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Cooking Class in Lucca's Historic Center

Lucca, Italy

5 hours
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Unravel the secrets of Tuscany’s cuisine with a 5-hour cooking class in Lucca. Shop for fresh ingredients at the market, and then enjoy a tasting of honey, cheeses and olive oil back at the 18th-century palace where your class is held. Begin preparing a 4-course lunch with the help of your chef, and dig into your homemade creations when you're done, paired with regional wines. Best of all: you’ll leave armed with tips, techniques and a recipe book, so you can recreate your favorite dishes back home.

5-hour Tuscan cooking class in Lucca
Shop for fresh ingredients and sample regional delicacies with a chef
Help prepare a delicious 4-course lunch, then pair your creations with local wines
Learn tips and tricks to recreate your favorite recipes back home
Suitable for all ages and skill level
Small-group tour ensures a personalized experience

Sample Menu

Starter

Florentine Gnudi

Hand made and served with a classic tuscan ragu or seasonal tomato sauce. Pumpkin risotto with saffron and amaretti.

What's Included

Prosecco and local cheese, olive oil and honey tasting
Hands-on cooking class
Four course Meal (Appetiser, Two Main courses, Dessert)
Regional wines, bottled water, Nespresso
Recipe booklet written by Giuseppe
Certificate of Achievement
EVCC Apron (Adults)
Market Tour and Tasting

Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

Ristorante DES ARTS
Piazza S. Giusto, 9, 55100 Lucca LU, Italy

Start time

09:30 AM

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
A minimum of 4 adults per booking
A maximum of 8 people per booking
Wheelchair accessible
Minimum age is 16 years

Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Featured review

Natalia_A

This was the highlight of our 10 days in Italy! I would highly recommend this class to everyone!! Chef Giuseppe is such a charismatic and professional chef, with wonderful stories and good instruction on cooking. The class was very hands on, so we felt like we truly made the meal, and the wine we enjoyed was phenomenal. The small class of 8 was perfect, so we could all chat and participate, and the food was delicious. I'd come back to Lucca again just to take another class with Chef Giuseppe. This is a MUST-DO while in Tuscany.

Reviews

5.0

121 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travelers.

We perform checks on reviews

Showing 1-10 of 121 reviews

Cooking in Lucca

genevievewhitty, Jul 2023

A fantastic day cooking and tasting Lucca’s finest food. Giuseppe is a brilliant host. We were made to feel so welcome in his home. We cooked in his kitchen and dined at a table that was set beautifully. Well worth it.

Beautiful and delicious!

Elizabeth_N, Jun 2023

The class was in a beautiful location, and it was enjoyable and well organized. We were pampered and educated, and we enjoyed delicious food. Suitable for a beginner but enjoyable for an experienced cook. Giuseppe was terrific!

Response from Host, Jun 2023

Thank you Elizabeth . You have e been so kind. Have a great summer.

Xtra virgin Lucca

50klm, May 2023

Chef was very experienced and personable. We cooked a number of dishes in the time allotted and he showed us techniques to achieve a perfect meal. The venue was lovely and clean.

Enjoyable class we'd take again

Danielle_S, Nov 2022

My husband and I took this class and definitely recommend it. This said, much of the prep work had been completed in advance so there wasn't serious cooking if you're wanting to get your hands dirty. We did all participate in various parts of the cooking process - light sous chef duties. There were two other groups of 3 that joined us - 8 people total in the class. It began with a trip to the market to buy some ingredients for the lunch we'd be making - a bakery and a produce store. Along the way, our chef/guide pointed out a couple of other stores and the food products we might want to purchase there. When we arrived at the apartment/kitchen (which is gorgeous) we received glasses of prossecco and began with an olive oil tasting, then a cheese tasting. Part way through lunch preparation we had a focaccia tasting. For lunch, we prepared artichoke salad, ricotta and herb gnudis in tomato sauce, truffle & parmesan risotto. We ate what we prepared together and it was paired with lovely wines. For dessert we had a panna cotta with raspberries that was prepared by the chef due to timing. We finished the time together with espresso and limoncello. We received a couple of nice takeaways - an apron, cookbook(let), bay leaf bundle, a "certificate of completion" and a list of the chef's favorite cafes/restaurants in Lucca. It was a nice time and we would do it again. A couple of notes: The restaurant we met in front of is not owned/worked in by the chef/guide. This was confusing for one of the groups who tried to the enter the restaurant. Our chef/guide was great accommodating mobility issues for one of the guests. This is not a pasta making class. Don't expect to learn how to make dough unless you specifically ask for this to be included.

The Extra Virgin Experience with Giuseppe!

John_C, Oct 2022

Giuseppe was amazing from the moment we met him at a local wine merchant. He truly enjoys what he does and is gracious enough to share this experience at his magnificent 16th century apartment within the walls of Lucca. The Extra Virgin experience has Giuseppe taking us through the stone streets of Lucca searching out the necessary ingredients for our magnificent experience to come! Giuseppe entertained us with his passion of food along with the proper wine Pairings and special ingredients for each recipe. His masterful skill of a simple composition of oil, ice and balsamic transforms a simple salad into a masterpiece! Extra Virgin is the center of the local cultural experience of Lucca! Not to be missed! John, Cathi, Bob & Therese Grazie Mille Giuseppe!

It was a very nice living...

Mark_M, Jul 2022

It was a very nice living where we have eat. Guiseppe was a fantastic men who has a real passion for the Italian kitchen

Just a great great great...

Joseph_F, Jul 2022

Just a great great great experience, if you love Italian cooking then take this tour you will not regret it

Not what we expected

Daniel_S, Jun 2022

Interesting, but not truly a hands-on class. Small tasks were under taken by individuals, but we basically watched Giuseppe cook.

Fabulous Food Experience in the walled city

Joyce_T, Apr 2022

We were greeted by Chef Giuseppe and then escorted on a wonderful journey through the markets of Lucca. Eight of us arrived at his lovely home where the class was to be held and were greeted by a beautiful table set and decorated by his wife Liz. In the kitchen we began with prosecco and an olive oil tasting followed by more prosecco and the class. The class was fun and the food delicious. We helped prepare and enjoyed a four course meal that was fresh and wonderful, This class is not to be missed. If you enjoy good food and wine you will love this food experience.

Dinner in Lucca with Chef Guiseppie

Wayne_C, Mar 2022

Had an amazing time with Guiseppie. It was very nice to be invited to his home and cook an amazing meal together. We shopped for vegetables and bread and toured the market. We had wine for each part of the process (4 bottles) A must do if you go to Lucca Italy. You won't regret it.

Superb birthday treat

Helen_S, Mar 2022

We all thoroughly enjoyed our cookery experience with Giuseppe. Even my husband who has problems opening tins! It was great to be taken to the bakeries and food shops and have the goods explained to us. Who knew my garden weed Borage can be used as a vegetable? We went to Giuseppe’s fabulous apartment, it was so nice to see inside buildings that as a tourist you can usually only walk past. We were then shown how to prepare a delicious lunch, whilst tasting and comparing virgin olive oil, local wines, bread, beautiful ingredients and so on. Plus some great kitchen technique training. Giuseppe is engaging, informative and a lot of fun. After our delicious lunch, we left with huge smiles and many great memories.

Cooking in Lucca

Susan_B, Feb 2022

Chef was fantastic. There was only 3 of us gals and we had a great intimate, fun and most enjoyable cooking class. Would highly recommend this to everyone.

Amazing cooking class

Wouter_D, Oct 2021

We have had a great cooking class! The chef was amazing and very friendly! Beautiful ambiance and really an activity to remember, definitely a highlight of our trip to Tuscany!

Very very nice and romantic!

Laura_v, Oct 2021

Chef Giuseppe is a very skilled chef, organized and what a house/kitchen!! Very romantic experience. Not to much cooking yourself, Giuseppe lets you help and do a lot of tasting! Thank you, was a great experience!!

Simply Amazing

Stephen_D, Sep 2021

This experience was more than we could have ever imagined or hoped for. Giuseppe is such a gracious guide and host. His creations are so delicious.

Cooking and Culture in an ancient walled city

Michael_R, Jun 2021

Imagine walking the streets of an ancient walled city while learning about the local food, culture, exploring hidden cafes, bakeries, and a fresh vegetable shop that will blow your mind! Imagine no more as Chef Guiseppe makes this a reality. For lovers of simple yet elegant local Italian cuisine who prefer an intimate setting to learn how to prepare a wonderful four course meal using local, sustainable ingredients, paired with local wine, this class is for you! We would do it all over again just to hang out with Guiseppe! Five stars are not enough!

Giuseppe Mazzocchi's Market Tour and Cooking Class

Marybeth S, Nov 2019

Excellent, well-prepared, informative and fun market tour with an expert. The Cooking Class was awesome, food delicious and we were all inspired by Giuseppe.

wrong day and month

Kellypalmr, Oct 2019

I made a reservation and didn't notice that the date they were showing me was the following month. I went in person the next day and they couldn't fit me in and would not give me a refund. No refunds even if you make a mistake and the date you booked is a month away!

Response from Host, Oct 2019

Hi Kelly, You were booked on October 26th via Viator. You did not show up or contact us. Maybe you communicated with Viator? If you had kindly contacted us directly instead of leaving a bad review, for which we had no knowledge, I would gladly have rescheduled you! You did not show up in person the next day (Sunday), as we are closed on Sundays. Yes, we are fully booked at this time of year, it is up to the guest to read and know the class date they select. But this is not an honest representation of the facts. If Viator refused you a refund you need to address with them, we handle the cooking, they handle the money. thank you.

My Favorite

Susana_M, Jul 2019

To me my day in Lucca was the best part of my 20 day trip to Italy and the time I spent with the group getting to know a little bit of the town, with the group and the actual cooking class and tastings were spectacular. A great memory and I´ve already sent the link to friends who will visit later this year! I hope everyone enjoys it just as much!

We spent a day with Chef Giuseppe and left with last memories of our trip to Tuscany

Maura_R, Jun 2019

We joined Chef at 9:30 for the market tour in Lucca. He's lively, charming and full of wonderful stories and information about Tuscan cooking. Our family of 7 included my 81 yr old mother, myself and my husband as well as our 20 - 25 year old kids. Everyone loved the experience. We shopped for ingredients alongside the locals, carried our purchases back through the winding ancient streets of Lucca and entered a courtyard only to find ourselves in one of the most beautiful apartments we've ever seen. The kitchen was beautifully set for our group to don the aprons and begin food prep. Giuseppe welcomed us with prosecco and we began our 4 course meal. He taught us about olive oil, we learned about the local cuisine and ingredients and all enjoyed the process of preparing the meal. The day ended with a special birthday cake for my husband (thank you Chef!!!) and we all left feeling full, happy and so grateful for our time spent in this wonderful class. I would recommend this for people of all ages, the conversation was lively, the food was amazing and we had the unique chance to spend time in Giuseppe's beautiful home. Mille grazie Chef!!!

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