Save a Penne or Two and Visit Italy from Home This Summer

Save a Penne or Two and Visit Italy from Home This Summer


By Dan Ward

When the sun finally starts to shine for more than an hour at a time, it’s easy to daydream of packing your bags and heading for the warmer climate, laid-back lifestyle and delicious cuisine of Italy. While an impromptu chartered flight to Tuscany might not be on the cards, bringing a little taste of Italy to your kitchen couldn’t be easier. 

Centred around the joys of social eating, home-cooked Italian food is the second-best way to take yourself on a summer escape. From the traditional pasta dishes served in Rome to the authentic pizza of Naples, it’s never been easier to find a slice of Italy at a cooking class near you.

 hands preparing a wooden board for kneading pasta

So many pasta-bilities!

 

As someone with Italian heritage, I’m pretty much game for a (too big) bowl of pasta any time of year. Luckily, thanks to its endless versatility, pasta is traditionally popular throughout Italy, making it easy to find recipes to satisfy any cravings.
 

Some of my earliest childhood memories involve making pasta. Every other Sunday, my whole extended family would gather at my grandparents’ house. We formed a production line — kneading, rolling and cutting sheets of pasta to create huge piles of fresh spaghetti. Even if you can’t gather a small army to help you, don’t worry — all it takes to make your own pasta is a bit of time spent working with your hands.
 

To make your flight of fancy to Italy even easier, you don’t even need to leave the house: Luca Favorito’s virtual pasta-making class will show you how to make deliciously versatile pappardelle in your own kitchen — no machine required. Slightly wider than tagliatelle, pappardelle is one of the starchy stars of Tuscan cuisine, perfectly suited to soaking up rich ragù and umami-packed mushroom sauces alike.
 

With your ingredients in place and your laptop ready to roll, Luca will be your tour guide as you learn the origins and regional variations of this simple pasta dish! In his distinctive Italian style, he’ll talk you through the process of kneading, rolling and cutting your pasta like a pro, as well as some top tips for cooking to perfection (hint: save that pasta water!). You’ll also learn how to make your homemade pasta shine with a simple-yet-delicious sauce of pancetta, peas and mascarpone. Bellissimo!


If the weather permits, enjoy your dish outside in the evening sun to really transport yourself — accompanied by an icy cold beverage, naturally.

 person mixing ingredients in a bowl at a virtual cooking class

Top this — Neapolitan pizza in Newcastle

 

Nothing makes me yearn for Italy more than the prospect of proper, authentic pizza — whether that’s the real-deal, wood-fired Neapolitan variety, light and airy Sicilian-style slices or the pizza al taglio that’s commonly sold by weight throughout Rome.
 

Hosted by Newcastle’s very own Scream for Pizza — whose founders Victoria and Alex trained in Naples before setting up shop back in the North East — this class is a fantastic opportunity to gain some insight into these ancient, time-tested techniques, as well as the modern twists offered by the “neo-Neapolitan” style.
 

Alex and Victoria could happily dive deep into the details of pizza production, from dough hydration levels (aka how much water your dough contains) to the pros and cons of different varieties of flour. Suffice it to say, you’ll be in pretty safe hands.
 

The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the venue is their pride and joy: the enormous, golden wood-fired oven. A sight to behold, this beauty normally runs at a scorching 400°C, so having someone on hand who knows their stuff is pretty important! 
 

But even more important, the ultimate decision: which toppings to choose? Presented with a mouthwatering array of different ingredients, from locally-sourced meats to seasonal veg, this is your chance to concoct the slice of your dreams.
 

One bite is enough to send you back to the trattorias of your travels — good enough to forget for a moment that you are just outside the centre of Newcastle. Whether you’ve got your eyes on a portable pizza oven for the backyard or you’re using the conventional variety, you’re sure to pick up a tip or two that’ll kick your pizza-making skills up a notch.
 man in a purple hat working at a wood fired pizza oven

Most importantly: enjoy!

 

It doesn’t matter which toppings or sauces you choose, Italian cooking is all about taking your time, savouring what you make and enjoying the simple things in life with someone you love — the best way to capture a slice of la bella vita for yourself.

 




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Pasta Making classes

Artisan Pasta Making Class

4.9 (23)

Instagram followers2k

date_range Runs regularly

location_on South West London

1 to 4

label £75 - £500

Gluten Free Pasta Making Class

4.7 (10)

Instagram followers2k

date_range Runs regularly

location_on South West London

1 to 4

label £75 - £200

Tagliatelle, Ravioli and Tortellini Pasta Making Class

4.8 (5)

date_range Runs regularly

location_on North West London

1 to 6

label £85

Pasta Making Class in a Michelin Star Restaurant

5.0 (12)

date_range Runs regularly

location_on West London

1 to 4

label £130

Fresh Pasta Class

5.0 (3)

Instagram followers2k

date_range Runs regularly

location_on East London

1 to 10

label £70

Handmade Ravioli Pasta Making Workshop

5.0 (19)

date_range 27 Apr, 18 May

location_on South West London / Mobile

1 to 8

label £60

Pasta Masterclass

4.8 (6)

Instagram followers8k

date_range Runs regularly

location_on Manchester

1 to 40

label £110

Pasta Masterclass

Instagram followers3k

Facebook likes5.0 stars (44+)

date_range Runs regularly

location_on Leeds

1 to 10

label £120

Colourful Pasta Making Workshop

5.0 (1)

Instagram followers1k

date_range Runs regularly

location_on Adlington

1 to 30

label £60

Pasta Sauce Making Class

5.0 (1)

date_range Sat 11 May, 10am

location_on The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield

1 to 8

label £100

Italian Cooking Class - Pasta and Small Plates

date_range 4 May, 28 Jul

location_on South East London

1 to 8

label £159

Pasta Making Class: Risotto and Gnocchi

Instagram followers5k

date_range Sat 18 May, 10am

location_on West London

1 to 12

label £245

Kids Pasta Cooking Class

Instagram followers2k

Adults & 5+ years

date_range Your choice of time

location_on East London

1 to 12

label £40

Pasta Making Class for Groups

Instagram followers1k

Facebook likes2k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Diggle

1 to 36

label £60

Children's Pasta & Pizza Workshop

Instagram followers2k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Heathcote / Mobile

4 to 6

label £50

Private Artisan Pasta Masterclass

Instagram followers2k

Facebook likes2k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on South West London

1 to 2

label £500 - £850 per group

Pasta Cooking Class - Flat Pasta

Instagram followers3k

Facebook likes5.0 stars (44+)

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Leeds

8 to 10

label £75

Pasta Making Class

Instagram followers11k

Facebook likes4k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Manchester

6 to 12

label £68

Pasta Making Class for Parents and Teens (12+)

Instagram followers3k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Leeds

8 to 10

label £75 - £100

Orecchiette and Other Semolina-Based Pasta Making Class

date_range Your choice of time

location_on North West London

4 to 8

label £85


See all Pasta Making classes



Pizza Making classes

Indoor Pizza Oven Experience

5.0 (8)

Instagram followers2k

date_range Runs regularly

location_on South West London / Mobile

1 to 100

label £35 - £42

Pizza Making Class

Instagram followers2k

Facebook likes5.0 stars (20+)

date_range Sun 21 Apr, 11am

location_on East London

1 to 16

label £60

Authentic Italian Pizza Masterclass

date_range Your choice of time

location_on South East London / Mobile

1 to 6

label £60

Wood Fired Pizza Making Workshop

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Sparkwell

1 to 8

label £215 - £430

Gluten-Free Pizza Masterclass

date_range Your choice of time

location_on South East London / Mobile

1 to 6

label £100

Artisan Pizza Making Workshop

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Sparkwell

1 to 8

label £165 - £330

Pizza Making Class

Instagram followers11k

Facebook likes4k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Manchester

6 to 40

label £65

Pizza Making Class for Groups

Instagram followers1k

Facebook likes2k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Diggle

1 to 36

label £60

Children's Pasta & Pizza Workshop

Instagram followers2k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Heathcote / Mobile

4 to 6

label £50

Pizza Making Workshop - Half Day

Instagram followers250k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Central London

12 to 26

label £95

Pizza Making Class

Instagram followers3k

Facebook likes5.0 stars (22+)

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Stratford-upon-Avon

5 to 15

label £145

Pasta or Pizza Making Class

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Mitcheldean

10 to 16

label £95

Pizza Making Class - Pizza Scuola

Instagram followers7k

Facebook likes5k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on West London

12 to 18

label £60

Pizza Making Class - Dough from Scratch

Facebook likes4.8 stars (51+)

5.0 (1)

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Bristol

10 to 24

label £45

Pizza Making Workshop for Team Building

Facebook likes4.8 stars (51+)

Instagram followers2k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Bristol

10 to 24

label £45

Pizza Making Class - Dough, Sauce and Toppings

Instagram followers3k

date_range Your choice of time

location_on East Linton

5 to 30

label £100

Summer Pizza and Cocktail Making Class

Instagram followers3k

Facebook likes5.0 stars (44+)

date_range Your choice of time

location_on Leeds

8 to 10

label £75

Make Artisan Pizza at Home

ondemand_video

Pre-recorded

label £35


See all Pizza Making classes



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