According to researches about happiness, buying experiences instead of material goods makes us happier. Unfortunately, during Covid-19, we are forced to stay at home. The good news is that this pandemic hit us in the Internet era, therefore we can travel, meet people and carry on our hobbies even remaining in our homes.
So, if you are looking for unusual presents, you might consider the opportunity to buy an experience such as an online cooking course. And why not learning some Italian dishes?
I have selected cooking classes held by Italians in English and that you can easily follow from your kitchen.
1. Patrizia Romeo and the secret of raw foodism
Raw foodism is the practice of eating food that is uncooked or unprocessed. But don’t think of eating fruit salads and nuts as they come from nature. This type of cuisine is the epitome of slow and long preparations.
I had the pleasure to meet Patrizia during a Raw food course. She is that kind of person you think you have known since long time. In her courses you learn what is raw food and how to prepare desserts, cookies, spaghetti, vegetables. Traditional recipes are transformed in vegan, lactose free or even gluten free delicacies.
You will find several on-line courses on her website but also the possibility to book a 3-hour private lesson with her. The website is in Italian at the moment, but Patrizia speaks fluent English. You can write her an email or even follow her on Instagram where she writes both in Italian and English.
2. Peri and the Kitchen
Elisa Perillo, or simply Peri, is an Italian cook and blogger who specializes in courses for children. She works with an Italian nutritionist, therefore her recipes are healthy and carefully studied. Your kids can follow customized courses to master the art of pizza or learn how to prepare an Italian cake. And if you want to learn Italian, you can also follow her on youtube.
So, next time you are planning a pizza night, think about sending the children in the kitchen!
3. Confetti & Martinis
Imagine velvety hills, a Unesco World Heritage, vineyards and hazelnut trees. In the hearth of these enchanted Piedmontese area, you will find the town of Alba, renowned for the white truffle. Here Fabio Montanera, a personal chef, organizes cooking lessons in English.
With Fabio you can learn how to prepare plin, small pasta envelopes with a filling of meat, and tajarin, traditional spaghetti like pasta. By attending Fabio’s classes, you will receive the grocery shopping list, join the course via Zoom, learn how to prepare these amazing dishes and then…eat.
A 2-hour cooking class costs 35 euros, but there is a discount if you book before December 24.
And once this Pandemic will be over, you can also book a holiday in Fabio’s B&B.
4. Ottoincucina
Ottoincucina, in Italian eight in the kitchen, is a school based in Bologna. It organizes courses both online and on site. The courses are customized and addressed to professionals or simply food lovers.
If you want to master the art of ragù, aka Bolognaise sauce, this is the place to be. But you can also learn how to prepare finger food, gluten free desserts, risotto as well as plunge yourself in an olfactory cooking experience.
5. Podere il casale
Perched on one of the hills near Siena, Podere il Casale gathers together a farm, a dairy, crop fields, vineyards, a vegetable garden and even a camping. The owners, Sandra and Ulisse, have created here a real rural world to explore and discover. On their website, you can also find an online shop with what they produce.
They are not new to cooking courses, generally held on site, but in order to answer a constantly growing demand during Covid-19 pandemic, they are working to offer online courses in the near future. So my suggestion is to check on their website because online courses are about to be scheduled.
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