MAMMA’S TIPS

Discover the secrets behind one of the world’s most revered cuisines on this hands-on cooking class. A gastronomy expert will invite you into her 18th century home, at the foot of Mount Etna, and show you how to make a meal in true Sicilian style.

This culinary school was first established in 1986 by an internationally acclaimed authority on Sicilian gastronomy and cook book writer. Today her legacy and kitchen wisdom are proudly safeguarded by her daughter, a passionate cooking instructor who delivers courses to food enthusiasts from all over the world. Where better to learn the tricks of the trade than in the kitchen of a family whose recipes and cooking techniques have been handed down through the generations from mother to daughter? Indeed Sicily is an island where the most respected cooks aren’t Michelin-rated chefs but home cooks. Here, those who deserve star ratings are mammas and nonnas who lovingly and expertly recreate tried and tested recipes, passed down by their ancestors.

Your host will guide you through the preparation of a delicious lunch featuring classic regional dishes and make sure you take away a culturally enriching experience. As you try your hand at concocting different Sicilian specialities, you will be treated to interesting anecdotes on local culinary customs and get to know the history behind the recipes you will follow. You may not know that Sicilian cuisine’s sublime flavours are the result of centuries of foreign conquests. Successive waves of invaders brought different ingredients and cooking methods to the island. The Arabs were fond of apricots, rice, dried fruit and spices, the Normans introduced meat dishes while tomatoes arrived with the Spaniards. A range of foreign influences contributed to the creation of Sicily’s rich and truly unique gastronomic identity.

Depending on the season, scrumptious highlights of your cooking class might include meat balls with minced veal, breadcrumbs and grated caciocavallo, peperonata agrodolce featuring peppers, onion, vinegar and fresh herbs, and pasta alla Norma, a delicious mix of tomato sauce, fried aubergines, basil and ricotta cheese. After the experience enjoy the meal you just learned to prepare… Buon appetito!