Nancy is one of those warm and wonderful people who make you feel at home as soon as you meet her! A cooking instructor at Sur La Table, Nancy has been passionate about cooking for as long as she can remember. She loves entertaining and sharing her cuisine and culture with guests from around the world. Now, Nancy invites you on a multi-day culinary adventure that includes a stay at a beautiful Chicago home, delicious meals, hands-on cooking classes, and other unique culinary experiences. Nancy is thrilled to welcome travelers into her home to explore the flavors of Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza, Italian-American pasta, and more. Prepare for unforgettable days of food, laughter, and new friendships!
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:
(5-12 guests)
5 DAY LUXURY STAY, COOKING CLASS AND FOOD TOUR: Experience Chicago like a local in a stunning 1888 Victorian home near the Gold Coast during a 5-day luxury stay and culinary adventure. Enjoy the city's famous food, vibrant spots, and hidden gems with expert guidance from your host Nancy. You'll explore top sites, indulge in amazing cuisine, and learn to make authentic Chicago dishes, culminating in the whole group preparing a special meal together on your last night. This immersive stay offers more than just sightseeing - it lets you truly live the Chicago lifestyle.
CHICAGO CULINARY ADVENTURE ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival & Iconic Tastes of Chicago
- Kick off your trip with a tasting of Chicago’s most famous dishes, including Italian Beef, Deep Dish Pizza, Garrett’s Chicago Mix Popcorn, Eli’s Cheesecake, and more.
- Enjoy a selection of local beers and wines to complement your meal.
Day 2: Food Hall Exploration & French Wine & Cheese Pairing
- Start the day with a breakfast spread featuring croissants, fresh fruit, yogurt, eggs, and bacon.
- Tour some of Chicago’s top food halls, sampling a variety of local and international flavors. Spend the afternoon indulging in a wine and cheese pairing at a charming French restaurant. Then, relax and unwind or head out to explore some unique area of the city on your own.
Day 3: More Food Tasting & Deep Dish Pizza Making
- Enjoy another delicious breakfast, including crepes.
- Continue discovering Chicago’s diverse food scene with visits to new food halls, followed by free time to explore on your own.
- Learn the art of making deep dish pizza from scratch in a hands-on cooking class.
Day 4: Free Exploration & Farewell Dinner
- Spend the morning at leisure, enjoying breakfast before setting out to explore more of Chicago.
- Conclude your trip with a special farewell dinner featuring handmade pasta, fresh appetizers, unique salads, and decadent desserts, paired with wine and beer.
Departure Day
- Savor a final breakfast before heading home, feeling like you've truly immersed yourself in Chicago’s food culture.
Round-trip airport transfers as well as transfers to two excursions are included in the price.
Notes:
1. Please NOTE this experience has a 2-week cancellation policy, not the standard 48-hour cancellation.
2. Children are charged the same price as adults. This experience is not suitable for children under 14.
Languages spoken: English
Friends for many years, Don and Nancy love meeting new people, sharing interesting stories, and good food and wine. Don is a wealth of information about Chicago and its history and Nancy knows Chicago like the back of her hand. These two Chicago friends teamed up to give me a fun and delicious in-home meal experience in the windy city!
I started my experience in Don’s 30th floor downtown condo, nestled in the heart of Chicago, surrounded by skyscrapers and just a walk from the Hancock Building. I got to know some of Chicago’s stunning architecture by relaxing on the upscale chic 5th floor terrace while enjoying a glass of wine (optional) and a scrumptious charcuterie tray featuring schinken (a 35-day cured ham), hand sliced pepperoni, along with several fresh cheeses such as: sharp and aged white cheddar, goat, and herb & garlic to create a mix of both bold and mild flavors to melt in your mouth. These were paired with an assortment of selected roasted nuts and tasty breadsticks. I slipped into a cozy patio lounger while enveloping myself among skyscrapers and historical buildings. Absolutely breathtaking. Following the appetizer, we returned to Don’s home on the 30th floor to take in more gorgeous views of the city.
Nothing says Chicago like deep dish pizza! Don and Nancy gave me a cooking lesson on how to make the native Chicago pie – a fusion of immigrants’ ingredients representing the city’s rich history. We started the cooking lesson by preparing a flavorful red wine vinaigrette salad. Don and Nancy showed me how to put together a fresh fusion of romaine lettuce, oven roasted vegetables, roasted peppers, fresh seedless Persian cucumbers, provolone, fresh carrots, artichokes soaked in olive oil, fresh radishes, hearts of palm, and fresh tomatoes, all combined to create an “unusual forkful of flavor every time!” The perfect accompaniment to pizza.
Part II of my cooking lesson was a personal deep dish pizza. Nancy and Don showed me the secrets to creating the infamous pie! A fresh tomato sauce and the infamous “butter crust” dough were both prepared ahead of time but the creative license was mine when it came to building the pie. I chose from a variety of roasted vegetables, pepperoni, mushrooms, sausage, green olives and banana peppers. And then there was what they have coined “The Big Reveal” of the pizzas! Suffice it to say, you are in for a treat.
Arlene, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
This was such a great experience for the whole family! Nancy made it very fun and the pizza was delicious! We look forward to making Chicago pizza at home.- Marge February 10, 2026
This was such a great experience for the whole family! Nancy made it very fun and the pizza was delicious! We look forward to making Chicago pizza at home.- Marge December 22, 2025
Fantastic experience, Nancy was a wonderful host and teacher. Me and my daughter were looking for a different experience ro spend some time together. Initially I was going to book a similar experience in Downtown Chicago (group class) but they didn't have availability for the days we were looking. An agent suggested this experience, EXCELLENT IDEA. Would recommend to anyone looking for a more up close and personal culinary experience. Thanks Nancy!- ElChri March 11, 2024
Fantastic experience, wonderful hosts! We came across this fantastic activity whilst searching for something a bit different to the ordinary touristy excursions, via British Airways experiences. Don and Nancy were wonderful hosts and made us feel welcome and relaxed. Nancy had contacted us via The Travelling Spoon beforehand to ask if we would prefer a breakfast type snack rather than the charcuterie, as our experience started at 10.30am, which was great, so our day started with coffee, delicious homemade granola bites with fresh fruit and yoghurt and getting to know our hosts. The pizza making itself was excellent, picking up key culinary tips, constructing the pizza, personalising the tomato sauce and the extra ingredients (we went for spinach and sausage) whilst getting to chat about Chicago and travel! We were really pleased with how our pizzas turned out and tasted. After eating pizza with a Chicago skyline view, the experience ended with a delicious homemade lemon curd pie and liqueur. Getting to take home the recipes too was brilliant, so we can now attempt to re-make the pizza, salad and granola. A really enjoyable and unique foodie experience in the heart of Chicago and something that we highly recommend!! Thank you Don and Nancy for such a wonderful day and for teaching us how to make proper pizza!- Vogueidea16 February 24, 2020
This was such and enjoyable evening. Company was great, experience was so much fun and food was delicious. I would recommend this to anyone.- 5863kal February 10, 2020
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