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Host: Chiara

Rome, Italy

USD
$209-$319 per person

Rome Cooking Class near Colosseum with Optional Market Tour

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

Meet Chiara

Chiara is a Rome native and trained cook who has been passionate about Italian food since childhood. She first learned to cook alongside her mother and grandmother, mastering treasured family recipes and the traditions of Roman home cooking. She later attended culinary school to deepen her skills and turn her lifelong passion into a profession. Today, Chiara loves welcoming travelers into her home near the Colosseum to share authentic Roman cuisine and the stories and traditions behind it. Her cooking celebrates seasonal ingredients, classic regional dishes and recipes passed down through generations. Cooking remains an important part of family life, and you can often find Chiara in the kitchen preparing meals with her children. Warm and engaging, Chiara enjoys connecting with travelers and sharing a side of Rome that visitors rarely experience. She speaks English, French and Italian and can host experiences in any of these languages with advance notice.

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) Experience authentic Roman home dining with Chiara in her welcoming home near the Colosseum. Begin in the living room with a glass of prosecco or cedrata and an appetizer such as pizza Romana with buffalo mozzarella while Chiara introduces you to Roman food, family traditions and the seasonal menu she has prepared. Then gather around Chiara's dining table for a home-cooked Roman meal featuring seasonal ingredients and traditional recipes. Your menu may include handmade pasta with pomodorini and crispy guanciale, saltimbocca with carciofi alla romana (Roman-style artichokes), and a homemade dessert such as tiramisu, crostata or chocolate cake. Your private dining experience lasts approximately two hours and offers the opportunity to enjoy Roman cuisine as locals do—in a Roman home, over food and conversation. Menus can be personalized, and vegetarian and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Cooking experience: (2-10 guests) Join Chiara in her home near the Colosseum for a private, hands-on Rome cooking class focused on traditional Italian and Roman cuisine. During your approximately two-hour class, Chiara will introduce you to each dish and share techniques and family recipes she learned growing up in Rome and later refined through culinary school. Depending on the seasonal menu, learn to prepare classic Italian dishes such as handmade pasta with tomato sauce, scaloppini and tiramisu. You'll receive printed recipes so you can recreate the dishes at home. After cooking together, sit down in Chiara's dining room to enjoy the Italian meal you helped prepare. The experience can be personalized to your tastes, and vegetarian and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Market visit: (2-10 guests) Explore Rome's Testaccio Market with Chiara, a local cook and Rome native, and discover the ingredients and food traditions that define Roman cuisine. Begin with a cappuccino at a traditional neighborhood pasticceria before heading into Testaccio Market for a guided tour of Chiara's favorite stalls and vendors. As you explore, learn about seasonal produce, regional ingredients and the foods Romans cook and eat at home. Your chef-led Testaccio Market tour lasts approximately one hour. After the market visit, continue to Chiara's home near the Colosseum. Chiara can drive up to four guests; larger groups will walk approximately 14 minutes uphill from the market to her home.

Notes:
1. 1–2 glasses of wine per person are included with your Italian cooking class in Rome.
2. Chiara offers a hands-on cooking class for groups of up to six guests. For larger groups, due to kitchen space, the experience is offered as an interactive cooking demonstration rather than a fully hands-on class.
3. Please note that, as is common in many Italian homes, this residence does not have air conditioning.

Languages spoken: English, French, Italian

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: Pizza Romana with buffalo mozzarella, served with a glass of prosecco or cedrata
  • Main: Handmade pasta with cherry tomatoes and crispy guanciale, or saltimbocca with carciofi alla romana (Roman-style artichokes)
  • Dessert: Tiramisù, chocolate cake, crostata (Italian tart), or gelato with fresh fruit
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Chiara was amazing! She made us feel so comfortable from the time we walked into her home till the time we left. She introduced us to newer foods that we had never experienced before. She was very friendly and down to earth. It was very easy to understand her and she gave us exact information about the food and incorporated that with history about Italy. Her pride for her country showed in her passion for traditional cooking. I am not a chef and Chiara was very patient and understanding while teaching us to cook. She taught us how to cook and prepare a three course meal and dessert. We were stuffed when I left! Overall I loved the experience with her and would definitely recommend her experience!

Lauren and Jerami, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (10)
We had the most wonderful experience-- I would say the best organized activity we have ever done anywhere in the world-- with Chiara. We started our day with a typical Roman pastry and coffee at Pasticceria Linari before walking to the Testaccio Market where we visited several vendors procuring ingredients for our cooking lesson and learning a lot in the process. We stopped by the Michetti butcher shop to pick up meat for our lunch as well. Then we were off to Chiara's lovely home where we ate more delicious bread and cheeses than we should have (LOL) while learning how to make semolina orecchiette pasta from scratch. We also learned how to make a traditional tomato and garlic sauce, beef straccetti, and, for dessert, a chocolate sausage. While preparing the meal we enjoyed wonderful conversation and learned a ton about the right ingredients (which flour to use for pasta for example), produce (who knew Roman artichokes were so unique and prepared so differently than those we are used to at home), and pasta-making. At the end of our 2+ hours of instruction, we sat down for a beautiful and filling three course meal of the food we learned to prepare. Everything was delicious, clean and simple, and in more than sufficient portions. Our experience was tailored to our own specific needs (e.g. we don't drink alcohol) which was most appreciated. I would, without hesitation, strongly recommend experiencing life and cooking with Chiara!!!
- zephyr2 December 30, 2024
What a beautiful experience to be in Chiara's home and learn to cook a few dishes. She is so knowledgeable and kind. Highly recommend.
- Pamela April 02, 2023
My clients had a wonderful time with Chiara. They enjoyed the food, the company and she gave them wonderful tips about seeing her city. They would highly recommend this unique experience.
- Joyce December 27, 2022
Online Class Review
The Italian Desserts class I took with Chiara was absolutely wonderful! I had originally planned to travel to Italy to celebrate a big birthday this year, but it wasn't possible because of the pandemic. Taking this class was a great way to "visit Italy". Chiara was very organized, gave great tips on baking, and was such a warm and encouraging teacher. I'm thrilled that I can now make a traditional tiramisu and really delicious olive oil and red wine cookies. I highly recommend this class!
- Greg August 05, 2021
Online Class Review
Chiara was a truly wonderful host who was well organised, helpful, supportive and keen to impart knowledge of her recipes, cuisine and culture. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her and was thrilled with the recipes chosen. I will make both again many times for sure. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience Chiara.
- Jenni May 17, 2021
Read More

Chiara

$209-$319 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 $229 $209
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $279 $269
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $319 $299
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $229 $209
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $279 $269
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $319 $299
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:30pm-2:30pm 7:30pm-9:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 10:30am-1:30pm 5:30pm-8:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm

Meet Chiara

Chiara is a Rome native and trained cook who has been passionate about Italian food since childhood. She first learned to cook alongside her mother and grandmother, mastering treasured family recipes and the traditions of Roman home cooking. She later attended culinary school to deepen her skills and turn her lifelong passion into a profession. Today, Chiara loves welcoming travelers into her home near the Colosseum to share authentic Roman cuisine and the stories and traditions behind it. Her cooking celebrates seasonal ingredients, classic regional dishes and recipes passed down through generations. Cooking remains an important part of family life, and you can often find Chiara in the kitchen preparing meals with her children. Warm and engaging, Chiara enjoys connecting with travelers and sharing a side of Rome that visitors rarely experience. She speaks English, French and Italian and can host experiences in any of these languages with advance notice.

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) Experience authentic Roman home dining with Chiara in her welcoming home near the Colosseum. Begin in the living room with a glass of prosecco or cedrata and an appetizer such as pizza Romana with buffalo mozzarella while Chiara introduces you to Roman food, family traditions and the seasonal menu she has prepared. Then gather around Chiara's dining table for a home-cooked Roman meal featuring seasonal ingredients and traditional recipes. Your menu may include handmade pasta with pomodorini and crispy guanciale, saltimbocca with carciofi alla romana (Roman-style artichokes), and a homemade dessert such as tiramisu, crostata or chocolate cake. Your private dining experience lasts approximately two hours and offers the opportunity to enjoy Roman cuisine as locals do—in a Roman home, over food and conversation. Menus can be personalized, and vegetarian and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Cooking experience: (2-10 guests) Join Chiara in her home near the Colosseum for a private, hands-on Rome cooking class focused on traditional Italian and Roman cuisine. During your approximately two-hour class, Chiara will introduce you to each dish and share techniques and family recipes she learned growing up in Rome and later refined through culinary school. Depending on the seasonal menu, learn to prepare classic Italian dishes such as handmade pasta with tomato sauce, scaloppini and tiramisu. You'll receive printed recipes so you can recreate the dishes at home. After cooking together, sit down in Chiara's dining room to enjoy the Italian meal you helped prepare. The experience can be personalized to your tastes, and vegetarian and other dietary needs can be accommodated with advance notice.

Market visit: (2-10 guests) Explore Rome's Testaccio Market with Chiara, a local cook and Rome native, and discover the ingredients and food traditions that define Roman cuisine. Begin with a cappuccino at a traditional neighborhood pasticceria before heading into Testaccio Market for a guided tour of Chiara's favorite stalls and vendors. As you explore, learn about seasonal produce, regional ingredients and the foods Romans cook and eat at home. Your chef-led Testaccio Market tour lasts approximately one hour. After the market visit, continue to Chiara's home near the Colosseum. Chiara can drive up to four guests; larger groups will walk approximately 14 minutes uphill from the market to her home.

Notes:
1. 1–2 glasses of wine per person are included with your Italian cooking class in Rome.
2. Chiara offers a hands-on cooking class for groups of up to six guests. For larger groups, due to kitchen space, the experience is offered as an interactive cooking demonstration rather than a fully hands-on class.
3. Please note that, as is common in many Italian homes, this residence does not have air conditioning.

Languages spoken: English, French, Italian

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: Pizza Romana with buffalo mozzarella, served with a glass of prosecco or cedrata
  • Main: Handmade pasta with cherry tomatoes and crispy guanciale, or saltimbocca with carciofi alla romana (Roman-style artichokes)
  • Dessert: Tiramisù, chocolate cake, crostata (Italian tart), or gelato with fresh fruit
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Chiara was amazing! She made us feel so comfortable from the time we walked into her home till the time we left. She introduced us to newer foods that we had never experienced before. She was very friendly and down to earth. It was very easy to understand her and she gave us exact information about the food and incorporated that with history about Italy. Her pride for her country showed in her passion for traditional cooking. I am not a chef and Chiara was very patient and understanding while teaching us to cook. She taught us how to cook and prepare a three course meal and dessert. We were stuffed when I left! Overall I loved the experience with her and would definitely recommend her experience!

Lauren and Jerami, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (10)
We had the most wonderful experience-- I would say the best organized activity we have ever done anywhere in the world-- with Chiara. We started our day with a typical Roman pastry and coffee at Pasticceria Linari before walking to the Testaccio Market where we visited several vendors procuring ingredients for our cooking lesson and learning a lot in the process. We stopped by the Michetti butcher shop to pick up meat for our lunch as well. Then we were off to Chiara's lovely home where we ate more delicious bread and cheeses than we should have (LOL) while learning how to make semolina orecchiette pasta from scratch. We also learned how to make a traditional tomato and garlic sauce, beef straccetti, and, for dessert, a chocolate sausage. While preparing the meal we enjoyed wonderful conversation and learned a ton about the right ingredients (which flour to use for pasta for example), produce (who knew Roman artichokes were so unique and prepared so differently than those we are used to at home), and pasta-making. At the end of our 2+ hours of instruction, we sat down for a beautiful and filling three course meal of the food we learned to prepare. Everything was delicious, clean and simple, and in more than sufficient portions. Our experience was tailored to our own specific needs (e.g. we don't drink alcohol) which was most appreciated. I would, without hesitation, strongly recommend experiencing life and cooking with Chiara!!!
- zephyr2 December 30, 2024
What a beautiful experience to be in Chiara's home and learn to cook a few dishes. She is so knowledgeable and kind. Highly recommend.
- Pamela April 02, 2023
My clients had a wonderful time with Chiara. They enjoyed the food, the company and she gave them wonderful tips about seeing her city. They would highly recommend this unique experience.
- Joyce December 27, 2022
Online Class Review
The Italian Desserts class I took with Chiara was absolutely wonderful! I had originally planned to travel to Italy to celebrate a big birthday this year, but it wasn't possible because of the pandemic. Taking this class was a great way to "visit Italy". Chiara was very organized, gave great tips on baking, and was such a warm and encouraging teacher. I'm thrilled that I can now make a traditional tiramisu and really delicious olive oil and red wine cookies. I highly recommend this class!
- Greg August 05, 2021
Online Class Review
Chiara was a truly wonderful host who was well organised, helpful, supportive and keen to impart knowledge of her recipes, cuisine and culture. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with her and was thrilled with the recipes chosen. I will make both again many times for sure. Thank you so much for a wonderful experience Chiara.
- Jenni May 17, 2021
Read More
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $229 $209
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $279 $269
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $319 $299
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $229 $209
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $279 $269
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $319 $299
Alcohol
 $0 per person
*Does not include 4% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 12:30pm-2:30pm 7:30pm-9:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 10:30am-1:30pm 5:30pm-8:30pm
Market Tour+ Cooking Experience + Meal
 10:00am-2:00pm
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.