Meet
Daniela
Daniela’s passion for food began in childhood, watching her mother and grandmother cook with love in the family kitchen. Today, she loves sharing Italy’s culinary traditions with travelers and is always discovering new techniques, cooking for others, and making friends from around the world.
Born in Naples and raised in Rome from the age of six, Daniela brings together the culinary traditions of both cities. After working for Alitalia for 26 years, she studied at Le Cordon Bleu, opened a catering business, and began teaching cooking classes. Her love of food has also been passed down to her son Francesco, a chef who worked at a three-Michelin-starred restaurant near Lyon. Francesco and his fiancée Constance, a sommelier, have since joined the family venture, bringing their professional expertise and a contemporary touch.
Daniela lives with her husband Giovanni in a classic Roman apartment on Aventine Hill, one of Rome’s seven hills. In her home, she prepares dishes inspired by Roman, Neapolitan and Sicilian cuisine. Expect classic Italian ingredients and flavors, from pecorino and guanciale in Roman favorites such as carbonara and amatriciana to fresh tomatoes, basil and vegetables found in Neapolitan cooking, as well as the seafood, dried fruits and spices characteristic of Sicilian cuisine.
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:
(4-8 guests)
Enjoy a private meal in Rome with Daniela and, when available, members of her family in their welcoming home. Begin with an aperitivo as you hear stories about their family, Italian culinary traditions and everyday life in Rome. Then sit down together over wine in Daniela’s dining room, or dine outdoors when the weather permits.
Choose from three regional Italian menus when booking. The Roman menu might include amatriciana or carbonara, followed by saltimbocca or chicken cacciatore and a seasonal vegetable side. The Neapolitan menu might feature paccheri with ragù, spaghetti puttanesca or spaghetti sciuè sciuè, followed by polpette (meatballs) or Neapolitan involtini (beef rolls with provolone, nuts and herbs). The Sicilian menu might include pasta alla Norma or pasta with sardines, followed by involtini di pesce spada (swordfish rolls) or arancini (stuffed rice balls). Finish your authentic Italian meal with a traditional dessert such as tiramisu or panna cotta.
Please share any dietary restrictions or food allergies when booking. Daniela will do her best to accommodate dietary needs; however, please note that nuts and other allergens are regularly used in her kitchen.
Local Italian wine is included in the price of your experience.
Cooking experience:
(2-6 guests)
Join Daniela, Francesco and Constance in the kitchen for a private, hands-on cooking class in Rome on Aventine Hill, close to the Colosseum and Circo Massimo. Learn to prepare an authentic Roman, Neapolitan or Sicilian meal while discovering the techniques and traditions behind regional Italian cooking.
During your 3-hour cooking class, prepare three dishes from scratch: a primo, secondo and dessert. If there are particular dishes you’d like to learn, such as fresh pasta from scratch, please let Daniela know in advance.
After cooking, sit down together to enjoy the meal you’ve prepared, accompanied by Italian wines selected by Constance, a sommelier. Francesco brings his professional culinary experience to the kitchen, while Constance shares her knowledge of Italian wine.
Market visit:
(2-6 guests)
Meet your hosts at Rome’s Testaccio Market, in front of the MACRO Museum. Begin at a local bar as you learn about the history of the market, seasonal Italian ingredients and Roman food traditions.
During your Rome market tour, explore Testaccio Market for about an hour, shopping for fresh, seasonal produce and ingredients from their favorite local vendors. Along the way, you may sample a bite of local fruit or pizza. After your market tour, travel together to Daniela’s home on Aventine Hill to continue your culinary experience.
Languages spoken:
English, Italian, french
Sample menu
Traveler reviews
The experience with Daniela was fantastic, she was very welcoming and made the recipes accessible if you did not have much cooking experience. The dishes were thoughtful and absolutely delicious! Daniela was extremely knowledgeable and even was able to explain which ingredients you could use from your region (in our case, United States) if the authentic Italian ingredients she used were not accessible. Our group was able to learn new skills, enjoy a delicious meal, appreciate the hospitality of a Roman local and make many new memories and laughs along the way. I would highly recommend this experience!
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Christie B
September 16, 2018
