scratch and seeing how to make a few new dishes. Maria was a great host

Gilda was accommodating g about pick up and made it very easy. The venue was magnificent. She was warm, informative and friendly. Explained the process and the products. Food was delicious. Highly recommend.

Maria’s class was good. Her apartment was very warm and she eventually turned on the air conditioning . The we made pasta which was good, but the pistachio pesto sauce was out of a jar, not home made which was disappointing. She asked if she could add a person to our private class and we agreed. She added some shrimp to dinner but really didn’t want to clean them and cooked them head an all in oil and garlic, nothing fancy and they were tasteless . The ricotta pie we made for dessert was the best thing. All in all, we had a good time but was very expensive for what we got. Also parking near her apartment was very difficult. We were supposed to get all the recipes and she sent a PDF that wouldn’t open. She sent pictures of some of the recipes but not all which was disappointing

Ewa was so welcoming and we felt like family from the get go. She was very knowledgeable and we had so much fun cooking in her home. She uses many ingredients from her own garden which was amazing to see. Get prepared to use your hands and eat lots of amazing food. She is truly warm and generous. The experience was once in a lifetime.

We were so delighted to meet Eva and we instantly bonded over the common language of women-that transcends culture, language and time. This was made even better by traditional wine that flowed and the hard work of making 6 different kinds of pasta. To be honest, we both had a long day and didn't even know if we were up to a cooking class. However, we were warmly greeted by Eva in the courtyard of the home that she and her son own together. Her son works in Roma. We were given refreshments and lovely antipasti with divine homemade cheese. The conversation flowed with all of us using Google translate along with broken English and Italian. We were supposed to make 2 kinds of pasta but Eva noted our enthusiasm and we made 6 kinds of pasta. She was a natural cook and gave us such great tips that we can take home to extend our cooking adventures. By the time we sat down to eat -we were tired and excited to try our pasta and baked eggplant dish. The food was awesome -there was enough to feed a family of 15 and there was just the three of us. Eva shared with us all the drinks and potents she makes with the herbs and plants in her garden. We connected, laughed, and got our hands covered in flour. Sicily is about tradition, family, and culture and this experience embodied that.

Maria and her husband were very inviting and warm in allowing us into their home. We made homemade pastas and sauce and tiramisu. It was a wonderful experience and the food was so delicious. Highly recommend for everyone of all ages!

Upon arrival, my husband and our close friends were warmly greeted by Maria Rita. The kitchen was setup with all the tools needed to make an authentic sicilian meal of bruschetta with sicilian pesto, 3 types of pasta with the sicilian pesto, sicilian caponata and tiramisu, way more food than we could eat, especially after the delicious snacks layed out upon arrival. Maria Rita was warm, welcoming, and great at providing instruction. I thought making pasta from scratch would be so much harder, but she made it easy amd fun, very engsging, an experience we enjoyed so much that we are already planning on doing it for a party when we get back home. We got to meet her husband Giuseppe and son Giacomo which wss really a treat for us, such a lovely family. The location of the home was perfect, directly across from the archeological park with amazing views. After a wonderful experience learning to cook and eating a delicious meal, we went to the archeological park before heading home, the perfect end to a wonderful day. I highly recommend this experience to anyone seeking an authentic sicilian experience, especially if you love food. Two members of our group don't even enjoy cooking and absolutely loved this experience.

We had an absolutely fantastic experience with Maria Rita’s cooking class! She was very passionate about Sicilian cuisine. We felt very welcomed in her kitchen, where we learned to make authentic dishes from scratch. It was a highlight of our trip! We would give her more than 5 stars if allowed! And we loved meeting her family - husband Joseph and son James!

Look no further. This is the best cooking class! Ewa was a fantastic host. She made a fun day for our group in her beautiful outdoor kitchen and served us in her own dining room. We really enjoyed her company. She even cut a beautiful rose from her garden for my sister and I since it was Mothers Day.

Cesarina Gilda was an amazing hostess and produced our best regional Sicilian meal, enjoyed on her beautiful rooftop. She was entertaining and instructive, had us laughing while we worked and watched, and produced a meal that was filling and delicious. She was assisted by her sister who prepared our beautiful table and also kept us entertained during our meal; it was an honor to be welcomed into their home and family. Using simple, local ingredients, Gilda prepared Sicilian pesto, new to the four of us who had been familiar with the northern Italian version. The addition of tomatoes and burrata and the use of almonds versus pignoli nuts, plus basil of course, is a version we will now use as our own at home, it was fantastic; the minimal us of garlic made the flavors of the other local ingredients stand out. When added to the small rolled pasta, it created a dish that we all had seconds of, and will talk about for a long time. The bruschetta was made simply, but was over the top with fresh Sicilian tomatoes and local semolina bread toast. We loved the meatballs, (served separately from the pasta) made in a local traditional “Agrodolce” sweet and sour style. They were a light and flavorful blend of chicken and pork, braised in the Agrodolce sauce with onion, vinegar and sugar. For me, the best part was the dessert, we had both dark chocolate and pistachio options of Torta Tenerina, similar to molten lava cake. The four of us highly recommend Gilda, and we will call on her again when we return to Siracusa. Her experience cooking as a Cesarine in so many regions in Italy added to our education, as she was able to compare so many dishes and traditional recipes that use ingredients common to the different areas. Thank you Gilda, we look forward to recreating what we have learned!

Wow wow wow!!! Mine and my mom’s favorite thing we’ve done in Sicily so far. Maria Rita is so sweet, such a good teacher and opens up her beautiful home for such a fun and unforgettable night of delicious food. A must do when you come to Syracuse! Added bonus is the gorgeous view off her balcony that you get to enjoy while eating.

Brilliant day fantastic host lovely food with some great tips on pasta making Ewa is a great teacher in a lovely home and some excellent home made drinks to round it all off thank you for a brilliant day

The most amazing and authentic experience we could have imagined. Maria Rita is an excellent cook, host, and teacher. The pasta and sauces were out of this world. The tiramisu was delicious. The whole family (teenage daughters and parents) loved the experience and especially Maria Rita.

My husband and I loved every minute of this cooking class. Maria Rita and her husband were so hospitable and gracious, they even let us come into their home 30 minutes before the start time when we accidentally arrived too early. We learned so much about Sicilian cooking and everything was so delicious. We can’t wait to try out these recipes at home. We will definitely book another class with Maria Rita on our next visit.

Silvia was a gem, kind and generous. Her cooking was exceptional. Silvia’s menu captured all the delights of Sicily. She welcomed us into her home with open arms.

My daughter and I had a wonderful morning during the cooking course at Cesarina Silvia's house. Silvia is an uncomplicated, cheerful and warm person and an excellent cook. In her work, she makes a point of using Sicilian products of the highest quality. She explained to us what to look for and how to recognise these products. All the dishes she prepared tasted fantastic and had a great Sicilian flavour. Back home in Germany, we have now cooked two of the dishes she taught us and have received compliments. Dear Silvia, thank you for the wonderful time with you and your family.

The Overview states "Take home an official apron and shopping bag as mementos of the day". This did not occur. It also states "Benefit from the attention of your personal host, as they teach you Italian cooking tricks you can replicate at home, all from the privacy of their home." Our host spend most of the evening yelling in Italian at her dogs to sit down as they were running around the space where the food was prepared and cooked. We did not learn any tricks, as our host only involved us with food prep and then did all the cooking by herself. We had to ask her what she was doing with each step during the cooking phase and walk into the kitchen area to observe. I reached out for a partial refund based on our experience and was denied. Very frustrating as this was not a cheap experience. I would not want to give these people my business again.

Sylvia was very open and welcoming bringing us into her home. She made the most delicious appetizer for us with cheese, sausage, caponato and sun dried tomatoes. The caponato and tomatoes were her very own recipes and since we liked it so much she asked if we wanted to make some. She sent us on our way with a container o the caponata. We made tagliatelle and ravioli and it was exquisite, delicate and so fresh! . I highly recommend Sylvia!!

The experience was unforgettable! We made a delicious and traditional Sicilian meal in the beautiful countryside. Thank you for welcoming us into your kitchen!

We felt like we were feasting with family in Gilda’s beautiful summer kitchen. She is loving and welcoming and the most amazing cook! We learned so much about Sicilian cooking and family life during a relaxing day in Gilda’s home. A don’t-miss experience!

We entered her home as novice cooks, left with an unbelievable experience- ready to take on any pasta dish as new extended members of her family.

My 19 year old daughter and I had the BEST time cooking with Silvia and her daughter. The food was absolutely delicious. They made us feel like part of the family and had tons of laughs. We really enjoyed learning how to make home made pasta, sauce and Cannoli's. It was the BEST FOOD I had on my entire trip. XOXO until we meet again.

Great class! Beautiful, easy, delicious food to make and eat. Cesarina is gracious and lovey. Her son, who translates for her, is charming and sweet. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone traveling in the area. You won’t be disappointed!

We had a wonderful experience. Maria Rita and her family opened their home for us and made us feel very comfortable. It was unique to see how Sicilian’s live and cook. A great and warm experience for us.

Our cooking class was with Maria Rita and she was wonderful! Not only did we learn how to make a delicious meal, but we learned about some Italian culture as well!

What an incredible experience! Teresa told us so many things while walking through the Siracusa market and while preparing dishes! We learned so much with her. You have a morning or an afternoon available while visiting Siracusa? Well, you MUST take that cooking lesson with her! You will not regret it! Grazie mille Teresa!