Florence: Italian Cooking Class & Dinner with Chef Aurora

Summary

Hands-on Italian cooking in Florence with laughter, wine, and chef stories

You’ll choose three classic Italian recipes in Florence and cook them side-by-side with Chef Aurora or Lucrezia in their own kitchen. Enjoy your handmade meal over good conversation and local wine (plus Prosecco and limoncello). Recipes are yours to take home—so you can relive that laughter-filled dinner whenever you want.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the clatter of pans and that warm, tomato-and-basil smell drifting from Chef Aurora’s kitchen in Florence. We’d barely said hello before she handed us aprons—mine was too long but I just rolled it up—and started chatting about which three recipes we’d try. Turns out if you’re the first to book this cooking class, you get to pick the menu. I blurted out “parmigiana!” before anyone else could answer. Someone else picked tiramisu (thank you, whoever you were). Aurora just grinned and scribbled our choices down—her handwriting looked like a shopping list my grandma used to make.

We chopped eggplants while Aurora explained why breading matters (she says it’s all about texture), and I tried to pronounce “melanzane” properly. She laughed at my accent but didn’t correct me too much. There was flour everywhere by the time we moved on to kneading pizza dough—sticky at first, then suddenly smooth under my hands. The window was open and I could hear scooters buzzing outside; every so often someone would shout “Ciao!” from the street below. It felt like being part of the city for a few hours, not just visiting.

Dinner happened around a big table—travelers from Brazil, Germany, me from Canada—passing plates of our own food and pouring two glasses of wine each (included, which is dangerous if you’re as chatty as we were). Aurora brought out Prosecco as a welcome drink earlier, but by dessert (tiramisu!), she poured us little shots of limoncello too. She told stories about her nonna’s kitchen and how Italians argue over whether to use garlic or not—honestly, I still think about that debate whenever I cook at home now.

I left with sauce on my shirt sleeve and a folder of English recipes tucked under my arm. Walking back through Florence at night felt different after that—like I’d borrowed a piece of someone else’s tradition for an evening. Not everything turned out perfect (my pizza was lopsided), but nobody cared.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cook and enjoy Italian recipes

• Choose three recipes to cook
• Attend three-hour cooking class
• Learn to prepare fresh pasta and other dishes
• Cook your own portions
• Enjoy lunch or dinner with your dishes
• Drink two glasses of Italian wine
• Drink Prosecco and limoncello liquor

Top questions

Can I choose which Italian recipes to cook?

If you're the first to book for your date, you'll pick three recipes from a list sent by Chef Aurora or Lucrezia.

Is wine included during the cooking class?

Yes, two glasses of wine per person are included with your meal, plus a welcome glass of Prosecco and limoncello at the end.

How long does the cooking class last?

The class lasts about three hours including cooking and dining together.

Are vegetarian or gluten-free options available?

Yes, vegetarian and gluten-free recipes are available; let them know your dietary needs when booking.

Do I get the recipes after the class?

Yes, all recipes are provided in English so you can make them at home.

Is hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup is offered; you'll need to get to the kitchen on your own.

Can children join the cooking class?

Children can join if accompanied by an adult; infants must sit on an adult's lap.

What’s included

Your experience includes hands-on instruction from Chef Aurora or Lucrezia in Florence, all ingredients for three chosen Italian dishes (including vegetarian or gluten-free options), a full lunch or dinner with two glasses of wine per person plus welcome Prosecco and limoncello liquor, good company around the table—and printed English recipes to take home afterward.