My name is Francesco, and I am 25 years old. Since I was a child, cooking has been my passion, a passion that stems from memories of home, from the days spent cooking with my father, who taught me to choose and respect each ingredient as a little treasure. I invite you to experience a special culinary journey with me, immersed in a peaceful corner where time seems to flow more slowly. In an ancient olive mill in Umbria, in Monte del Lago, by the charming Lake Trasimeno, surrounded by nature and history. Together, we will prepare simple yet flavorful dishes: handmade fresh pasta, freshly pressed olive oil, and many other local products that tell the story of the beauty and goodness of our land. It’s not just a cooking class; it’s a journey into memories, a rediscovery of slow and thoughtful gestures, and an opportunity to learn, laugh, and share a special moment with old and new friends. Every dish we prepare together will be a harmony of ingredients that speak of tradition, passion, and the joy of being together. At the end of the class, you will have the chance to relish what we’ve cooked, accompanied by a tasting of fresh olive oil.
Great, hands-on experience, cooking pasta, and other Italian delicacies. Francesco was a wonderful teacher and fun person to hear. Lots of interesting facts about olives and make the making of olive oil.
Such a cute little area to do the cooking class. We thoroughly enjoyed Francesco's instruction and hospitality! The olive oil tour and information was also a great added bonus!
The operator was very friendly and nice but it was way overpriced. There was no real dessert and coffee / tea included. There were also no expensive ingredients used.
A really lovely relaxed, informative, and delicious experience!
Francesco was wonderful! He was engaging and the food was delicious. We even had a dietary restriction (no dairy) and he was able to accommodate! A truly lovely experience and would recommend to anyone!
Francesco was fantastic, great host and Greta conversation while preparing the meal. Also, the area around the olive mill is quaint and worth a visit and walking around after the class. Highly recommend!
The four of us had an amazing class! Francesco is extremely patient, funny, kind and such an excellent chef. He taught us all about olives, the history of olive oil processing and how growers share their products with the world today. Francesco taught us how to make the most delicious ravioli just the way his Nonna taught him. We highly recommend this experience. We are so happy we did it!
Best cooking class! Francesco is an amazing instructor. So friendly and very talented. We loved making the spinach ravioli, bruschetta, and traditional almond bread! The olive oil tasting and mill setting on the lake was so interesting and beautiful. It was the perfect morning. Low key, fun, and not too laborious as much of our group doesn’t cook back home. A memory we will keep for a long time!! Don’t miss out if you’re in this area!
Francesco was absolutely wonderful! He managed to brilliantly teach six very energetic young women and still make me feel a part of the class as someone who could have been their mom. I learned a lot and couldn’t recommend the experience more.
We had a wonderful morning spent on Lake Trasimeno with Francesco! The mill was easy to find and navigate with great parking. Seeing the tour of the olive oil mill and learning about the process was very interesting. We loved being able to purchase products from the mill. Francesco was a great teacher, we made homemade bruschetta, spinach ricotta ravioli and cantucci biscuits. All were delicious with great company! Highly recommend.
We are 3 life long friends traveling through Italy and this was a great experience. Started with a tour of the garden and the old mill. Francesco gave a brief history on how olive oil was once produced at the mill. The large terracotta jugs that were once used to store oil are spectacular! We then made ravioli and cantucci. Delicious!! Francesco was very relaxed and easy to take instruction from. We had a lovely lunch with bruchetta, wine, ravioli and cantucci. Francesco also had us taste the different oils they produce. Nice relaxed afternoon! I highly recommend!
I can’t say enough good things about this experience! We had such a wonderful time. Francesco was a warm host and we joyed not only the cooking but the company as well. We were also lucky to meet the owner of the facility, and thoroughly enjoyed him as well. And, it’s a really cool venue too. Highly recommend.
Booked in afternoon on 8/28 Booking confirmed. At 10:38 pm tour was cancelled stating that tour organizer had a scheduled medical visit. When booking we were advised we could not cancel and receive a refund because shorter than 24 hours notice. Disappointed since it showed availability and we got confirmation. We had also booked a car which we couldn’t cancel and lost car rental fee.
Two thumbs up from everyone in our family! We stopped here on our way from Umbria to Tuscany. It was both informational and fun for the whole family. The tour of the olive oil mill was interesting and they had an amazing collection of old terra cotta pots that used to hold oil. We all learned how to make ravioli from scratch and how good food can be made from simple ingredients. Our host/teacher was so lovely and patient. We loved sharing our lunch with him. If you are in the area, this was a great experience!
We dove into the art of making ravioli from scratch, learning traditional techniques passed down through generations. Then we stepped back in time to discover the historical process of pressing olives to make olive oil an incredible glimpse into Italy’s rich culinary heritage. To top it all off, we tasted some of the finest olive oil in the country fresh, pure, and unforgettable. After all our hard work, we sat down together to enjoy the delicious feast we had created made with our own hands, full hearts, and a whole lot of laughter. A huge thank you to Francesco, our passionate and talented teacher, who is a chef in the local area. What an experience!
The facility is easy to find. Francesco taught us a lot about oil making, the season, history and processes as well as delicious authentic Italian cooking. This was a small group, high interaction hands on experience. The view and the weather were incredible. Francesco and Luca were both friendly and enjoyed visiting and sharing their passions and culture. This was an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend.
The team here was really welcoming, friendly and we enjoyed spending time with them. We learned so much about the oil press and their products. Lunch was great, we will definitely continue to make these recipes at home.
I had the chance to join a cooking class at an olive mill near Lake Trasimeno, and it was one of the highlights of my trip to Italy. The setting was absolutely beautiful—authentic, peaceful, and surrounded by nature. The class focused on traditional Italian cuisine, especially handmade pasta, and everything was hands-on. I learned so much, not only about techniques but also the stories and local culture behind each dish. The ingredients were incredibly fresh and local, and we got to enjoy everything we made together with some delicious local wine. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a genuine, immersive Italian food experience. Thank you, Francesco, for such a wonderful day!
We enjoyed a wonderful cooking experience with Francesco in a beautiful old olive oil mill. He is an excellent cook, thoughtfully and patiently sharing his traditional recipes and techniques, using simple, local food. The lunch we prepared was among the best we've had in Umbria and Tuscany, and we can't wait to share our new skills with friends and family at home. Thanks, Francesco!!
Francis was very kind. The explanation of how to make pasta and how they make oil was very interesting. Everything was very good. Wine and oil.
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