My 18 year old niece and I will be spending a week in Rome at the end of the month; and I'm thinking of signing us up for a food tour or a cooking class. I've been looking at Eating Italy's Trastevere food tour or possibly Spaghetti in the Family for a class (and to see a neighborhood outside central Rome). Does anyone on the forum have experience with either; or are there others you would recommend? While I enjoy wine, I'm not a big connoisseur, and my niece doesn't drink, so we'd probably enjoy more food focused tours than wine. Thanks!
Posted by
Saskatchewan
315 posts
We have done 2 Eating Italy tours, one was the twilight trastevere and the other the morning walk through Testaccio neighbourhood with Eating Italy. They were both wonderful and I have recommended them too there's. You will find the morning tour less wine oriented as you start around 10am altho we had lots of wine at the lunch stop, which was several pastas and delicious. Personally, I much prefer walking an interesting neighbourhood than being indoors in a kitchen.
Posted by
Los Angeles by way of Providence and Rome
636 posts
Try Elizabeth Minchilli in Rome, she has a blog and does food tours along with her daughter Sophie. I have not done the tours but am a huge fan of her blog and book "Eating in Rome".
Cynthia
Posted by
Seattle, Washington, USA
105 posts
Here is an alternate idea: a couple of years ago I stayed at the Marriott on Via Veneto. I asked the hotel to find me a cooking class. They did for 2 nights later. They gave me an address of a restaurant a couple of blocks away. It turned out to be a private class with Geateano Costa, a chef in his restaurant. I got to choose 4 items on his menu, and he taught me to cook them. Each course came with a paired glass of wine. It was a really fun evening, absolutely fantastic food, and to see a chef and his kitchen with me cooking under his instruction. I think it cost 150€ which was high, but an incredible experience.
Posted by
Seattle
224 posts
My daughter and I greatly enjoyed a Walks of Italy food tour including finishing with pizza making for our lunch, late May 2015. Met in Campo de'Fiori and was led by engaging, competent guide and among a small group (less than 14 I think). Fun and delicious going through the market and meat and cheese shops with plenty of tastings. Inspiring to see lifelong businesses maintaining standards and preparations that have been done for so long. Lots of peoples do their food well; Italians and Romans rank right up there for taking wonderful care of creating and consuming their edibles.
Posted by
Atlanta
1005 posts
We did Eating Italy's Testaccio tour two weeks ago and loved it. We were in the 9:45-1:45 group, so there was wine only at the sit down pasta tasting about two hours in. Go hungry! I think there were eight food stops, but thankfully they program in some walking (through the Protestant Cemetery and around Testaccio.) It's a great neighborhood that tourists rarely venture into.
Posted by
Eastern Iowa, USA
8255 posts
I set up a class for my wife with Andrea Consoli, http://www.cookingclassesinrome.com/
As one person, he was able to fit her in with another group and he was able to adjust the menu to meet her Vegetarian/Dairy/Seafood diet.
She had a great time and raves about it to anyone that will listen.