Ligurian Cooking Class in Imperia: Make Focaccia, Pasta & Pesto

Pesto gets made in a marble mortar, the way Ligurian cooks have done it for generations.

A hands-on cooking class in Porto Maurizio, Imperia, where you spend around four hours making classic Ligurian dishes (focaccia, fresh pasta, pesto and Gobeletti pastries), then sit down to eat them with local wine. Patrizia teaches in English, German or Italian, and welcomes children from age two. The class suits anyone, even those new to cooking.

The experience

You arrive in the historic district of Porto Maurizio and start with a welcome: fresh Focaccia di Recco, made by Patrizia just before you walked in. Then the hands-on work begins. You'll roll out and shape fresh tagliatelle by hand, pound basil and pine nuts in a traditional marble mortar to make pesto the old way, and learn the technique behind Genovese focaccia: crispy outside, soft within. Gobeletti, delicate shortcrust pastries filled with apricot jam, round out what you'll prepare. Patrizia shares stories about Ligurian traditions and the region's prized Taggiasca olive oil as you work through each dish.

The class is built around participation: you're not watching a demonstration. Everyone impastes, rolls, pounds and cooks together in a warm, unhurried setting. At the end, you sit at the table with what you've made, accompanied by local wine. The whole experience runs around four hours, which means you have the rest of your day free in Imperia or the Ligurian coast.

What’s included

• Hands-on instruction in making four classic Ligurian dishes.
• all ingredients and equipment.
• lunch of the dishes you've prepared.
• local wine.
• welcome with fresh Focaccia di Recco.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (20 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (14 to 19 years) · Child (2 to 13 years)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Just a few meters from the seaside cycling path, Cucina con Patti is easy to reach by bicycle. A secure garage is available for your bike. Free parking is also available.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Stroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cucina con Patti Cooking Class Kochkurs

Is this one for you?The four-hour timeframe leaves your morning or afternoon free elsewhere in Imperia, so you can fit this class around other plans without it consuming your whole day. If you want a longer immersion in Ligurian food culture, this is a single-session experience, not a multi-day course.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 19 years); Child (2 to 13 years).

What exactly do I make during the four hours?

You prepare Focaccia Genovese, fresh handmade tagliatelle, pesto made in a marble mortar the traditional way, and Gobeletti pastries filled with apricot jam. Each one teaches a different Ligurian technique.

Is lunch included, or just the tasting at the end?

Lunch is included: you eat the dishes you've prepared together, with local wine, at the end of the class.

Do I need cooking experience to join?

No. The class is suited to everyone, including people who are new to cooking. Patrizia teaches step by step and everyone participates actively.

What languages does Patrizia speak?

She teaches in Italian, English and German, so you can choose the language that works for you.