Venice: Pasta, Tiramisu or Cicchetti Class with Wine by Cesarine

Disappointed

The house has cats. When asking for allergies and intolerances they are not asking for food related allergies, they are wanting a total list all allergies and concerns. Poorly run and disappointing

Response from the operator: Dear Leah, Thank you for sharing your feedback. We're sorry to hear that this aspect of the experience was disappointing for you. We would like to clarify that, when we ask guests about allergies and intolerances before the experience, we intentionally ask about any type of allergy or medical condition, not only food-related allergies. This is precisely so that we can take into account situations such as the presence of pets in a host's home and help prevent any discomfort or health concerns. Had we been informed of a cat allergy in advance, we would have been happy to assist in finding a more suitable experience. Thank you again for your comments, which help us continue improving the information we provide to our guests. Kind regards, The Cesarine Team

via Viator

The worst ever

Horrible experience! We booked a cooking session in locorotondo but we had to arrive one hour earlier because the taxi dropped us early. The house was in the middle of nowhere so we had nowhere to wait but on their terrace. We didi nothing but sitting on the chairs and waiting for them to arrive respectfully and we sent them a picture that we were there and waiting for them. But when they arrived they were like monsters! They insulted us and fired us and refused to proceed with the cooking session because we were sitting on their pouch! Worst experience ever! Never had such an experience anywhere in the world! Terrible terrible terrible experience

via Tripadvisor

Worth every penny!

Rosa was amazing! So welcoming and full of fun facts about the Italian culinary culture. She was patient and full of life. You can see and feel how much she loves cooking and teaching the love of pasta making. We had such an amazing time. One of our favorite experiences in Italy! Plus the food we made was absolutely delicious.

via Viator

I did not enjoy the class - way too basic and overpriced

I booked this experience based on the positive reviews but unfortunately my experience was very different. The address was unclear, making the flat difficult to locate. I ended up asking people nearby if they knew where the cooking class was. I also messaged the host through multiple channels for assistance and received no response. When I later raised this, I was told she had to respond to someone else first. Regardless, it left me struggling to find the venue and created unnecessary stress before the class had even started. When I arrived, I asked if I could wash my hands before cooking and was met with a dismissive response: “Of course you will wash your hands before cooking.” Even if it was not intended negatively, it immediately affected the atmosphere. We made three types of cicchetti and one pasta dish. The cicchetti were surprisingly basic, consisting of very simple sandwiches and appetizers. I mentioned to my friend that some of them reminded me of tapas, and the host quickly told me not to call them tapas. I found this unnecessary, as I was simply making an observation about similar styles of food. The instructions were often unclear. For example, our sandwiches did not stay together because the technique for filling and pressing them was never properly explained. One of the fillings had already been prepared in advance, so we did not learn how to make it ourselves. I had to specifically ask for details about the recipe, which seemed contrary to the purpose of attending a cooking class. This was the first class where recipes were not shared after the class - never seen this before. Another disappointment was that we did not get to eat the cicchetti after making them. Instead, everything was served at the very end of the class, by which point we were quite hungry. The pasta was underwhelming. The sauce consisted of olive oil, tomatoes, garlic and herbs, and barely coated the pasta, therefore it lacked flavour which is not acceptable at a cooking class. For the price we paid, it felt extremely basic and disappointing. At the end, there was a significant amount of food left over. When we asked if we could take it with us, the host said she normally does not do it. This was surprising, as we had paid for the experience which obviously included then ingredients and we prepared the food ourselves which we simply couldn’t finish. Overall, I found the class overpriced, lacking in instruction, and disappointing in both atmosphere and value. I left feeling that the experience did not justify the cost and would not recommend it.

Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We are very sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations. We sincerely apologize for the difficulties you encountered in finding the venue, the communication issues, and for any interactions that made you feel unwelcome. We are also sorry that the class content, level of instruction, and overall value did not match what you were hoping for. Your comments are important to us, and we will share them with the host to help improve future experiences. Thank you again for your honest feedback, and please accept our apologies for your disappointment.

via Viator

Afternoon to Remember

Nadine led us through an incredible cooking experience. From the moment she welcomed us into her home, it felt like an afternoon with family. Between the laughs, learning Italian cooking techniques, and then eating our delicious meal, it was an afternoon to remember.

via Tripadvisor