Best Cooking Classes in Lake Como

From learning how to make traditional Italian pasta, to beginning to experience the flavors of polenta, the cooking classes are an excellent way to learn a little more about the gastronomic tradition and culture of Lake Como and the Lombardy region.

In each of these experiences you will learn to recognize and recreate traditional flavors in the company of an expert chef. You will also taste all your creations and taste some of the best wines of Lombardy. Gastronomic experiences that you can not fail to include among the best things to see and do in Lago di Como.

In this encounter with Italian cuisine, you will learn the secrets of its authentic gastronomy from a local chef who will teach you everything you want to know from his home kitchen. To live this experience you will visit a traditional villa located on the shores of Lake Como.

During the internship, you will learn how to cook a wide variety of appetizers, pasta and meat dishes, the strongest of the region's gastronomy. Afterwards you will have the opportunity to taste your own homemade creations. At the same time you will be able to enjoy the good local wine and at the end, you will taste a delicious Italian dessert.

The chef will give you all the tips and techniques you need to learn how to manage a complete Italian food menu. Moreover, this educational experience is adapted for all levels.

Interesting details

• Price: to participate in this experience you will have to pay around 260 euros per person.
• Duration: it can take up to 3 hours to complete the experience.
• Means of transportation: the experience is completed in one place, but you will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
• Advantages of this option: a professional chef will accompany you throughout the cooking class. The use of all organic and seasonal ingredients is included. You will be able to take home a recipe booklet with the preparations learned.
• Disadvantages of this option: transportation to and from the lodging site is not included, but you can request this service.

With this activity you must take into account that to get to Lake Como, you must land at Milan Malpensa Airport, and you will necessarily have to make a transfer to Lake Como, this is an experience that I recommend you to include in your travel itinerary, as soon as you arrive in this region of Lombardy.

In this case, to go from Milan to Como, you will board the train and then go to the region of Blevio by ferry. Once you arrive there, you will begin the class by learning the true Italian style of cooking in a full-day private experience.

Afterwards, in the company of a professional chef, you will be able to prepare a complete menu of two courses, one main course and a dessert: homemade pasta and tiramisu. At the end of the class, you will have the opportunity to enjoy your own creations and taste traditional Italian wine.

Right after finishing with the sharing of the meal, you can go for a walking tour of Como before returning to your hotel or accommodation.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 320 euros to enjoy this experience.
• Duration: it is a full day tour that can last around 7 hours.
• Means of Transportation: it includes transportation by train and ferry from Milan.
• Advantages of this option: all materials to be used during the class are included. Meal tasting and the support of the professional chef are also included. You will be able to take home the recipes to practice what you have learned. It is private, meaning that only you and your group participate.
• Disadvantages of this option: this tour has a minimum number of people per reservation and is done in groups of 2 to 4 people.

Inside a local's home in Como, this experience will take place where you can learn how to make fresh pasta and a real classic, handmade tiramisu. This is an intimate cooking class for no more than 12 people, so the attention is practically personalized.

In the middle of the class, the local will tell you all the tricks to rolling fresh pasta by hand, which is part of the Italian tradition. He will also help you create a couple of dishes while teaching you and telling you anecdotes about the culture and gastronomy of the Lombardy region.

The cook who will guide you in your class will be a cesarino, that is, a type of chef who preserves very well his style of artisan cooking, maintaining the traditions of the regional cuisine of Lombardy. With the gastronomic selection of this experience, you can well rank this class as one of the best things to do in Lago di Como.

Details of interest

• Price: you can live this experience for an approximate price of about 110 euros per person.
• Duration: the class lasts approximately 3 hours.
• Means of transport: this tour takes place in the house of a Cesarino, so you will have to get there on your own, either by private car or public transport.
• Advantages of this option: you will always be accompanied by an expert chef. Everything you need inside the kitchens will also be included.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not a wheelchair friendly experience. Transportation to the venue is not included.

In this private class you will learn how to prepare classic dishes from the Lombardy region, in the company of a chef Cesarina who will not only invite you into her home to learn how to cook in the Milanese style, but will also make you feel at home.

Among the dishes you will prepare are polenta, meatballs, risotto, and osso bucco. For dessert you can delight in the preparation and tasting of the traditional tiramisu. The best part of this experience is that when you finish cooking, you will be able to enjoy and share the meal with wine pairings and in the company of all the other participants.

Details of interest

• Price: you can participate in this cooking class for approximately 135 euros per person.
• Duration: your class can last around 3 hours.
• Means of transportation: this activity takes place in one place, so you will have to get to the meeting point on your own, either by private car or public transportation.
• Advantages of this option: the ingredients are included to prepare the multi-course menu, which you will be able to taste together with red and white wines from Lombardy. You will be given an apron and a shopping bag at the end of the class.
• Disadvantages of this option: transportation to and from the meeting point for the experience is not included.

If there's one thing that characterizes Lombardy, it's the sheer number and variety of delicious dishes. Polenta and risotto are a couple of gems that are never left out of the list of the best Italian meals, and they will be two of the dishes you will be able to cook during this class, in addition to the exquisite fresh pasta.

In this hands-on cooking class experience, a chef will help you discover the best kept secrets to make fresh pasta like the authentic Italian "nonnas". In addition, you can ask all the questions and curiosities you may have about the preparation of each dish.

In the middle of the pasta preparation, your teacher will teach you the techniques to prepare and roll out the "sfoglia", which is nothing more than puff pastry. You will also learn how to cut it and firm up your sauce. Of course you will have the opportunity to enjoy what you cooked, so it is an activity you should do even if you visit Lago di Como in one day.

Details of interest

• Price: to discover the flavors of Como you will have to pay around 140 euros per person.
• Duration: you can last around 3 hours in this cooking class.
• Means of transportation: it takes place in a specific location, but you will have to arrive on your own, either by private car or by public transportation.
• Advantages of this option: all materials are included, as well as the company of a professional chef.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not a wheelchair friendly experience. Transportation to and from the hotel or lodging site is not provided.

In this "Cook with a view" experience, you will have the opportunity to cook in one of the most beautiful and popular villages on Lake Como, which is none other than Bellagio. During the class, the chef will teach you how to make ravioli, tagliatelle and at the end, you will be able to make a traditional dessert.

The best thing about cooking in this place is that during the whole class you can also enjoy the view of the lake and the mountains surrounding Lake Como. It is a multicultural experience because you will also have the chance to sit at a large table together with the chef to practice Italian.

You will learn the secret recipes of pasta dough, and the tricks to make it even better. These cooking classes are ideal for you if you don't have any experience. After cooking the Italian dishes, you can visit the gardens of Villa Melzi. To better appreciate the visit, I would include this activity among the best things to do in Como in summer.

Details of interest

• Price: you will have to pay around 250 euros per person.
• Duration: you will be able to take around 4 hours to live this experience.
• Means of transportation: this experience takes place in one place, but you will have to get to the meeting point on your own.
• Advantages of this option: transportation back to your accommodation is included as a courtesy.
• Disadvantages of this option: drinks and extra meals are not included, except for those included in the program.

During this cooking class you will not only learn how to make some dishes, but you will also get to know the extent of the culinary heritage of Como and the northern part of Lombardy. This hands-on class in Bellagio will be different because you will get to know the kitchens of a family restaurant in the region.

You will prepare a good pasta dish from scratch, while a professional chef accompanies you and teaches you everything you need to know. Afterwards you will have the opportunity to taste your creation, all this in a terrace environment and outdoors, so it is a good choice to do in summer, instead of including it among the things to see in Lago di Como in winter.

After finishing you will receive as a gift, in addition to the certificate, a recipe book and a bottle of homemade olive oil. You will also receive an apron as a gift for your participation in the activity.

Details of interest

• Price: you can get this experience for around 260 euros.
• Duration: it will take you about 4 hours to complete the experience.
• Means of transportation: you will have transportation by ferry port van, from and to your lodging place.
• Advantages of this option: includes some free gifts such as a recipe book, an apron and a bottle of homemade olive oil. Also included is the transfer to and from your lodging site.
• Disadvantages of this option: meals and drinks other than those detailed in the package are not included. It is not an activity adapted for people in wheelchairs.

Throughout this homemade pizza making class, the chef who will be your teacher will teach you how to prepare this traditional dish, in an artisanal way and using only fresh ingredients. The experience is practically personalized because you will have no more than five classmates during the training.

You will love the way the professional baker will teach the workshop because he will always be informal and friendly. While you prepare the pizza, you can enjoy a glass of wine and a house salad.

You will also enjoy learning about the high quality ingredients used to prepare the pizza, most of which are purchased from local producers. Of course, at the end you will sit down to enjoy the pizza you prepared with your own hands.

Interesting details

• Price: this experience has an approximate price of 150 euros per person.
• Duration: you will spend about 2 hours inside the kitchens.
• Means of transportation: this experience takes place in one place, so you will have to get to the meeting point on your own, using public or private transportation.
• Advantages of this option: you can choose the vegetarian option, but you have to let us know when you make the reservation.
• Disadvantages of this option: drinks and meals are not included, except those detailed in the package.

Pasta is the queen of Italian cuisine, so in this cooking class you will learn how to prepare it together with a Cesarina, who will help you discover your kneading skills and prepare this Italian delicacy.

This is a private class, so you will be able to ask your teacher everything you want and need while you are cooking. You will learn the secrets and history of the region' s most beloved pasta dishes.

Interesting details

• Price: you can pay approximately 160 euros per person to live the experience.
• Duration: it will take you about 3 hours for the cooking class.
• Means of transportation: you will have to get to the meeting point on your own, using a private car or public transportation.
• Advantages of this option: this class is private, meaning that only you and your group participate. The recipes and the chef's accompaniment are included. Also included is the tasting with wine and coffee.
• Disadvantages of this option: transfer to and from the hotel or lodging site is not included.

This activity is one of the most special of the cooking classes because you will learn how to make some of the traditional products from Lake Como cheese. Chef Luigi Gandola will teach you how to prepare his grandfather's and his father's cheese recipe.

In addition to learning how to make these two types of cheese, you will learn how to make the special Como butter, which is typical of this region and accompanies many of the typical dishes of Italian gastronomy.

Interesting details

• Price: this activity has an approximate price of 280 euros per person.
• Duration: you can take about 4 hours for this activity.
• Means of transportation: you will have to get to this place on your own, either by private car or using public transportation.
• Advantages of this option: you can take baby strollers. Everything you are going to use in the kitchens is included.
• Disadvantages of this option: it is not advisable for people who have any kind of food intolerance or allergy. Drinks and meals are not included in this experience, except those specified in the package. Transportation to and from the lodging site is not included.

• Try to determine if you have any food allergies and let your class provider know before signing up for this type of experience.
• Be very hungry at each of the cooking appointments, because you will have to taste your preparations.
• Ask your teacher if you can bring children with you so they can participate in the class.
• Wear comfortable clothes, shoes and cutlery, remember that you will be in the kitchens and there is a chance that you might get some ingredients on you.