Varenna: Pasta & Tiramisu Cooking Class in Local Home

Summary

Roll fresh pasta by hand sip prosecco learn tiramisu secrets in varenna

You’ll roll fresh pasta by hand in a real Varenna home, guided by a local Cesarina who shares family recipes and stories. Taste your own creations — two classic pastas plus creamy tiramisu — with wine and an Italian aperitivo. It’s hands-on, warm-hearted, sometimes messy fun that leaves you with new friends and flavors to remember.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to be kneading dough next to someone’s grandma’s window, but there we were in Varenna — sleeves rolled up, flour dusting the air, and our host (she called herself a Cesarina) laughing at my hopelessly uneven tagliatelle. The kitchen smelled like lemon zest and coffee, which I guess is how you know you’re about to make tiramisu. I kept glancing outside at Lake Como, but honestly, the real show was inside.

Our group was small enough that nobody could really hide from messing up — which made it better. The Cesarina showed us how to roll ‘sfoglia’ by hand; she made it look so easy, then handed me the rolling pin and grinned. My arms still remember that effort. She switched between Italian and English with this kind of musical rhythm, correcting my pronunciation (“No, no — more like ‘ta-lya-tell-eh!’”). There was prosecco poured before we even started cooking, plus these salty little nibbles that disappeared fast.

The best part? When we layered mascarpone for the tiramisu and she told us her family secret (which I’m not allowed to write here). Everyone got a turn whisking — mine ended up on my shirt somehow. We sat around her table after, eating both kinds of pasta we’d made ourselves (I think mine tasted better just because I survived making it). The wine flowed quietly; someone asked about her childhood in Varenna and she just smiled for a long second before answering. I still think about that moment sometimes — something about sharing food in someone’s home sticks with you longer than any restaurant meal.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Hands-on pasta and tiramisu class

• Enjoy Italian Aperitivo to warm up
• Learn to roll fresh pasta by hand
• Make two types of pasta from scratch
• Prepare iconic tiramisu dessert
• Share cooking experience with small group

Top questions

Is this pasta & tiramisu class held in a local home in Varenna?

Yes, the cooking class takes place inside a carefully selected local home hosted by a Cesarina.

How many people are in each cooking class?

The small-group class has a maximum of 12 guests.

What types of pasta will we make during the class?

You’ll learn to make two iconic types of fresh pasta from scratch.

Is tiramisu included in the cooking lesson?

Yes, making classic tiramisu is part of the experience.

Are drinks included with the class?

Your day includes water, wines, coffee, prosecco, and Italian aperitivo nibbles.

Will we eat what we cook?

Yes, you’ll taste both pastas and your homemade tiramisu together at the end.

Is public transportation nearby?

Public transport options are available close to the meeting point.

Are sanitary measures provided during the class?

Yes, hosts provide sanitizing gel and paper towels; distancing is encouraged when possible.

What’s included

Your day includes an Italian aperitivo with prosecco and nibbles to start things off, hands-on lessons for two different pastas plus classic tiramisu inside a welcoming Varenna home, all beverages (wine, water, coffee), plus plenty of time to taste everything you’ve made together at the table before heading out into town again.