Catania: Sicilian Cooking Class & Lunch or Dinner Experience

Summary

Cook Sicilian classics in Catania then share a meal together

You’ll chop, stir, and laugh your way through classic Sicilian recipes in Catania with a local chef guiding every step. Taste what you’ve cooked over lunch or dinner with new friends and good Sicilian wine—the kind of meal that lingers long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

“In Sicily, we don’t rush the eggplants,” Chef Lucia grinned, waving her wooden spoon like she was conducting an orchestra. That’s how our cooking class in Catania started—just a small group of us, aprons tied awkwardly, standing around a kitchen that smelled faintly of basil and something sweet I couldn’t quite place. The windows were open and I could hear scooters buzzing outside, but inside it was all about chopping, tasting, and Lucia’s stories about her nonna’s caponata. I tried to slice eggplant the way she showed me (not quite as thin), and she just laughed and said, “It’s okay, more flavor this way.”

I’d booked this Sicilian cooking class because I wanted to learn real recipes—not just watch someone else cook—and wow, did we get hands-on. We crushed tomatoes for pasta alla Norma until my hands were stained red. Someone spilled olive oil (me), but nobody minded; it actually made the kitchen floor smell amazing for a minute. When we rolled out the dough for cannoli shells, Lucia showed us how to pinch the edges just right—though mine looked more like little hats than tubes. She poured us each a glass of local wine while everything simmered. I liked that part best: everyone pausing for a moment, glasses clinking, steam curling up from the pots.

Lunch felt like sitting down with old friends—even though we’d only met two hours earlier. The caponata was tangy-sweet with raisins and pine nuts; the pasta was silky and rich with ricotta salata on top (I may have grated too much). And those cannoli—I still think about that first bite, crispy shell giving way to cold ricotta cream dusted with pistachio. Lucia told us stories between courses—about her family, about Catania’s markets—and there was so much laughter that I forgot to check my phone even once.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class and Sicilian lunch

• Arrive at cooking class in Catania
• Learn to prepare Sicilian bruschetta
• Cook Sicilian sweet and sour caponata
• Make fresh pasta alla Norma rolls
• Prepare traditional Sicilian cannoli
• Enjoy the dishes with Sicilian wine

Top questions

How long does the cooking class in Catania last?

The cooking class lasts about 3 hours.

Is lunch or dinner included in the cooking lesson?

Yes, you’ll enjoy lunch or dinner featuring the dishes you prepare.

What dishes do you make during the Sicilian cooking class?

You’ll prepare dishes like bruschetta, caponata, pasta alla Norma, and cannoli.

Are drinks included in the experience?

A bottle of Sicilian wine is included with your meal.

How many people are in each cooking class?

The class runs with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 12 participants.

Where is the cooking class located in Catania?

The property is near GALATEA and ITALIA subway stops in Catania.

Can children join the cooking lesson?

Infants can attend if seated on an adult’s lap or in a stroller.

Do I need to bring anything for the cooking class?

No, all professional kitchen equipment and ingredients are provided.

What’s included

Your experience includes use of professional kitchen equipment in a well-equipped space near central Catania, all fresh ingredients for classic Sicilian dishes like caponata and cannoli, plus lunch or dinner paired with a bottle of local wine—all guided by a welcoming chef who shares family stories along the way.