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Host: Nancy (Personal Chef)

Chicago, IL, United States

USD
$109-$134 per person

Private Italian Cooking Class in Your Chicago Home

Host offerings
  • House
  • Professional cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Nancy (Personal Chef)

Looking for a private chef or personal chef in Chicago or Naperville? Meet Nancy, a warm and welcoming culinary professional who makes guests feel at home from the moment she arrives. A cooking instructor at Sur La Table, Nancy has been passionate about cooking for as long as she can remember and loves sharing her food, culture, and family traditions with guests from around the world. Nancy’s cooking blends professional culinary training with the soulful flavors of traditional Italian or Chicago style 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: (2-10 guests) As a personal chef in Chicago, Nancy brings restaurant quality Italian cuisine and classic Chicago style deep dish pizza directly to your home or vacation rental. Each private chef experience is fully customized, from menu planning to cooking and service, allowing you to relax and enjoy an effortless in home dining experience. You will enjoy a thoughtfully prepared four course meal in the comfort of your own space. A typical menu features authentic Italian favorites such as bruschetta, fresh handmade pasta, a seasonal salad, and a signature homemade dessert. Prefer Chicago-style deep dish pizza instead of pasta? Just let Nancy know at least 3 days prior.

Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, romantic dinners, or small celebrations, this intimate private chef experience in Chicago is ideal for travelers, couples, families, and small groups seeking a meaningful and delicious way to connect over food. Along the way, Nancy shares stories, traditions, and warm hospitality that make the evening feel personal and memorable. Enjoy a stress free private dining experience without leaving your space, thoughtfully prepared and served family style by a local personal chef who is passionate about creating unforgettable meals.

Cooking experience: (2-10 guests) Enjoy a hands-on cooking class in Chicago with Nancy, a warm and welcoming local chef who brings authentic Italian cooking and classic Chicago style deep dish pizza into your home or vacation rental. This personalized in-home cooking experience begins with introductions before diving into a relaxed, interactive lesson designed for all skill levels.

During this 1.5 to 2 hour private cooking class in Chicago, you will prepare a seasonal four course meal from scratch, including an appetizer, fresh salad, handmade pasta with sauce or Chicago style deep dish pizza, and Nancy’s signature dessert. If you choose the pizza option, Nancy will guide you through sauce preparation, toppings, and assembling your pie. The dough is prepared in advance to allow time for rising. For pasta lovers, learn to make fresh pasta from scratch and pair it with a flavorful sauce. As the dough rests or pizza bakes, you will prepare a fresh salad and homemade dressing. The experience ends by sitting down to enjoy the meal you created, with optional white or red wine add ons. Printed recipes are included so you can recreate the dishes at home, and Nancy takes care of all cleanup.

Ideal for families, couples, and small groups seeking a fun and interactive cooking class in Chicago. Dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, lactose free, and gluten free options, can be accommodated when shared at booking.

Notes: If at least two guests choose the optional alcohol add-on, Nancy offers white and red wine. Please remember to include your address in the "Note to Host" field when booking.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Appetizer | Bruschetta with burrata and tomatoes or tapenade
  • Salad | Seasonal lettuces and vegetables in a fruity dressing
  • Main | Fresh pasta such as chicken alfredo or Chicago style deep dish pizza
  • Dessert | Chocolate pot de creme
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

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

Traveler reviews

5.0 (5)
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

Nancy (Personal Chef)

$109-$134 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $117 $109
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $134 $125
Alcohol
 $25 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $117 $109
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $134 $125
Alcohol
 $25 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm

Meet Nancy (Personal Chef)

Looking for a private chef or personal chef in Chicago or Naperville? Meet Nancy, a warm and welcoming culinary professional who makes guests feel at home from the moment she arrives. A cooking instructor at Sur La Table, Nancy has been passionate about cooking for as long as she can remember and loves sharing her food, culture, and family traditions with guests from around the world. Nancy’s cooking blends professional culinary training with the soulful flavors of traditional Italian or Chicago style 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: (2-10 guests) As a personal chef in Chicago, Nancy brings restaurant quality Italian cuisine and classic Chicago style deep dish pizza directly to your home or vacation rental. Each private chef experience is fully customized, from menu planning to cooking and service, allowing you to relax and enjoy an effortless in home dining experience. You will enjoy a thoughtfully prepared four course meal in the comfort of your own space. A typical menu features authentic Italian favorites such as bruschetta, fresh handmade pasta, a seasonal salad, and a signature homemade dessert. Prefer Chicago-style deep dish pizza instead of pasta? Just let Nancy know at least 3 days prior.

Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, romantic dinners, or small celebrations, this intimate private chef experience in Chicago is ideal for travelers, couples, families, and small groups seeking a meaningful and delicious way to connect over food. Along the way, Nancy shares stories, traditions, and warm hospitality that make the evening feel personal and memorable. Enjoy a stress free private dining experience without leaving your space, thoughtfully prepared and served family style by a local personal chef who is passionate about creating unforgettable meals.

Cooking experience: (2-10 guests) Enjoy a hands-on cooking class in Chicago with Nancy, a warm and welcoming local chef who brings authentic Italian cooking and classic Chicago style deep dish pizza into your home or vacation rental. This personalized in-home cooking experience begins with introductions before diving into a relaxed, interactive lesson designed for all skill levels.

During this 1.5 to 2 hour private cooking class in Chicago, you will prepare a seasonal four course meal from scratch, including an appetizer, fresh salad, handmade pasta with sauce or Chicago style deep dish pizza, and Nancy’s signature dessert. If you choose the pizza option, Nancy will guide you through sauce preparation, toppings, and assembling your pie. The dough is prepared in advance to allow time for rising. For pasta lovers, learn to make fresh pasta from scratch and pair it with a flavorful sauce. As the dough rests or pizza bakes, you will prepare a fresh salad and homemade dressing. The experience ends by sitting down to enjoy the meal you created, with optional white or red wine add ons. Printed recipes are included so you can recreate the dishes at home, and Nancy takes care of all cleanup.

Ideal for families, couples, and small groups seeking a fun and interactive cooking class in Chicago. Dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, lactose free, and gluten free options, can be accommodated when shared at booking.

Notes: If at least two guests choose the optional alcohol add-on, Nancy offers white and red wine. Please remember to include your address in the "Note to Host" field when booking.

Languages spoken: English

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • Appetizer | Bruschetta with burrata and tomatoes or tapenade
  • Salad | Seasonal lettuces and vegetables in a fruity dressing
  • Main | Fresh pasta such as chicken alfredo or Chicago style deep dish pizza
  • Dessert | Chocolate pot de creme
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

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

Traveler reviews

5.0 (5)
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
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $117 $109
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $134 $125
Alcohol
 $25 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $117 $109
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $134 $125
Alcohol
 $25 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:00pm-2:00pm 7:00pm-9:00pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-2:00pm 5:00pm-8:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 4% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can't make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host's profile doesn't work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host's family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the "Notes" section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.