Sicily: Cooking Class with Local Chef & Sicilian Lunch

Summary

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.

What’s the experience like?

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.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — 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

Top questions

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.

Can infants or small children join?

Yes, infants can ride in prams or strollers; specialized infant seats are available.

Where does the Sicilian cooking class take place?

The class is held in Catania, Sicily.

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.