Overview
Available languages
5 hours
Mobile ticket
You will find yourself immersed in the culture and colors of Sicily, if you are interested I will take you to a unique and special greengrocer to choose with you the products that we will then use to cook our menu.
I will explain the various uses of each ingredient to create more dishes and the different seasonal variations.
If you prefer to find the ingredients on site, you just have to choose a menu to cook and I will take care of everything.
I will welcome you into my home for a unique experience during which you will savor the aromas and flavors of authentic Sicily
If you would like to learn how to cook a particular dish, I am ready to accommodate your requests.
Mine is a typically Sicilian and generally Italian cuisine, with local and top quality products, the result of your experience will be in the dish that you have cooked yourself. The best souvenir that you will take with you home to amaze your friends with new flavors!
Additional Info
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Infants are allowed
What To Expect
During our experience, I will serve an aperitif with local products, cheeses or cold cuts. I will explain the origins of the dishes we will cook and the traditions related to them. We will prepare together the dishes of the chosen menu, each step will be explained in each step, I will deliver the complete recipe of ingredients and process in the required language, English French and Italian. When the cooking is done, guests can relax in my lounge while I prepare the table for them. After lunch, they will be taken back to their hotel or to a previously agreed place. Tour of the local Point of Sale, discovering local products, tastings of our Sicilian delicacies and available on request. we will choose together the ingredients you will like to cook once you get home, we will build a personalized menu according to your wishes.
Sample Menu
starter
Eggplant parmigiana
starter
Anchovy and vegetable pie
starter
Baked rice crown with aubergines
main
Fish in a foil
starter
Peppers with breadcrumbs, pine nuts and raisins
dessert
Trio of Sicilian geli, almonds, lemons and cinnamon
main
Meat rolls
dessert
Cannoli di ricotta
dessert
Parfait with almond and pistachio brittle
main
Pasta to the norm
Fried eggplants tomatoes sauce and salted ricotta
Options
Sicilian cooking course and more
Pickup included
What‘s Included
Lunch
Air-conditioned vehicle
Pickup points
Ortea Palace Hotel, Sicily Autograph Collection
Via Nazario Sauro S.n. Syracuse Italy
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
42 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Relaxing cooking workshop with our 2 teenage daughters
inge travel,May 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our cooking workshop actually started a few weeks before when Carmen contacted us to discuss which Sicilian dishes we would like to prepare. Communication was smooth and friendly. On the day itself we were warmly welcomed at her home. We immediately got to work and she mainly put our two teenage daughters to work. Before we sat down, we were offered an aperitif on the terrace. The food was super tasty and we even ate it the next day. Our daughters went straight home to make the pasta with pesto again. Carmen told us that we were her first Belgian guests. Come on Burgundian Belgians, we like to eat and cook, she is the right place to learn to cook Sicilian!
The Ultimate Sicilian Culinary Experience with Carmen’s Elegant Touch
yoshiroo2026,Apr 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The cooking class was undoubtedly the highlight of our trip. Carmen is warm and attentive, always taking our preferences into account. During the optional market tour, she had a friendly rapport with the local vendors, which made the experience all the more engaging. She clearly explained the characteristics of each ingredient, helped us choose the dishes we wanted to prepare, and guided us in selecting the right ingredients—along with a few delicious tastings along the way. We then returned to Carmen’s beautiful home, where she taught us how to cook in her well-equipped, stylish kitchen. Her instructions were clear and easy to follow, making the experience both enjoyable and approachable. The dishes we prepared included fennel and orange salad, caponata, spaghetti with sardines, carciofi alla romana, and ricotta tiramisu. Carmen’s cooking was exceptional—on par with, if not better than, any highly rated Italian restaurant we’ve visited. Needless to say, everything we made was absolutely delicious.
Grammar school Friends
MARY P,Apr 6, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Carmen welcomed us into her home on Easter Sunday and could not have had a better experience having authentic Italian food! Everything was fabulous from antipasti, wine , lunch and the most delicious dessert! It’s a must if you’re in Syracuse!! What a wonderful time we had! Thank You Carmen!
Living, tasting, cooking in Syracuse
hksg2014,Dec 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Totally 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 best experience we had in Sicily!
jimrG9313AI,Dec 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The 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!
Sicilian Flavours,Big Heart💛
Kathy G,Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This 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...
Laurel L,Sep 16, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great 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.
Great cooking experience!
Deborah p,Mar 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent! 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!
A memorable and rewarding cooking class
Garland E,Nov 6, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00We 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
Cooking with Carmen
JonathanGray,Oct 30, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00We 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.
Related Experiences
Operated by Carmen cooking class