Traditional Genoese and Ligurian cooking classes in the homes of our cooks

The Delicious Liguria Association passes on traditional recipes through cooking classes, lunches and food and wine experiences, hosted by its member cooks.

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Making Genoese pesto in the mortar during a Delicious Liguria cooking class

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Local heritage

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Master the Mortar

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Genoese pesto in the mortar with a certified teacher
2 hours
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Genoese pesto in the mortar with a certified teacher

We knead Genoese focaccia together, hands in the dough, discovering every secret of its making. While we wait for it to rise we turn to real pesto alla genovese in the mortar: you get the mortar and the original PDO basil from Genova Prà, and together with Tiziana, a certified master and a competitor at the Pesto World Championship, you make your own pesto. We finish with the freshly baked focaccia and your own pesto, with a glass of chilled Prosecco.

Genoese focaccia · Pesto alla genovese in the mortar

max 8 guests€105 per person
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Ligurian flavours in the park of Villa Serra di Comago
2.5 hours
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Ligurian flavours in the park of Villa Serra di Comago

Tiziana welcomes you to the park of Villa Serra di Comago, an English-style jewel with centuries-old trees, 250 varieties of hydrangea and a romantic lake home to black and white swans and oriental ducks. In spring and summer the mortar pesto class takes place in the garden; in autumn and winter in the villa's carefully restored kitchen. After visiting the historic halls of 1763, renovated in 2004, we taste the pesto we made together with Genoese focaccia and prosecco. Then hands go back in the dough for gnocchi or trofie, to eat with the pesto you just made.

Pesto in the mortar with PDO basil · Gnocchi or trofie · Genoese focaccia

max 15 guests€130 per person
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Pesto and cooking class between sea and nature in Montecontessa
3 hours
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Pesto and cooking class between sea and nature in Montecontessa

Mara and Tiziana welcome you to an enchanting place between sea and mountains, surrounded by nature: a warm farmhouse with a wood-fired oven, a patio for the cooking classes and beautiful outdoor spaces overlooking the sea. At sunset we hold the mortar pesto and Genoese fresh pasta classes, for an authentic and convivial evening together. There is a large outdoor area for children, with games and farmyard animals to visit.

Pesto in the mortar · Gnocchi with pesto · Genoese focaccia

max 30 guests€115 per person
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We knead pansotti, corzetti and tiramisu
2 hours
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We knead pansotti, corzetti and tiramisu

A sensory journey into the past, caught up in the magic of kneading the fresh pasta that becomes pansotti, the traditional Genoese ravioli di magro: the filling is wild herbs from the Genoese valleys, ricotta and parmesan, dressed with the traditional walnut sauce. Then come Genoese corzetti with PDO pesto, and tiramisu to finish, also in a fresh fruit version.

Pansotti with walnut sauce · Corzetti with PDO pesto · Tiramisu

max 6 guests€98 per person
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Cooking class on pesto and cheese focaccia
3 hours
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Cooking class on pesto and cheese focaccia

Welcome into the house, in the heart of old Genoa, a short walk from the Palazzi dei Rolli and the largest historic centre in Europe. Here you learn to make Genoese PDO pesto with traditional mortars and, after tasting the fresh pesto on Genoese focaccia, you roll the pasta matta for Recco cheese focaccia, a specialty known worldwide, with all the techniques you need to make it again at home.

Genoese PDO basil pesto · Genoese focaccia · Recco cheese focaccia

max 6 guests€124 per person
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Tour of Genoa's Mercato Orientale
4 hours
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Tour of Genoa's Mercato Orientale

The finest tour of all, in a market dating back to the 1930s, Genoa's Mercato Orientale, in the heart of the city: an unforgettable mix of scents and colours. We shop together choosing traditional products, then head home, a few steps from the largest historic centre in Europe, to cook and taste everything we have made.

Anchovy tart · Genoese minestrone · Apple and cinnamon cake

max 8 guests€150 per person
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Monsieur Cappon Magro: Genoese excellence at the table
3 hours
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Monsieur Cappon Magro: Genoese excellence at the table

Cappon Magro was born in the 14th century aboard Genoese sailing ships, from salvaged ingredients such as stale bread, salted anchovies and dried tuna, and it is built in layers like a monument. You learn to assemble it piece by piece: a masterpiece of colour, aroma and tradition that very few people still know how to make.

Cappon Magro

max 6 guests€125 per person
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Vegan Genoese recipes
3 hours
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Vegan Genoese recipes

I'll be waiting for you in my old house in the heart of Genoa's historic centre for a traditional menu that is entirely plant-based. Gattafin is a large fried Genoese pastry filled with wild greens; then potato gnocchi with tomato, basil or dairy-free pesto, and a vegan tiramisu to finish. Simple, genuine Ligurian ingredients, 100% plant-based.

Gattafin · Potato gnocchi · Vegan tiramisu

max 8 guests€120 per person
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Tiziana Zito, founder of the Delicious Liguria Association

Not a cooking school. An association.

We are keepers of the mortar and of PDO basil pesto, recognised by the Slow Food community and with regional and municipal recognition. We pass on family recipes in the homes of our cooks. Since 10 December 2025 traditional Italian cooking has been UNESCO Intangible Heritage: Trofie with Genoese PDO basil pesto come first among the twenty recognised recipes.

Our story
What our guests say

Stories from our kitchens

5.0 on Cesarine, over 80 verified reviews

“Making our own authentic Genovese pesto with mortar and pestle, sipping wine on a hillside overlooking the Ligurian Sea at sunset. Warm conversation and hospitality — a chance to connect across cultures.”

Elaine & Barry

September 2026

Verified review on Cesarine

“Our daughter has already bought a gnocchi board, and she has sent me to find her a mortar and pestle of her own. You will always have a special place in our hearts.”

Cristina

July 2026

Verified review on Cesarine

“Amazing, authentic, and immersive experience! Tiziana was lovely and made the class so fun for the whole family!”

Nicole Napolitano

July 2026

Verified review on Cesarine

“We felt at home and like part of the family. An experience we'll never forget. Thank you for making our trip to Italy that much more special!”

Lori Barber

June 2026

Verified review on Cesarine

“Tiziana has everything masterfully set up in the kitchen and Roberto has such great knowledge of the city and Genovese history. We will definitely book another class on our next trip to Genoa.”

Danyelle Thomas

September 2025

Verified review on Cesarine

“Tiziana taught us how to make an amazing tiramisu, then pansotti with walnut sauce, and fresh pasta. The focaccia is truly delicious. Thank you very much: a beautiful experience.”

Chiara Morelli

November 2025

Verified review on Cesarine

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