Sorrento: Cooking Class & Garden Walk with Mama’s Recipes

Summary

Pick veggies in Sorrento’s garden then cook pasta by the sea

You’ll pick vegetables straight from Mama’s Sorrento garden, walk down to a seaside kitchen with views over Naples Bay, then learn to make pasta and tiramisu from scratch. Enjoy a long lunch with wine and laughter — plus a little limoncello toast thrown in for good measure.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to start a cooking class in Sorrento by standing in someone’s backyard, but there we were — me, a few others, and Mama herself, who handed me a tomato still warm from the sun. She laughed at my surprise (“It smells better than supermarket ones, right?”). The air was thick with basil and something citrusy I couldn’t place. We tasted whatever was ripe — tiny strawberries, fennel that made my hands smell sweet for hours. I’m not sure I’ll ever look at grocery store vegetables the same way.

After the garden tour (and a quick limoncello “for courage,” as Mama put it), we walked down toward the beach. The view over the Gulf of Naples just sort of sneaks up on you — bright blue water, boats bobbing like toys. Our guide pointed out Vesuvius in the haze; I tried to imagine living here and having that as your backdrop. The kitchen was open-air and smelled faintly of wood smoke and garlic before we even started chopping.

I’d never made pasta from scratch before — turns out it’s messier than it looks on YouTube. My dough stuck everywhere; Mama just winked and dusted more flour on my hands. There was music playing softly (old Neapolitan songs?), and someone spilled flour all over their apron but nobody cared. We made tagliatelle and ravioli, then tiramisu that tasted like coffee clouds. Lunch felt like sitting down with family you didn’t know you had — wine flowing, everyone passing plates around, nobody checking their phones.

There’s something about eating food you helped make, especially when you can see where every ingredient grew just an hour earlier. I still think about that first bite of eggplant parmigiana — sweet tomato sauce, creamy cheese, all sunlight and salt air mixed together somehow. If you’re looking for a cooking class in Sorrento that feels real (and includes lunch with wine), this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class with garden ingredients

• Meet and greet at family garden
• Visit garden and enjoy refreshments
• Walk to cooking class venue
• Enjoy panoramic view of Gulf of Naples
• Start cooking class at beach kitchen
• Prepare three types of handmade pasta
• Make handmade dessert
• Eat lunch with starter, pasta, and dessert
• Drink water, wine, and other beverages

Top questions

Is this cooking class in Sorrento suitable for beginners?

Yes, beginners are welcome — no experience needed. Mama guides everyone step by step.

Are fresh ingredients from the garden included?

Yes, all vegetables are picked fresh from the family garden according to season.

Does this Sorrento cooking class include lunch?

Yes, after cooking you’ll sit down for lunch with starters, handmade pasta dishes, dessert, wine and drinks.

Is transportation or pickup provided?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; meeting point is at the private family garden in Sorrento.

Are vegetarian options available during the class?

The menu focuses on vegetables and handmade pasta; specific dietary needs can be discussed on site.

Is this activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas including transportation options are wheelchair accessible.

How long does the cooking class last?

The exact duration isn’t listed but includes garden tour, walk to kitchen, cooking three dishes and lunch.

What’s included

Your day includes meeting at Mama’s private family garden in Sorrento where you’ll pick seasonal produce together before heading down for a panoramic walk to the seaside kitchen. You’ll get all utensils and an apron for making three types of hand-made pasta plus dessert (tiramisu), enjoy a full lunch with wine or beer if you’re over 18, taste homemade limoncello along the way, and leave with a personalized gift at the end of class.