Taormina: Seaview Sicilian Cooking Class & Market Tour

Summary

Hands-on sicilian cooking near taormina with chef mimmo and a seaside lunch

You’ll cook fresh pasta by the sea near Taormina, taste local wines and cheeses, visit a lively market with Chef Mimmo, and finish with sweet cannoli and limoncello on the terrace. Expect laughter in the kitchen, floury hands, new friends at your table—and maybe a little Sicilian sun lingering on your skin long after lunch.

What’s the experience like?

I still remember how salty the air tasted when we stepped out of the van in Giardini Naxos — just fifteen minutes from Taormina but it felt like another world. Our guide, Chef Mimmo, had already greeted us at the little market earlier (he’s got this laugh that makes you feel like you’ve known him forever). We’d tried these tiny tomatoes from Pachino — I ate one too fast and nearly choked, which Mimmo found hilarious. He showed us how to pick out eggplants that are “heavy for their size,” whatever that means. The old lady selling olives winked at me when I mispronounced “capperi.”

The kitchen at Ahoy Bistrò Siciliano sits so close to the water you can hear waves under all our chatter. There was flour everywhere within ten minutes — I kept forgetting not to touch my shirt. We made six types of pasta (I lost count after four), rolling dough with our hands while Mimmo explained why Sicilian olive oil tastes like “sun and volcano.” The fish course smelled like brine and tomatoes; he let us taste capers from the Aeolian Islands right out of his palm. Lunch was loud — plates clinking, everyone passing bread around, wine being poured like it was water. I didn’t expect to feel so at home with strangers.

After we’d eaten enough for three people each (the caponata was my favorite, though don’t tell Mimmo I said that), dessert showed up: tiny cannoli dusted with sugar and a cold glass of limoncello that stung my tongue in a good way. Someone asked if we could get recipes to take home — Mimmo just grinned and handed out certificates instead. Walking back toward Taormina with the sea breeze in my hair, I kept thinking about those eggplants and how food here is more about sharing than showing off. It’s funny what sticks with you.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class and tasting in Taormina

• Meet Chef Mimmo Siciliano
• Visit local producer for tasting
• Transfer to Ahoy Bistrò Siciliano
• Taste local wines, focaccia, and cheeses
• Prepare Sicilian appetizer Caponata
• Make six types of fresh pasta
• Cook fish alla ghiotta
• Enjoy Sicilian lunch by the sea
• Taste small Sicilian cannoli and Limoncello
• Return to meeting point

Top questions

How long does the Taormina cooking class last?

The experience lasts several hours including market visit, transfers, cooking lesson, and lunch.

Is transportation included in this Sicilian cooking tour?

Yes, private transportation is included between Taormina meeting point and seaside restaurant.

What dishes do we make during Chef Mimmo’s class?

You’ll prepare an appetizer (like caponata), six types of fresh pasta including pasta alla norma, a fish dish, and dessert cannoli.

Is wine tasting part of this Taormina cooking class?

Yes, local wine tasting is included along with cheese and salami at lunch.

Are vegetarian options available during the class?

The menu includes several vegetarian dishes such as caponata and pasta alla norma.

Does this tour include a visit to a local market?

Yes, there’s a guided visit to a small local producer or market before heading to the restaurant.

Can infants or small children join this activity?

Yes, infants can join—strollers are welcome and specialized infant seats are available.

Is this Sicilian cooking class accessible by public transport?

Yes, public transportation options are available nearby for both meeting point and return.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided visit to a local market near Taormina with Chef Mimmo before private transfer to a seaside kitchen in Giardini Naxos. You’ll get hands-on making traditional Sicilian dishes—fresh pasta, fish courses—plus enjoy wine tasting, cheese and salami platters, mineral water throughout, coffee or tea break, lunch by the beach with cannoli for dessert (and limoncello), an apron to use during class, your attendance certificate—and all taxes covered before returning to town.