Umbria Cooking Class: Farmhouse Lunch & Hands-On Pasta

Summary

Umbria farmhouse cooking class with garden ingredients and local wine

You’ll roll out pasta dough in an Umbrian farmhouse kitchen, pick fresh herbs from the garden, learn family recipes from your local guide, and share laughter over homemade tiramisu and wine. The class ends around a communal table — full stomachs, new friends, and maybe even a few sauce stains on your apron.

What’s the experience like?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when we pulled up to the old Umbrian farmhouse — honestly, I was a bit nervous about embarrassing myself in front of strangers with my “rustic” pasta skills. But then our teacher, Carla, greeted us at the door with this big laugh and a cloud of flour dust on her apron. The kitchen smelled like basil and something sweet I couldn’t quite place (maybe pears?). Sunlight slipped across the long wooden table where we’d be making everything from scratch. It felt more like joining someone’s family for Sunday lunch than a class.

We started by picking tomatoes and herbs straight from the garden. I tried to pronounce “strangozzi” right — Li laughed when I butchered it, but I got a thumbs-up for effort. There’s something kind of grounding about kneading dough while Carla tells stories about her grandmother’s gnocchi tricks. The olive oil we used was pressed just down the hill; you could taste that green, peppery kick in every bite. Making ravioli with fresh ricotta was messier than I thought — flour everywhere, but nobody seemed to mind.

The best part? Sitting down together at a long table (with glasses of red wine from their own vines) and eating what we’d made: tagliatelle with sausage ragu, pork tenderloin with plums, tiramisu that tasted like clouds. People lingered over coffee, swapping travel stories in a mix of English and Italian. I left with an apron covered in sauce stains, a folder of recipes tucked under my arm, and honestly — a sense that maybe I could pull off an Umbrian meal back home. Or at least remember how that afternoon felt.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hands-on Italian cooking class

• Begin cooking class at 10 a.m.
• Learn traditional Italian cooking techniques
• Prepare four-course meal from scratch
• Use organic vegetables from garden
• Enjoy meal with farm-produced wine

Top questions

How long does the Umbria cooking class last?

The cooking class is about 3 to 4 hours long.

What dishes do you make during the class?

You prepare a four-course meal such as tagliatelle with sausage ragu, gnocchi, ravioli with ricotta, pork tenderloin with plums, chicken alla cacciatora, tiramisu or crostata.

Is lunch included in the cooking class?

Yes, you eat the four-course meal you prepare during the lesson as lunch.

Are drinks provided during the class?

Umbrian wines are served during meals and coffee is offered after lunch.

Are vegetarian or dietary requirements accommodated?

You can advise specific dietary requirements at time of booking.

Do I get recipes to take home?

Yes, you'll receive a folder with all the recipes from your cooking class.

Is transportation available to reach the farmhouse?

Public transportation options are available nearby.

Is there anything for children or infants?

Specialized infant seats are available if needed.

What’s included

Your day includes a half-day hands-on cooking class at an Umbrian farmhouse using organic vegetables from their own garden plus extra virgin olive oil and red wine produced onsite. You’ll prepare a four-course meal together before sitting down for lunch with local wines and coffee after dessert. You’ll also get an apron to keep as well as printed recipes and a certificate of participation before heading out into the Umbrian countryside again.