Holiday itinerary
Set on the Riviera del Brenta, not far from Villa Pisani and just a few kilometres outside of Venice is enthusiastic cook, Arianna’s private countryside home where you’ll learn to cook delicious Italian dishes using local produce from the Venice region.
Under the guidance of your fun and friendly Italian hosts Arianna and Monica who are both passionate about Italian home cooking, you will immerse yourself in Italian life to discover the gastronomic delights of Venice.
The aim of the course is to give you the skills to cook a great Italian 4 course menu with side dishes to impress your friends back home. All ingredients used are locally produced but Arianna and Monica always ensure they are ones that you can easily buy back home so dishes can be easily recreated.
You’ll learn to cook in the kitchen of Arianna’s private home with great views over the pretty garden where she grows herbs that are used in the dishes. If you book the optional transfer, you’ll be picked up from Venice and will go to the local shops or market to buy the ingredients you’ll use that day for your cooking course to give you an insight into Venice’s culinary life.
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced foodies
- Your hosts are Italian, Arianna speaks very little English but Monica speaks perfect English and is on hand to translate everything during the course
- Minimum age: 14 (children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult)
- Note: If you have children under 14, we may be able to arrange a specially adapted children’s cooking course, please email us for details if you would like to book with children under 14 years old
- Singles are welcome to join an existing group anytime
Non-Cooking Partner?
- If a partner wishes to join you on the cooking day but does not want to cook, they are welcome to come to the house and sit in the garden with a nice glass of wine or take a walk whilst they wait for you to finish your lesson and then join you for lunch
- Non-cooking partners receive a 25% discount and can be added during the booking process as an ‘extra’
Italian Cookery Holiday Start Days
- This Italian cooking course in Venice runs Monday – Saturday year round
- Classes start at 10am and finish at around 1pm although you’ll eat the lunch you’ve prepared after class so don’t plan to be back in Venice until after 2.30pm
Italian Cooking Course Itinerary
- We recommend you book the optional transfers to and from the central pick up point in Venice if you are staying in the city centre as the cooking school is just outside Venice (no more than 15mins drive)
- You’ll be collected between 9am and 9.30am from the new glass bridge in Venice and driven to the local shops and market where you’ll go with your host to buy the fresh ingredients that you’ll be using during your cooking course
- On arrival at Arianna’s house around 10am, enjoy welcome aperitifs with a selection of cheese and meats before you start to cook
- Cooking classes run for around 3 hours and around 1pm you’ll sit down together to enjoy the meal you’ve learned to cook accompanied by local wines from the region
- After the meal, you have the option to visit the Famous Villa Pisani, in Stra, which is a state owned villa and well worth a tour
- If you have booked the return transfers, you’ll either be taken straight back to Venice (around 2.30pm) or will go back to Venice after you’ve taken a short independent tour of Villa Pisani, the choice is yours
What Will I Learn?
- Courses concentrate on the cuisine of the Veneto: its risottos, pastas, meats, fish and traditional desserts
- At the start of your stay, Monica and Arianna will discuss the daily menu and what you will cover during your one day course
Sample Italian Dishes
Dishes vary according to the season and what food is available but may include:
- Risotto with luganega (venetian sausage)
- Mixed salad with sissoli (pork crackling) and venetian dressing
- Ossobuchi di mamma laura with polenta and grilled seasonal vegetables
- Chocolate salame
- Eggs and asparagus alla veneta
- Risotto with prawns
- Scampi all busera (king prawns in tomato sauce) + mixed salad + polenta
- Venetian fruit tart
- Bigoli in salsa (venetian spaghetti with anchovies)
- Chicken escalopes with sage + mixed salad + grilled seasonal vegetables
- Zuppa inglese (venetian trifle)
- Gallette salate (ricotta cheese rounds)
- Pollo alla buranea (chicken burano style) + mixed salad + polenta
- Local wines are carefully chosen to accompany the food you’ve learned to cook
- Dietary requests can be catered for including vegetarians if advised at the time of booking
About Your Cooks
- Your hosts are the easy going, fun and friendly Arianna and Monica who are not professional chefs but passionate and enthusiastic cooks who have learned the skills of Italian cooking from their mamas over the years and who now love nothing better than teaching visitors to cook traditional local dishes
- Arianna speaks little English but not to worry, Monica has perfect English and both will be in the kitchen with you to help you learn the secrets of Italian home cooking
Go learn to cook in Venice on this fun one day Italian cooking course and discover the secrets of Italian home cooking as you cook in Arianna’s beautiful home.