Meet
Giulia
Giulia is a historical researcher and passionate home cook from Faenza, in Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. With a deep love of history, archaeology, and traditional Romagnolo cuisine, she enjoys bringing the stories and flavors of her region to life through food.
Giulia’s love of cooking began in childhood, when she learned to make homemade pasta, piadina, and other local specialties alongside her mother and grandmother. These family recipes and techniques continue to inspire the food she cooks today. When she isn’t studying, reading, or conducting archival research, you’ll often find her gardening or experimenting in the kitchen.
Giulia has been welcoming guests for lunches and dinners for many years and loves sharing authentic Romagnolo food in a relaxed, homely setting. She now opens the doors of her historic home in the heart of Faenza for private, hands-on cooking classes, offering travelers a personal way to discover the culinary traditions, local dishes, and warm hospitality of Romagna.
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.
In-home meal:
(1-8 guests)
Enjoy a traditional Romagnolo meal in Faenza, featuring family recipes Giulia learned from her grandmother. Depending on the season, you might taste piadina (traditional Romagnolo flatbread) with local cured meats, cheeses and grilled vegetables; fresh handmade pasta; and zuppa inglese, a classic Italian layered dessert.
Your meal takes place in Giulia’s historic frescoed home in the heart of Faenza, set within an ancient palace with close ties to the fine arts. Giulia lives here with her husband and two children and is excited to welcome travelers to her family table and share the food and culinary traditions of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region.
Cooking experience:
(1-8 guests)
Cook with Giulia in her home kitchen and discover the flavors and techniques of traditional Romagna cuisine. During this 2-hour hands-on cooking class in Faenza, learn to prepare homemade piadina and fresh pasta, from making the dough to rolling it by hand with a traditional wooden rolling pin. You’ll also make a classic dessert such as zuppa inglese, tiramisu, or traditional biscuits. After cooking, sit down together to enjoy the meal you helped prepare, accompanied by local wine.
Market visit:
(1-8 guests)
Explore Faenza’s local food culture with Giulia on a walking tour of some of her favorite neighborhood food shops. Meet local vendors and shop for regional ingredients, stopping at Carlo’s greengrocer for fresh produce, Casa del Parmigiano for cheese, Baita for cured meats and Romagnolo specialties, and Marco, Giulia’s trusted butcher. After selecting ingredients for your meal, walk back through Faenza’s historic center to Giulia’s home for your private cooking class.
Notes:
Vegetarian diets can be accommodated with advance notice.
One glass of local wine per guest, or one bottle for every four guests, is included.
Round-Trip Transfers:
If you choose this optional add-on, you will be picked up by private car from your hotel, accommodation, port, or other designated location and dropped off after your experience.
Languages spoken:
English, Italian
Sample menu
