You’ll step into a real Sicilian kitchen in Sciacca, learn to make fresh pasta by hand with guidance from a local chef, sip homemade wine as you cook, and enjoy your own creations for lunch. Expect laughter, flour-dusted hands, stories about Sicilian food traditions — and leave with both new skills and your own box of pasta.
“You’re early!” That’s what Maria said when I rang the bell in Sciacca — I’d been wandering the narrow streets and got there before everyone else. She handed me a glass of her homemade white (crisp, almost salty) and waved me inside. The kitchen smelled like basil and something roasting — maybe aubergines? Her hands were already dusted with flour. I tried to say “grazie” like a local but she just grinned and switched to English for my sake.
We started kneading dough right on her old wooden table. It stuck to my fingers at first (she laughed — apparently that’s normal), but after a while it felt kind of meditative, just pressing and folding, listening to her stories about Saccense food traditions. She showed us how to roll out tagliatelle — not too thin, not too thick — and told me about her grandmother making pasta for Sunday lunch. At one point someone asked if you need fancy tools for this at home; Maria just shrugged and said, “Only your hands.”
I didn’t expect the tomato sauce to smell so sweet while it simmered. There was this moment where we all went quiet, watching the steam curl up from the pot. Lunch was tagliatelle alla Norma (aubergine, tomato, basil) plus more wine — honestly, I still think about that first bite. She let us taste some preserved vegetables from her pantry too. We boxed up leftovers to take away; mine made it as far as the hotel fridge before disappearing late that night.
Yes, no prior experience is needed; the chef guides you through every step.
Yes, homemade wine is included during the lesson and meal.
Yes, you can take away what you prepare during the lesson.
You should notify them in advance of any allergies or intolerances.
No, shuttle service is extra; contact before booking if needed.
You’ll make fresh tagliatelle with tomato sauce or alla Norma (with aubergines).
Infants can attend with an adult; service animals are allowed too.
Your day includes all ingredients and tools for making fresh pasta by hand with a local chef in Sciacca, bottled water throughout the lesson, homemade wine served as you cook and eat together, tastings of traditional preserves from her pantry, air-conditioned comfort inside the kitchen space—and you’ll take home everything you’ve made at the end.
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