Italian Christmas Cookies

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make traditional Christmas cookies for you to take home so you can share them with family, friends or keep them all to your self! We will teach you a few different styles and techniques of cookie making. Two people may attend this class under one reservation, but each reservation will make the same amount of cookies (approximately 8 dozen).

What we will teach:

•         How to make different cookie doughs

•         How to form and bake the cookies

•         Icing and finishing cookies

• Flavor profiles of the different cookies

•         History of the traditions

• Menu:

• Tarallucci (Lemon Knots)

• Tetu (Sicilian Chocolate Spice Cookies)

• Pasticcini di Mandorla (Almond Cookies)

• Anise Cookies

101 Fresh Pasta Class

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pasta from scratch. We will then teach you how to properly roll the dough and form specific shapes. You will also learn various fillings for stuffed pasta as well as the sauces that pair with the pastas. You will also learn how to properly store and ultimately how to cook the pasta (right amount of water, salt as well as how to extract the starch) with the right amount of sauce to create an amazing dinner.

 Please let us know ahead of time if there are any dietary restrictions.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pasta dough

•         How to roll out fresh pasta

•         Simple ravioli making

• Pasta cooking

•         How to shape tortellini

•         How to make a classic Caccio e Pepe sauce

•         Cherry tomato ragu

•         How to roast squash

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Tagliatelle di Caccio Pepe

• Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Ragu

• Traditional Meat Tortellini in Brodo

Tuscan Wine Tasting Class

Our Goal:

To introduce your palate and brain to one of the most famous wine regions in all the world. In this class, hosted by Paolo Cerruti, you will learn about some of the different varietals of wines of Tuscany along with some history and the rules regarding making wines in the region. Also you will be served antipasti that is typical of the Chianti region.

 Please let us know ahead of time if there are any dietary restrictions.

What we will teach:

• How terroir affects the wine

• What is a micro climate

• How to properly taste wine

• Vinification techniques

• Basics of food and wine pairings

• When to decant

• How to read a wine label

• That wine should not be intimidating

Menu:

• Poggerino Sangiovese Champenoise 2016 

• Tenuta di Ghizzano Terre di Pisa Bianco 2023 

• Tenuta di Valgiano Colline Lucchesi Palistorti 2022 

• Bindella Vino nobile di Montepulciano 2021 

• Caiarossa Aria di Caiarossa 2022  

• Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Vigne Vecchie 2018

• A selection of

101 Fresh Pasta Class

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pasta from scratch. We will then teach you how to properly roll the dough and form specific shapes. You will also learn various fillings for stuffed pasta as well as the sauces that pair with the pastas. You will also learn how to properly store and ultimately how to cook the pasta (right amount of water, salt as well as how to extract the starch) with the right amount of sauce to create an amazing dinner.

 Please let us know ahead of time if there are any dietary restrictions.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pasta dough

•         How to roll out fresh pasta

•         Simple ravioli making

• Pasta cooking

•         How to shape tortellini

•         How to make a classic Caccio e Pepe sauce

•         Cherry tomato ragu

•         How to roast squash

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Tagliatelle di Caccio Pepe

• Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Ragu

• Traditional Meat Tortellini in Brodo

Pizza Making Class

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pizza from scratch. You will not only learn how to make an amazing pizza dough, but you will also learn how to properly stretch, top and cook the pizza in an oven that is similar to a home oven such as a Green Egg or Uni.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pizza dough

•         How to stretch fresh pizza dough

•         How to properly top a pizza (not as easy as you might think)

• How to Cook a pizza in a high temp wood burning oven

•         Choosing the Right Cheese for Your Pizza

•         Which Yeast to Use

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Pizza Pizza Pizza

Our Goal:

In this class fun class you will work with your partner to create a wonderful Venetian Dinner. We will teach the two of you how to make a variety of traditional cicchetti (Italian finger food) as well as fish in parchment (pesce al cartoccio) and finally traditional tiramisu to end your evening. After taking this class we know you will want to have guests over as you recreate this Venetian meal.

What we will teach:

• The Intricacies of Agro Dolce

• How to make and cook in parchment

• How to properly select fish

• How to make a quick savory tart

• How make zabaglione

• Basic Knife Skills

• Party Planning

• Balancing of Flavors

Menu:

• Sarde in Saor

• Zucchini Fritters with Herb Goat Cheese

• Seasonal Tartaletta

• Pesce al Cartoccio

• Tiramisu

101 Fresh Pasta Class

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pasta from scratch. We will then teach you how to properly roll the dough and form specific shapes. You will also learn various fillings for stuffed pasta as well as the sauces that pair with the pastas. You will also learn how to properly store and ultimately how to cook the pasta (right amount of water, salt as well as how to extract the starch) with the right amount of sauce to create an amazing dinner.

 Please let us know ahead of time if there are any dietary restrictions.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pasta dough

•         How to roll out fresh pasta

•         Simple ravioli making

• Pasta cooking

•         How to shape tortellini

•         How to make a classic Caccio e Pepe sauce

•         Cherry tomato ragu

•         How to roast squash

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Tagliatelle di Caccio Pepe

• Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Ragu

• Traditional Meat Tortellini in Brodo

101 Fresh Pasta Class

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pasta from scratch. We will then teach you how to properly roll the dough and form specific shapes. You will also learn various fillings for stuffed pasta as well as the sauces that pair with the pastas. You will also learn how to properly store and ultimately how to cook the pasta (right amount of water, salt as well as how to extract the starch) with the right amount of sauce to create an amazing dinner.

 Please let us know ahead of time if there are any dietary restrictions.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pasta dough

•         How to roll out fresh pasta

•         Simple ravioli making

• Pasta cooking

•         How to shape tortellini

•         How to make a classic Caccio e Pepe sauce

•         Cherry tomato ragu

•         How to roast squash

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Tagliatelle di Caccio Pepe

• Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Ragu

• Traditional Meat Tortellini in Brodo

101 Fresh Pasta Class

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pasta from scratch. We will then teach you how to properly roll the dough and form specific shapes. You will also learn various fillings for stuffed pasta as well as the sauces that pair with the pastas. You will also learn how to properly store and ultimately how to cook the pasta (right amount of water, salt as well as how to extract the starch) with the right amount of sauce to create an amazing dinner.

 Please let us know ahead of time if there are any dietary restrictions.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pasta dough

•         How to roll out fresh pasta

•         Simple ravioli making

• Pasta cooking

•         How to shape tortellini

•         How to make a classic Caccio e Pepe sauce

•         Cherry tomato ragu

•         How to roast squash

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Tagliatelle di Caccio Pepe

• Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Ragu

• Traditional Meat Tortellini in Brodo

Our goal for this class is to teach you the proper way to make, roll/form, store, and cook potato gnocchi. To share with you all the secrets and tips we have learned over the years (and tears!) that have made other chefs admit that Nonna Zanella’s gnocchi are the best.

In addition, you will learn to make a classic Bolognese sauce that pairs excellent with your gnocchi, and does not overpower the little pillows.

What you will learn:

• Many Gnocchi Secrets, ssshhh….

• How to make and work with gnocchi dough

• How to form gnocchi

• How to prepare and store gnocchi for future cooking

• How to make fold (thank you Schitt’s Creek!)

• How to use a double boiler

• How to Make Bolognese Sauce

• Balancing Flavors

• General Knife Skills

• Meal organization

The Menu:

• Apple and Hazelnut Salad

• Nonna Zanella’s Gnocchi with Bolognese Sauce

• Double Chocolate Semifreddo

What’s Included:

• All cutlery and ingredients needed to prep and create the dishes

• Recipe cards

Please note that you will be standing and cooking for up to 2 hours. We advise that you wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

Windy City Mushrooms

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pasta from scratch AND how to properly cook a variety of mushrooms grown locally from the Wind City Mushroom company. We will teach you how to roll the dough and form specific shapes. You will also learn various fillings for stuffed pasta as well as different mushroom sauces that pair with the pastas. You will also learn how to store and ultimately cook the pasta (right amount of water, salt as well as how to extract the starch) with the right amount of sauce to create an amazing dinner.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pasta dough

•         How to roll out fresh pasta

•         Simple ravioli making

• Pasta cooking

•         How to shape tortellini

• The Differences between Oyster Mushrooms

•         How to make a Mushroom Ragu

• How to make a Pasta Filling with Oyster Mushrooms

•         How to cook Lions Mane Mushrooms

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Fettuccini with a Lions Mane Mushroom Ragu

• Herb Goat Cheese Ravioli with Italian Oyster Mushrooms and Cherry Tomatoes

• Elm Oyster Mushroom Tortellini in Blue Oyster Mushroom Brodo

Our goal for this class is to teach you how to make a few traditional Sicilian Dishes. Sicily is know for their seafood and Involtini di Pesce Spada is one that we know you will love. Besides the main dish we will teach you how to plan and prepare a meal so it is easy once your guests arrive. From a classic caponata to the final pistachio cake we will help you create a wonderful meal that you will want to recreate for your friends and family.

What you will learn:

• How to make caponata

• Differences in Caponata

• Choosing the right seafood

• How to prepare Pesce Spada

• How to properly dice and sweat an onion

• Balancing flavors

• General Knife Skills

• Meal organization

The Menu:

• Penelle (Chick Pea fritters)

• Sicilian Caponata

• Involtini di Pesce Spada

• Pistachio Cake

What’s Included:

• All cutlery and ingredients needed to prep and create the dishes

• Recipe cards

Please note that you will be standing and cooking for up to 2 hours. We advise that you wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

Our Goal:

In this class fun class you will work with your partner to create a wonderful Venetian Dinner. We will teach the two of you how to make a variety of traditional cicchetti (Italian finger food) as well as fish in parchment (pesce al cartoccio) and finally traditional tiramisu to end your evening. After taking this class we know you will want to have guests over as you recreate this Venetian meal.

What we will teach:

• The Intricacies of Agro Dolce

• How to make and cook in parchment

• How to properly select fish

• How to make a quick savory tart

• How make zabaglione

• Basic Knife Skills

• Party Planning

• Balancing of Flavors

Menu:

• Sarde in Saor

• Zucchini Fritters with Herb Goat Cheese

• Seasonal Tartaletta

• Pesce al Cartoccio

• Tiramisu

Our goal for this class is to teach you the proper way to cook risotto by breaking down the “fear factor” and erasing “myths” that many people associate with making a good risotto. By the end of this class, you will have a strong base understanding of how to make simple risotto from spring vegetables from which you can feel comfortable branching out and cooking more elaborate versions of this classic Italian dish.

Featuring Wind City Mushrooms

What you will learn:

• Differences in risotto styles

• Choosing the right rice variety for your risotto

• Risotto cooking method

• Risotto cooking tips and myths

• How to properly dice and sweat an onion

• How to make and fry arancini

• Balancing flavors

• General Knife Skills

• Meal organization

The Menu:

• Arancini

• Wild Mushroom Risotto

• Zabaglione with Berries

What’s Included:

• All cutlery and ingredients needed to prep and create the dishes

• Recipe cards

101 Fresh Pasta Class

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pasta from scratch. We will then teach you how to properly roll the dough and form specific shapes. You will also learn various fillings for stuffed pasta as well as the sauces that pair with the pastas. You will also learn how to properly store and ultimately how to cook the pasta (right amount of water, salt as well as how to extract the starch) with the right amount of sauce to create an amazing dinner.

 Please let us know ahead of time if there are any dietary restrictions.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pasta dough

•         How to roll out fresh pasta

•         Simple ravioli making

• Pasta cooking

•         How to shape tortellini

•         How to make a classic Caccio e Pepe sauce

•         Cherry tomato ragu

•         How to roast squash

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Tagliatelle di Caccio Pepe

• Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Ragu

• Traditional Meat Tortellini in Brodo

101 Fresh Pasta Class

Our Goal:

To teach you how to make fresh pasta from scratch. We will then teach you how to properly roll the dough and form specific shapes. You will also learn various fillings for stuffed pasta as well as the sauces that pair with the pastas. You will also learn how to properly store and ultimately how to cook the pasta (right amount of water, salt as well as how to extract the starch) with the right amount of sauce to create an amazing dinner.

 Please let us know ahead of time if there are any dietary restrictions.

What we will teach:

•         How to make fresh pasta dough

•         How to roll out fresh pasta

•         Simple ravioli making

• Pasta cooking

•         How to shape tortellini

•         How to make a classic Caccio e Pepe sauce

•         Cherry tomato ragu

•         How to roast squash

•         General knife skills

Menu:

• Tagliatelle di Caccio Pepe

• Spinach Ricotta Ravioli with Cherry Tomato Ragu

• Traditional Meat Tortellini in Brodo