Cooking demo and dinner in Chieti: Learn from a local cook

You cook alongside a Cesarina, not just watch from the sidelines

A cooking demo and 4-course lunch or dinner at a local home in Chieti, where you learn to make a traditional Abruzzese pasta or soup, then eat what the kitchen produces. The host is a trained Cesarina (one of Italy's 1000+ home cooks who open their kitchens to travelers), and the meal includes regional wine, coffee and a choice of seasonal starters, mains and desserts passed down through family recipes. The experience runs about 2.5 hours and takes place in a carefully selected home in Chieti or the surrounding area, with the exact address shared after you book.

The experience

You arrive at a private home in Chieti where a Cesarina (a member of Italy's network of trained home cooks) is ready to teach you. The cooking demo starts with the host finishing one dish in front of you: perhaps Pasta alla "chitarra" (hand-cut ribbon pasta), Minestrone soup with "taccuzzelle" (a local pasta shape), or "Ngrecciata" (artichoke and broad bean soup). Then you step into the kitchen yourself and make the dish, working alongside someone who learned to cook in this house, from family recipes that go back generations. The setup is a real home kitchen, not a classroom, so you're learning the way Italians actually cook, with the person who does it every day.

Once you've finished cooking, you sit down to eat. The meal is a full 4-course spread: a seasonal starter (often Scapece, a local fish preparation), the pasta or soup you just made, a second course like Polpi in Purgatorio (octopus in tomato) or Baccalà al Sedano (salt cod with celery), and a traditional Abruzzese dessert. Cicerchiata (honey-fried pastry), Ferratele (crispy pastry), or Tiramisù. Wine comes from regional cellars, and coffee and water are included. The whole experience runs about 2.5 hours, so you're not rushed through either the cooking or the eating.

You choose whether you want lunch or dinner when you book, and the Cesarina will tell you after booking exactly where to go. The address is kept private until then for the host's security. Public transportation options are nearby if you don't have a car, and the experience suits all fitness levels since you're working in a home kitchen at your own pace.

What’s included

• 4-course meal with seasonal starter, fresh pasta or soup, second course, and traditional Abruzzese dessert.
• red and white regional wines, water and coffee.
• cooking demo where the host finishes one dish in front of you, then you make it yourself in the home kitchen.

Options for this experience

2 options

DinnerGuide in English or Italian · Available from 4 Feb 2027Dinner

LunchGuide in English or Italian · Available from 4 Feb 2027Cooking demonstration with lunch

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesNext departure: 4 Feb 2027

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class

Is this one for you?Book lunch if you have a free afternoon in Chieti. Book dinner if you're looking for an evening activity. Either way, you're cooking, not watching: the Cesarina teaches you hands-on in her own kitchen, which is how you actually learn the dish.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

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

What dishes might I cook during the demo?

The Cesarina typically teaches one pasta or soup dish, chosen from the season's menu. Pasta alla "chitarra" (hand-cut ribbon pasta), Minestrone soup with "taccuzzelle" (local pasta), or "Ngrecciata" (artichoke and broad bean soup) are common choices, and the host will finish the dish in front of you before you take over and make it yourself.

Does the 4-course meal include wine?

Yes. The meal includes a selection of red and white wines from regional Abruzzese cellars, plus water and coffee. The wines are chosen to pair with the courses you eat.

How far from Chieti will the home be?

The home is in Chieti or the surrounding area, and you can tell the Cesarina how far you're willing to travel when you book. The exact address is shared after your reservation is confirmed.

Can I choose lunch or dinner?

Yes. You select either lunch or dinner when you book, and the timing is arranged with the host after you reserve.

What if I have dietary restrictions?

Contact the host directly after booking to discuss any dietary needs. The Cesarina works with local ingredients and family recipes, so some adjustments may be possible depending on what you need to avoid.