Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine
Traveler rating
4.3/5
Based on 11 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine worth booking?
Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine is a 3-hour experience in Catania, Italy, from $147 per person. It scores 58 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.3/5 rating across 11 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 58 / 100
- Rating
- 4.3/5 (11)
- Duration
- 3 hours
- From
- $147 per person
Immerse yourself in a private cooking class at local's home, learn the secrets of the most famous dishes of Catania cuisine and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a selection of local wines. During the lesson the local home cook will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic Catania recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.
What you get
About this experience
Immerse yourself in a private cooking class at local's home, learn the secrets of the most famous dishes of Catania cuisine and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a selection of local wines. During the lesson the local home cook will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic Catania recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.
What's included
Included
- Beverages (water, wines and coffee)
- Private Cooking Class
- Tastings of the 3 recipes
- Local taxes
Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Catania
Catania, Italy
This experience will be held in a local's home. For privacy reasons, you will receive the full address of your Cesarina host after you have booked. We will contact you by e-mail after you've booked to match you up with your ideal host based on what you are looking for.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
Catania · Catania, Italy
Options you can book
3 Recipes Cooking Class
Private 3hours Hands-on Cooking Class: You’ll learn to make three traditional recipes from scratch together with your Cesarina
2 Pasta and Tiramisu Class
Small Group 3hours Hands-on Cooking Class: You’ll learn to make two fresh pasta recipes from scratch and a classic tiramisù together with your Cesarina
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- en, it
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 8 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Cesarine: Cooking Class
Know before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 11 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Food and drink
5 mentionsThe tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
Good for families
3 mentionsReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Knowledge and storytelling
2 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
11 verified traveler reviews for Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Pasta making that didn’t happen!
We didn’t get to try to make anything because the provider never got notified that we had signed up!!! Total waste of our afternoon. Was looking forward to learn to make pasta and tiramisu the right way. So disappointed.
Response from the operator: We are very sorry to hear about your disappointment. After reviewing the case, it appears that there was a misunderstanding regarding the host location and that you unfortunately went to the wrong host. We understand how frustrating this must have been, especially when you were looking forward to the experience. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. We will continue working to make our meeting point instructions as clear as possible to help prevent similar situations in the future.
via Viator
Would highly recommend!
Graziella and Andrea were the most amazing hosts! They were fun to hang out with while learning Sicilian cuisine. The terrace where we cooked and relaxed was beautiful! I can’t say enough about this experience and this couple! Highly recommend!
via Tripadvisor
Very Poor Experience!!!
Very Poor Experience!!! Warning!!!. Be Very Cautious when making a booking with Cesarine for any Italian Food Experience in Italy as this could be a costly exercise !!! Their advertising is unclear or misleading and their “Customer Service Team” is not interested in customer service and will just pay you lip service.. In summary, Cesarine took $200 Euros from us and provided nothing in return…. Our Experience :- We decided to book a cooking class for 4 people as a last minute decision while holidaying in Catania with Cesarine. We made a booking on Tuesday 17th September at 8.00pm for a 1.00pm cooking class scheduled for the following day - Wednesday 18th September. We received a message from the host at 9.00pm on Tuesday 17th as quoted below. “Hi, I just received your reservation. Do you know that you booked a lunch and not a cooking class?” (This implies the host has previously had an issue with bookings or there has been some confusion regarding bookings on their site in the past…) I replied within 1 hour at 10.00pm to ask to cancel as we had wanted to book for a cooking class and not a lunch. I was told that Cesarine could not provide a refund and cancel the booking as we needed to provide “24 hours notice” to cancel. It would have been impossible to provide a 24 hour notice as the booking was only made 17 hours before the start time of the event.. We believe neither Cesarine nor the host would have been out of pocket or incurred any cost as this issue unfolded within 2 hours of my initial booking at 8.00 pm on Tuesday. The host offered to provide a pasta lunch and a dessert for 4 people for the $200 Euro price. We did not see this as fair value so we declined her offer. ($200 Euro for 4 plates of pasta and 4 desserts is very expensive compared to other restaurants we attended in Sicily) In summary, this has been the Worst experience we have had in Italy, we are all very disappointed and we are not at all satisfied with the outcome. We will be disputing the $200 Euro payment with our credit card supplier. We feel obliged to warn tourists to be Very Careful when Dealing with Cesarine!!! Mick & Linda Australia
Response from the operator: Hello dear Mick and Linda, Thank you for taking the time to share your opinion with us. It is always important for us to listen from our customers. I understand your feedback, let me just point out that the event you booked was indeed a Dining Experience with Cooking Demo and not a Cooking Class. We offer a wide variety of experiences (cooking class, market tours, etc) and our content editor always does his best to provide clear descriptions of every experience on our website. Your Cesarina told you it was a Dining because she understood that you had bought the wrong experience by mistake, and she was happy to host you for a Dining, but you declined and cancelled. We're sorry for the misunderstanding! I will for sure pass on your useful comments in order to improve our service. So thank you so much! Thank you for choosing Cesarine, and we hope we'll have the pleasure to welcome you in future for an unfrogettable experience! Best wishes, Cesarine Team
via Tripadvisor
great food
I really appreciated Maurisimo and his class. He was so personable and knowledgeable. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun. So glad I took his class. I would do it again!
via Viator
5 stars!! Highly recommended!!
Cooking with Fernanda and her family will be the highlight of our trip! She was so welcoming and made sure we understood exactly what we were doing! The food was delicious and can’t wait to recreate it again at home! She went out of her way to make sure we made it back to our ship on time! Highly recommended! Could not ask for a better experience! Thank you!
via Viator
Good to know
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 4
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Cesarine: Cooking Class, who run 544 experiences we rank across 38 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 54.1 and 1 in the 90+ Club.
See everything Cesarine: Cooking Class runsWhy this scores 58
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Catania.
How much does Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine cost?
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Prices start at $147 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Catania usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine take?
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Plan for about 3 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Catania is not rushed.
Is Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 58 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.3/5 across 11 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Catania, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine?
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Around 4 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Catania can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Catania and add a light layer if any part of the 3-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Catania within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Catania?
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On Outty we rank every Catania experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Catania Sicilian Street Food Tour: Small Group by Do Eat Better, Etna Tour - HalfDay Small Group & licensed Tour Guide, Tour Etna and Wine Tasting. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Catania?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Catania?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
What is included in Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine?
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Included: Beverages (water, wines and coffee); Private Cooking Class; Tastings of the 3 recipes; and Local taxes. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.
Where is the meeting point for Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine?
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The experience starts at Catania, Catania, Italy. This experience will be held in a local's home. For privacy reasons, you will receive the full address of your Cesarina host after you have booked. Hotel pickup is not included, so plan your own transport and arrive 15 minutes early.
What languages is Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine offered in?
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It is offered in English and Italian. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.
Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine?
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Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.
What happens to Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine if the weather is bad?
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It generally runs rain or shine, so dress for the forecast in Catania. Standard cancellation terms apply: free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
What do travelers say about Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine?
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Across 11 reviews averaging 4.3 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, good for families, knowledge and storytelling. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.
What booking options are available for Cook and Dine with a Local in Catania by Cesarine?
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There are 2 options to choose from, including 3 Recipes Cooking Class, 2 Pasta and Tiramisu Class. Prices and start times differ by option, so compare them on the booking screen.
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