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Host: David

Orlando, FL, United States

USD
$127-$215 per person

Italian & Mediterranean Cooking Class in a Local Chef's Orlando Home

Host offerings
  • House
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Round-Trip Transfers
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food Tour

Meet David

Growing up in an Italian-American family, David developed his love for cooking during Sunday family feasts at his great-grandmother’s home. Inspired by these cherished traditions, he went on to train at the Culinary Institute of America and gain experience running a food truck before establishing his own successful catering business, Carmelina, named in honor of his mother. Today, David shares his passion for authentic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine through private cooking classes in his Orlando home. Combining family recipes, professional culinary techniques, and stories from his Italian heritage, he creates a warm, welcoming experience where guests feel like part of the family.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Cooking experience: (1-15 guests) Enjoy a private, hands-on cooking class with your host, David, in his spacious kitchen designed for cooking and entertaining, located in the historic Lawsona/Fern Creek neighborhood just east of Downtown Orlando. Discover authentic Italian and Mediterranean cooking as David shares cherished family recipes, professional techniques, and stories from his culinary journey.

During this 2.5-3 hour Orlando cooking class and meal, you'll prepare three dishes from scratch, including an appetizer or salad, fresh handmade pasta with sauce, and a flavorful main course. David will also serve a delicious dessert prepared in advance, completing your four-course Italian or Mediterranean meal.

After cooking, sit down with David to savor the meal you've created together in the comfort of his home. Your seasonal menu can be customized to accommodate your dietary preferences, so please share any dietary requests when booking.

Wine is available with the optional alcohol add-on. Please note that if you choose lasagna or a dish featuring extruded pasta, such as bucatini, the pasta will not be handmade during your class.

Notes: Dietary Preferences: David can accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free with advance notice. Please share any dietary needs when booking.

Cuisine Options: While David specializes in Italian and Mediterranean cooking, he can also offer American, French, Spanish, Cuban, Mexican, or Caribbean cuisine. Please let him know your preferences when booking.

Private Chef Experience: Prefer to dine in your own home or vacation rental? David also offers private chef experiences in Orlando, preparing a customized meal in the comfort of your space. To book, please see his separate listing, "Private Chef in Orlando: Authentic Italian Dining in Your Home".

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Salad | Italian garden salad with a homemade vinaigrette
  • Fresh Pasta | Pappardelle in a Bolognese sauce
  • Main | Chicken Piccata with artichokes
  • Dessert | Tiramisu

Traveler reviews

5.0 (7)
My wife and I found Travelingspoon by accident. We were just about to book another cooking class when we started to read their reviews. We were so glad that we did! After passing on that particular class, we found Travelingspoon through further scrolling through the offerings for cooking classes. The reviews (David’s) were all top level. I wasn’t sure if we would be sharing the class/experience with others, but after a quick phone call, we were assured it would only be my wife and I. The other aforementioned class was with a dozen or more people, so this was a welcome surprise! Now this is done from the home of your host, and I was thinking that there may have been one or possibly two more couples, but I wasn’t even thinking of the logistics of trying to manage that many preferences at once. We decided to book first and worry about any technicalities (menus/choices) later because we didn’t want to lose the particular dates that we wanted. There was an area in the booking process to input preferences and allergies if any. Shortly after we got an email that told us our host would be David Linn. The address and contact information was also included. A couple days before the event David called to go over everything including our preferences and to get to know a little more about us. He is a very interesting person to talk with. He has so much experience in various aspects of culinary areas from high-end big-city restaurants to food trucks and catering endeavors. He offers a wide encompassing selection of food styles to choose from when planning your day/evening. Yes, wine is also an option. David grew up in Italy, so when I mentioned that we wanted carbonara as our main idea he was more than happy to oblige. It was even more special that he happened to have some of the main ingredients that he had just brought back from a recent trip to Italy! David prepared a tomato and barata salad which we had with the pasta carbonara (I joined in to help here 😁). This was followed by bacon wrapped fillets with a wine reduction sauce, sautéed spinach, and quartered small potatoes baked with garlic and olive oil! And he wrapped up with cannolis with a family recipe filling. The whole event was outstanding. The stories, the tips, the recommendations, and encouragement was so inspiring. He even let me look through his family recipe book. David even ended the evening by offering to give advice or instruction with anything else I had questions or interest in. It was a fantastic meal, and I’m glad we chose David to make it happen. Two final bits to add. Ask David for the gate code. The neighborhood is gated. This company, Travelingspoon, is international. So imagine making sauce with a Nona in Italy or arroz con pollo from an Abuelita in España. The first photos were David’s, and the last photos were my rendition of the carbonara. 5/5 would definitely make again!
- wallace April 12, 2026
David is a great host! My wife and I visited David’s home for private cooking class for our 3 year anniversary. My wife loves to cook and I’m trying to learn more so we thought this would be a fun experience. David sent us a sample menu prior to the visit and ensured to ask about any food preferences or allergies. David showed us how to make handmade pasta which was what we were looking forward to the most! He shared his experience and offered tips throughout the process which was exactly what we were looking to get out of the private cooking class. Another great part of the experience was that David used regular ingredients that could all be purchased at your local grocery store, rather than boutique hard to find items. This made the experience much more realistic. We made a full 4 course meal from about 5-9PM. Overall, David was very knowledgeable, friendly, and personable. We’re looking forward to impressing our friends with some awesome new dishes! Thanks David!
- Dominic January 17, 2026
My fiancé and I had a wonderful experience with David! We felt very involved in the preparation of the food, but he stepped in if we needed some help. Everything tasted absolutely amazing. He was very knowledgeable and great to talk to.
- Sam January 10, 2026
It was both relaxing and instructive. Food was 11 out of 10. Great stories on recipes history made it even more enjoyable.
- Luis December 20, 2025
Excellent experience!!! Great Chief with tons of experience. We learned a great deal!!! Very inviting experience!
- Victoria June 19, 2025
Read More

David

$127-$215 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • No waiting! Booking confirmed instantly
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $215 $149 $127
Alcohol
 $14 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $215 $149 $127
Alcohol
 $14 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm

Meet David

Growing up in an Italian-American family, David developed his love for cooking during Sunday family feasts at his great-grandmother’s home. Inspired by these cherished traditions, he went on to train at the Culinary Institute of America and gain experience running a food truck before establishing his own successful catering business, Carmelina, named in honor of his mother. Today, David shares his passion for authentic Italian and Mediterranean cuisine through private cooking classes in his Orlando home. Combining family recipes, professional culinary techniques, and stories from his Italian heritage, he creates a warm, welcoming experience where guests feel like part of the family.

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

Cooking experience: (1-15 guests) Enjoy a private, hands-on cooking class with your host, David, in his spacious kitchen designed for cooking and entertaining, located in the historic Lawsona/Fern Creek neighborhood just east of Downtown Orlando. Discover authentic Italian and Mediterranean cooking as David shares cherished family recipes, professional techniques, and stories from his culinary journey.

During this 2.5-3 hour Orlando cooking class and meal, you'll prepare three dishes from scratch, including an appetizer or salad, fresh handmade pasta with sauce, and a flavorful main course. David will also serve a delicious dessert prepared in advance, completing your four-course Italian or Mediterranean meal.

After cooking, sit down with David to savor the meal you've created together in the comfort of his home. Your seasonal menu can be customized to accommodate your dietary preferences, so please share any dietary requests when booking.

Wine is available with the optional alcohol add-on. Please note that if you choose lasagna or a dish featuring extruded pasta, such as bucatini, the pasta will not be handmade during your class.

Notes: Dietary Preferences: David can accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free with advance notice. Please share any dietary needs when booking.

Cuisine Options: While David specializes in Italian and Mediterranean cooking, he can also offer American, French, Spanish, Cuban, Mexican, or Caribbean cuisine. Please let him know your preferences when booking.

Private Chef Experience: Prefer to dine in your own home or vacation rental? David also offers private chef experiences in Orlando, preparing a customized meal in the comfort of your space. To book, please see his separate listing, "Private Chef in Orlando: Authentic Italian Dining in Your Home".

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Salad | Italian garden salad with a homemade vinaigrette
  • Fresh Pasta | Pappardelle in a Bolognese sauce
  • Main | Chicken Piccata with artichokes
  • Dessert | Tiramisu

Traveler reviews

5.0 (7)
My wife and I found Travelingspoon by accident. We were just about to book another cooking class when we started to read their reviews. We were so glad that we did! After passing on that particular class, we found Travelingspoon through further scrolling through the offerings for cooking classes. The reviews (David’s) were all top level. I wasn’t sure if we would be sharing the class/experience with others, but after a quick phone call, we were assured it would only be my wife and I. The other aforementioned class was with a dozen or more people, so this was a welcome surprise! Now this is done from the home of your host, and I was thinking that there may have been one or possibly two more couples, but I wasn’t even thinking of the logistics of trying to manage that many preferences at once. We decided to book first and worry about any technicalities (menus/choices) later because we didn’t want to lose the particular dates that we wanted. There was an area in the booking process to input preferences and allergies if any. Shortly after we got an email that told us our host would be David Linn. The address and contact information was also included. A couple days before the event David called to go over everything including our preferences and to get to know a little more about us. He is a very interesting person to talk with. He has so much experience in various aspects of culinary areas from high-end big-city restaurants to food trucks and catering endeavors. He offers a wide encompassing selection of food styles to choose from when planning your day/evening. Yes, wine is also an option. David grew up in Italy, so when I mentioned that we wanted carbonara as our main idea he was more than happy to oblige. It was even more special that he happened to have some of the main ingredients that he had just brought back from a recent trip to Italy! David prepared a tomato and barata salad which we had with the pasta carbonara (I joined in to help here 😁). This was followed by bacon wrapped fillets with a wine reduction sauce, sautéed spinach, and quartered small potatoes baked with garlic and olive oil! And he wrapped up with cannolis with a family recipe filling. The whole event was outstanding. The stories, the tips, the recommendations, and encouragement was so inspiring. He even let me look through his family recipe book. David even ended the evening by offering to give advice or instruction with anything else I had questions or interest in. It was a fantastic meal, and I’m glad we chose David to make it happen. Two final bits to add. Ask David for the gate code. The neighborhood is gated. This company, Travelingspoon, is international. So imagine making sauce with a Nona in Italy or arroz con pollo from an Abuelita in España. The first photos were David’s, and the last photos were my rendition of the carbonara. 5/5 would definitely make again!
- wallace April 12, 2026
David is a great host! My wife and I visited David’s home for private cooking class for our 3 year anniversary. My wife loves to cook and I’m trying to learn more so we thought this would be a fun experience. David sent us a sample menu prior to the visit and ensured to ask about any food preferences or allergies. David showed us how to make handmade pasta which was what we were looking forward to the most! He shared his experience and offered tips throughout the process which was exactly what we were looking to get out of the private cooking class. Another great part of the experience was that David used regular ingredients that could all be purchased at your local grocery store, rather than boutique hard to find items. This made the experience much more realistic. We made a full 4 course meal from about 5-9PM. Overall, David was very knowledgeable, friendly, and personable. We’re looking forward to impressing our friends with some awesome new dishes! Thanks David!
- Dominic January 17, 2026
My fiancé and I had a wonderful experience with David! We felt very involved in the preparation of the food, but he stepped in if we needed some help. Everything tasted absolutely amazing. He was very knowledgeable and great to talk to.
- Sam January 10, 2026
It was both relaxing and instructive. Food was 11 out of 10. Great stories on recipes history made it even more enjoyable.
- Luis December 20, 2025
Excellent experience!!! Great Chief with tons of experience. We learned a great deal!!! Very inviting experience!
- Victoria June 19, 2025
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $215 $149 $127
Alcohol
 $14 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
Cooking Experience + Meal
 $215 $149 $127
Alcohol
 $14 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transfers are typically charged on a per car basis, not per person. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer round-trip transfers as an optional add-on. A driver collects you from your hotel or residence, takes you to the experience, and brings you back at the end. Pricing is quoted per car, not per person, so a group shares one fare. Your host's exact pickup instructions come with your confirmation details once the booking is accepted. A few hosts arrange transfers differently — a one-way ride, or a pickup from a central meeting point — and where that is the case their profile says so in place of the round-trip wording.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.