Reggio Emilia Dining Experience: Show Cooking at Local's Home

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Italian19:00

Guide in English or Italian12:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

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

The recipes come straight from handwritten family cookbooks, passed down by Italian grandmothers.

A private dining experience at a local cook's home in Reggio Emilia where you watch show cooking, eat a 4-course menu of seasonal dishes, and drink regional wines and coffee. The host is part of Cesarine, Italy's network of home cooks who open their kitchens to travelers. The experience runs about two and a half hours and suits anyone curious about how real Italian families cook and eat.

The Experience

What does it actually taste like to eat the way a local family in Reggio Emilia does? You'll find out in a private home kitchen, where your host prepares a seasonal starter, fresh pasta, a second course with side dish, and a typical dessert while you watch the technique unfold. The wines come from regional cellars (a selection of reds and whites chosen to match the meal), and coffee closes the evening. Water is included throughout.

The host is a Cesarine cook, part of a network of passionate home cooks across more than 500 Italian cities who invite travelers into their own kitchens. This is not a restaurant: you're eating in someone's home, at their table, with the recipes they've inherited and refined. The show cooking means you see how the dishes come together, not just taste the finished plate. You can ask questions, watch the hands-on work, and understand the choices behind each course.

You can book either a dinner or a lunch sitting, both running the same length. Public transportation options are available near the home, and the experience suits all fitness levels. A guide fluent in English or Italian is part of the booking, so language is not a barrier to conversation.

What’s included

• A private 4-course meal (seasonal starter, fresh pasta, second course with side dish, typical dessert).
• show cooking demonstration in the host's kitchen.
• water, a selection of regional red and white wines, and coffee.
• a guide fluent in English or Italian.

Days and timesDaily · 2 departure times, from 12:00 to 19:00

AgesAges 9+ · 4 to 8 years · Under 4 — Free

Meeting point and pickupNo pickup · ends where it startsMeeting point, per the operator: “This experience will be held in one of our Cesarina homes and, for privacy reasons, you will receive the full address of your Cesarina host after you have booke…”

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

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 Reggio Emilia's streets and squares in the afternoon. Choose dinner if you prefer to spend your evening immersed in the cooking and conversation. The two-and-a-half-hour format leaves room in your day for other plans, whether you're visiting for a single afternoon or staying longer in the city.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

4 to 8 years; under 4, free.

What's the difference between the dinner and lunch options?

Both are 4-course meals with the same show cooking format and wine pairings. You choose which meal time fits your day in Reggio Emilia.

Will I actually cook, or just watch?

You watch the host prepare each course (the show cooking is a demonstration of technique and family method), and then sit down to eat together.

Are the wines included, or do I pay extra?

A selection of red and white wines from regional cellars is included with the meal, along with water and coffee.

How do I get to the home if I don't have a car?

Public transportation options are available nearby. Your booking confirmation will include the exact address and directions.

What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?

Contact the host directly after booking to discuss any dietary needs. Cesarine cooks are accustomed to adapting menus for their guests.