Sicily: Cooking Class with Local Chef & Sicilian Lunch

Learn to cook Sicilian pasta & cannoli with locals in Catania

You’ll join a small group in Catania for a hands-on Sicilian cooking class led by a local chef. Make fresh pasta from scratch, prepare classic Norma sauce and fill your own cannoli shells before sitting down together for an all-inclusive homemade lunch with wine. Expect laughter, real flavors and maybe flour on your shirt.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sicilian Cooking Experience

• Welcome aperitif with bruschetta and wine
• Prepare fresh pasta: tagliatelle and ricotta ravioli
• Make Alla Norma sauce with aubergines and ricotta
• Prepare classic Sicilian Cannolo dessert
• Enjoy meal together at the table

The experience

I’ll be honest, I was mostly excited about the wine at first. But walking into that kitchen in Catania (the smell of fried eggplant already hanging in the air). I realized this was going to be more than just a “Sicilian cooking class.” Our chef, Giulia, greeted us with bruschetta and a glass of something red and bold. She had this way of laughing at my attempts to pronounce “ricotta” (I still can’t roll my R’s), but it felt like being welcomed by an old friend. There were six of us, all strangers, but somehow it didn’t feel awkward after that first bite of cheese.

We started kneading dough for tagliatelle. My hands got sticky fast, flour everywhere, and Giulia just shrugged and said, “It’s good luck if you make a mess.” The kitchen windows were cracked open. You could hear scooters outside and someone singing from another apartment. Making ravioli was trickier than I thought (mine looked more like little pillows than proper shapes), but nobody cared. When we moved on to the Norma sauce, frying aubergines until they went golden, the whole place smelled sweet and earthy at once. I kept sneaking tastes when Giulia wasn’t looking. Maybe she noticed.

The best part? Cannoli. We piped ricotta cream into crispy shells, not as neat as the ones in pastry shops, but honestly better because we’d made them ourselves. Sitting down together at the end, passing plates around and pouring more wine, it felt like Sunday lunch with family I didn’t know I had. There was this moment where everyone went quiet for a second before digging in. Just happy, I guess. I still think about that view from the window: laundry flapping on balconies, sun starting to dip behind tiled roofs.

What’s included

• Your day includes all ingredients for making fresh pasta and cannoli alongside a local chef in Catania.
• Enjoy welcome aperitif snacks with cheese and cold cuts plus unlimited wine or beer throughout your hands-on lesson.
• Afterward you’ll share everything you cooked together over an all-inclusive homemade lunch before heading out into Sicily again.

Options for this experience

3 options

A session making fresh pasta and cannoliGuide in English or Italian · 16:30Making tagliatelle and cannoli

Cooking class OrtigiaGuide in English or Italian · 16:30A cooking class held in Ortigia

A class that combines a food tour with cookingGuide in English or Italian · 10:30 and 16:30Food tour and cooking class combined

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 timesMonday to FridayDepartures at 10:30 and 16:30

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupUp to 8

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Smile And Food

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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: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long does the Sicilian cooking class last?

The activity lasts about 2 hours.

Is the cooking experience wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

What dishes will we prepare during the class?

You’ll make fresh pasta (tagliatelle & ravioli), Norma sauce with aubergines, and classic cannoli dessert.

Are drinks included in the experience?

Yes, wines, beer, limoncello, coffee or tea are all included during tastings and lunch.

Is there a local guide or chef leading the class?

Yes, a local Sicilian chef leads the cooking experience.

Where does the Sicilian cooking class take place?

The class is held in Catania, Sicily.