Sicilian cooking course and more

Totally incredible day with Carmen. We chose the menu, spent the morning at the market seeking out and tasting produce, and then created the most amazing meal. I have never done a cooking day, and this could not have been more fun, learning, connecting and tasty. Carmen also added the 'local' element, of understanding the Syracuse and Ortigia landscape. I would very much hope to be back

The cooking class we did with Carmen was truly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. From the very beginning, she was thoughtful and curious about what we wanted to learn, invited us to help shape the menu, and offered inspired suggestions that fit perfectly with what we were hoping for. We absolutely loved our market tour. Sampling local produce and products, learning about different cheeses, capuliato, meats, and locally sourced seafood felt like the perfect first course. Our senses were already completely delighted before we even began cooking. Cooking in Carmen’s home was such a joy, and meeting her sweet pup, Dea, made it even more special. The techniques she taught us were both fun and genuinely educational. We made homemade cannoli (the best I’ve ever tasted!), an incredible baked eggplant and Pasta alla Norma that was truly a work of art in both flavour and presentation, and the most delicious stuffed local squid. It honestly felt like being in a proper cooking school, but with so much warmth, laughter, and heart. And the meal we shared at the end was, hands down, the very best we had during our entire time in Sicily. Carmen is a rare gem. Grazie mille!

This was an absolutely wonderful experience and one of the highlights of my time in Sicily. We made arancini, stuffed calamari, and a refreshing lemon sorbet, and Carmen also prepared a beautiful orange, pomegranate, and fennel salad – everything was delicious, and I learned so much. But what made it truly special was Carmen herself. She is such a warm, kind, and genuine person that it honestly felt like cooking with family. Her passion for Sicilian food and her generosity in sharing her traditions created such a welcoming and joyful atmosphere. I would recommend this class to anyone – not just for the amazing food, but for the unforgettable experience of spending time with someone so lovely.

Great cooking class where we learned 3 dishes. My friend and I really liked being able to customize our menu and choose more traditional Sicilian recipes. Carmen was a delight and a great host. We learned about the importance of good quality ingredients.

Excellent! Carmen was very hospitable, kind and accommodating! Highly recommend! She opened her home up to us and we felt like family. This is a must do!

We really enjoyed the entire experience. Carmen is an experienced chef, explaining why and how the ingredients should be prepared and mixed together, how you know when each dish is ready, and how to store excess ingredients should you want to make another batch in the future. Each dish was delicious, with flavors we never imagined, and we made it ourselves. Many thanks to Carmen, our new friend

We had a great time cooking with Carmen. We paid extra to do a market tour with her, and she explained the local market in detail to us and walked us through several parts. We picked our menu together, and she was flexible with my wife not being a seafood lover. We had wine, appetizer, a first and second plate, and a dessert that were all delicious. She was a good teacher, very nice and friendly, and we had such a fun time cooking together.

Our entire trip to Sicily was full of highlights, but our day cooking with Carmen was the biggest highlight of all! She invited us into her home, treated us like family and shared recipes and cooking techniques that we will bring home and share with friends and family for years to come.

Carmen couldn’t be more perfectly Sicilian. She’s warm, inviting, funny, incredibly stylish and man, can she cook! Being invited into her home and her world was the highlight of our trip. She taught us new skills and sent us home with totally doable recipes that are sure to wow our friends and family at home. Don’t hesitate to spend a day with Carmen!!

I had a wonderful time cooking with Carmel. I learnt a lot, I will attempt to replicate the dishes on my return to Australia. Carmel was very generous and a great teacher! Thank you for the great day!