Cooking demo and 4-course dinner in Chiavari with wine

Four courses, a cooking demo, and the recipes that built a family kitchen

A private dining experience at a local cook's home in Chiavari includes a live cooking demonstration, a 4-course meal of authentic Ligurian recipes, and regional wines. The host cooks one dish in front of you, then serves a seasonal starter, fresh pasta, a second course with side dish, and a Ligurian dessert, with water, wine and coffee throughout. The experience lasts about two and a half hours and is hosted by Cesarine, a network of home cooks across Italy who open their kitchens to travelers.

The experience

You arrive at a local cook's home in Chiavari and sit down to watch them finish a dish in the kitchen. This is not a restaurant kitchen, it is theirs, and the recipes come from family cookbooks passed down through generations. The meal that follows is built around what grows and catches in Liguria: a seasonal starter, then fresh pasta made by hand or bought from a trusted producer nearby, shaped into trofie, trenette, ravioli, bavette, battolli or pansotti depending on the day. A second course follows (crepes with pesto sauce, codfish pancakes, stuffed mussels, or mesciüa soup) with a side dish, then a Ligurian dessert: castagnaccio, tiramisu, pandolce genovese, pinolata or canestrelli biscuits.

Wine comes from regional cellars, chosen to match what you are eating. Water and coffee round out the meal. The whole experience runs about two and a half hours. Your host speaks English or Italian, and the experience is held by Cesarine, a network of over a thousand home cooks across Italy who open their doors to travelers looking to eat the way locals do, not in a restaurant, but at a table where the food means something to the person who cooked it.

Public transportation options are available near the home. You can book this for lunch or dinner at checkout.

What’s included

• A private 4-course meal of authentic Ligurian recipes (seasonal starter, fresh pasta, second course with side dish, and Ligurian dessert).
• a live cooking demonstration where the host finishes one dish in front of you.
• water, a selection of regional red and white wines, and coffee throughout the meal.
• a guide who speaks English or Italian.

Options for this experience

2 options

DinnerGuide in English or Italian · Available from 2 Jan 2027Dinner

LunchGuide in English or Italian · 12:00Lunch

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday and FridayDeparts at 12:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (9 and older) · Child (4 to 8 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearby

Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class

Is this one for you?Book the lunch option if you want to explore Chiavari's waterfront or shops afterward. Choose dinner if you prefer to end your day at the table. The fixed two-and-a-half-hour window fits easily into either a morning or an evening, and public transportation nearby means you do not need a car to reach the home.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 8 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What kind of pasta dishes might I eat in Chiavari?

The host prepares fresh pasta shaped into trofie, trenette, ravioli, bavette, battolli or pansotti: the shapes and fillings depend on the day and what is in season. These are the pasta forms Ligurian cooks have made for generations.

Do I get to cook anything myself, or just watch?

You watch the host finish one dish in the kitchen as part of the cooking demonstration. The rest of the meal is prepared and served by your host, so you can sit and eat without cooking.

What wines are included with the meal?

A selection of red and white wines from regional cellars in Liguria are included throughout the meal, chosen to pair with each course. Water and coffee are also provided.

How long does the whole experience take?

The experience lasts about two and a half hours, from the cooking demonstration through the four courses and drinks.

Can I book this for lunch instead of dinner?

Yes, you can choose lunch or dinner when you book. Both follow the same 4-course menu and cooking demonstration format.