Nicoletta and Fabio are retired journalists who worked at a leading entertainment weekly magazine before turning their lifelong passion for food into an authentic Milan cooking class experience. Their love of Italian cuisine is rooted in family tradition, having learned to cook from their mothers, and enriched by years of travel around the world, including time spent living on an island in Bahia, Brazil. Today, they welcome travelers into their real Milan home for an authentic, hands-on cooking class where they share traditional Italian recipes and stories from their lives. Dedicated to using fresh, organic ingredients sourced from small local producers, Nicoletta and Fabio prepare everything from scratch, from homemade pasta and bread to jams, cakes, and their famous limoncello, a special treat for every guest.
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: (1-6 guests) Experience the authentic flavors of Italy with Nicoletta and Fabio, a lovely couple in their charming central Milan apartment, a real home filled with travel souvenirs and family heirlooms that reflect a lifetime of storytelling and hospitality. During this hands-on Milan cooking class, immerse yourself in the culinary traditions of Lombardy while cooking alongside your local hosts in an intimate home setting. In this 2-hour authentic cooking experience in Milan, learn to prepare two handmade pastas and a classic Italian dessert. Nicoletta and Fabio will guide you step by step through making fresh tagliatelle, stuffed ravioli, and tiramisu, or you may choose to prepare regional specialties such as saffron risotto and ossobuco. After cooking, sit down together to enjoy the meal you helped prepare, paired with a glass of wine and warm conversation around the table. Perfect for food lovers and curious travelers seeking a genuine cultural experience, this Milan cooking class offers a meaningful way to connect with local life through food in a welcoming Italian home.
Notes: Nicoletta and Fabio can accommodate a vegetarian diet on request, if informed in advance.
Languages spoken: Italian, English, German, Portuguese
My evening of cooking with Nicoletta and Fabio was everything I dreamed of and more! We made tiramisu and homemade pasta and had the best conversations about cooking, adventuring and life. Not only was everything delicious, but they were just so lovely and knowledgeable. I’m incredibly grateful for their time and insights on Milan, as well as their culinary skills in getting to learn some recipes hands on. I can assure you that I’ve brought some Savioardi (lady fingers) home from Milan just so I can make that homemade tiramisu all the time. This is not a touristy cooking class where there’s a bunch of people and everything is rushed and you leave not knowing how to do it again. This is a private evening with kind, generous new friends who share their love of cooking, food and travel with you. You will learn, you will eat, and you will love every minute!- Annie March 01, 2026
From the moment we received a thoughtful welcome note the day before our class, we knew our experience with Nicoletta and Fabio would be special. Their home, located just a short subway ride outside of Milan’s city center, felt like stepping into the heart of Italian hospitality. We were greeted warmly at their apartment and immediately felt at ease. Nicoletta and Fabio have a natural grace about them — the kind that makes you feel less like a guest and more like a friend invited into their home. Our experience began with tiramisu, prepared with impressive precision and care. They guided us step-by-step, explaining technique and sharing tips that reflected years of practice and passion. From there, we moved on to making fresh pasta entirely from scratch — crafting ravioli and tagliatelle using beautiful, fresh ingredients sourced from their local farmers’ market. Their commitment to quality was evident; they shop multiple times a week and clearly take pride in selecting the best seasonal products. What makes this experience truly exceptional is not just the cooking — it’s the people. Nicoletta and Fabio are incredibly well-traveled, and their kitchen reflects that influence, with spices, teas, and ingredients collected from around the world. Our time together flowed naturally between cooking and conversation — discussing travel, culture, family, and life experiences. It was genuine, engaging, and enriching. They shared not only their recipes but their stories, and it was clear how much they love what they do. Their enthusiasm for cooking and hospitality shines through in every detail — from the carefully chosen tools and pasta machines they’ve perfected over time, to the wine and appetizers enjoyed as we cooked. After preparing the meal, we all sat down together at their dining table to enjoy the dishes we had created. Sharing that meal — filled with laughter, learning, and meaningful conversation — was the perfect culmination of the experience. This was far more than a cooking class. It was an intimate cultural exchange and a highlight of our time in Milan. I would confidently recommend this experience to my clients and to anyone seeking a deeper, more personal connection to Italian cuisine and culture.- daielle February 26, 2026
Wonderful experience as usual with Traveling Spoon, this time in Milan. Had a fantastic evening with our hosts. Had a great time learning about and making our dishes and an even better time sharing some time with fellow travelers. Highly recommend if visiting Milan, especially if you love to travel as this couple has been everywhere.- Sophie February 13, 2026
Absolutely loved the class! Nicoletta and Fabio were the most amazing teachers and hosts. It felt like being welcomed into a friend’s home for an evening of cooking, delicious food, and really lovely company. They encouraged my kids to participate in every step - separating the egg yolks, whipping the cream, kneading the dough - and sent us great photos afterwards. This was easily one my kids’ top 2 favorite activities Milan (aside being able to eat amazing gelato every day). My daughter is already asking for us to try make the tiramisu at home. Thank you Nicoletta and Fabio for the wonderful experience!- sarine January 04, 2026
Fabio and Nicoletta are amazing hosts, full of kindness, cooking expertise, and life experience, which we are so happy to have had the chance to share in. The food was amazing, and so was talking to our hosts. Big recommendations!- sam January 04, 2026
Absolutely loved the class! Nicoletta and Fabio were the most amazing teachers and hosts. It felt like being welcomed into a friend’s home for an evening of cooking, delicious food, and really lovely company. They encouraged my kids to participate in every step - separating the egg yolks, whipping the cream, kneading the dough - and sent us great photos afterwards. This was easily one my kids’ top 2 favorite activities Milan (aside being able to eat amazing gelato every day). My daughter is already asking for us to try make the tiramisu at home. Thank you Nicoletta and Fabio for the wonderful experience!- sarine January 04, 2026
Fabio and Nicoletta are amazing hosts, full of kindness, cooking expertise, and life experience, which we are so happy to have had the chance to share in. The food was amazing, and so was talking to our hosts. Big recommendations!- sam January 04, 2026
Absolutely loved the class! Nicoletta and Fabio were the most amazing teachers and hosts. It felt like being welcomed into a friend’s home for an evening of cooking, delicious food, and really lovely company. They encouraged my kids to participate in every step - separating the egg yolks, whipping the cream, kneading the dough - and sent us great photos afterwards. This was easily one my kids’ top 2 favorite activities Milan (aside being able to eat amazing gelato every day). My daughter is already asking for us to try make the tiramisu at home. Thank you Nicoletta and Fabio for the wonderful experience!- sarine January 04, 2026
Fabio and Nicoletta are amazing hosts, full of kindness, cooking expertise, and life experience, which we are so happy to have had the chance to share in. The food was amazing, and so was talking to our hosts. Big recommendations!- sam January 04, 2026
Absolutely loved the class! Nicoletta and Fabio were the most amazing teachers and hosts. It felt like being welcomed into a friend’s home for an evening of cooking, delicious food, and really lovely company. They encouraged my kids to participate in every step - separating the egg yolks, whipping the cream, kneading the dough - and sent us great photos afterwards. This was easily one my kids’ top 2 favorite activities Milan (aside being able to eat amazing gelato every day). My daughter is already asking for us to try make the tiramisu at home. Thank you Nicoletta and Fabio for the wonderful experience!- sarine January 04, 2026
Fabio and Nicoletta are amazing hosts, full of kindness, cooking expertise, and life experience, which we are so happy to have had the chance to share in. The food was amazing, and so was talking to our hosts. Big recommendations!- sam January 04, 2026
Absolutely most authentic experience and would highly recommend to anyone. They even managed to cater to my gluten free requirements!- Eugine November 19, 2025
This was the highlight to our Italian vacation. Nicoletta and Fabio were fabulous hosts and great chefs. While the pasta, ravioli and taramisu were delicious, Nicoletta and Fabio's hospitality was truly the highlight of the evening we spent with them. We will be relating our grand experience with them for years to come as well as trying to recreate their delicious food. Thank you.- Angelo October 12, 2025
Nicoletta and Fabio were incredible hosts, teachers, and friends to share a meal with — all in one! This fun-loving couple taught me all that there was to know about the 3 dishes we prepared (delicious, btw) and answered any questions I had on Italian culture, food, Milan, and anything else! Their beautiful and charming apartment was the cherry on top. Such a special afternoon, would 100% do again!- Emily, American Concierge Travel Advisor August 22, 2025
I am a travel advisor who booked this Traveling Spoon experience for my clients, a mother and her two daughters who participated in the cooking experience in Milan with Nicoletta. She said "It was magical : ) One of her favorite experiences of their month-long trip. The hosts were delightful."- Christie, FORA Travel Advisor July 11, 2025
The experience was fantastic from start to finish. Nicoletta and Fabio were wonderful hosts and welcomed us into their beautiful home with open arms. We made Tiramisu, Tagliatelle and Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli. The experience was fun and informal. The cin redaction was flowing and it was a great addition to our trip in Milan. We then sat down to share diner together round the table with some delicious red wine. A wonderful way to end our first day in Milan.- Terry May 22, 2025
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