Meet
Massimo
Massimo is an engaging storyteller and passionate foodie with a great sense of humor. He hails from a long line of restaurateurs and learned to cook from his mother and nonna, who passed down their love for traditional Italian cuisine. A world traveler and Merchant Navy officer with culinary experience in Germany and France, Massimo finds his greatest joy in welcoming guests into his home to share his passion for food, culture, and the city he holds dear.
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:
(2-25 guests)
Massimo lives in a charming 600-year-old building in the heart of Venice, complete with a beautiful outdoor terrace. He specializes in dishes from the Veneto region, known for its rich culinary traditions that blend fresh seafood from the coast with hearty meats from the hills. During your meal at Massimo’s welcoming table, you might enjoy baked scallops or anchovies marinated in orange sauce, a seasonal salad, fish- or meat-based pasta, and freshly baked rosemary focaccia. Your experience will end on a sweet note with a classic Italian dessert.
Cooking experience:
(2-25 guests)
Join Massimo for an authentic Venice cooking class in his home kitchen, located in a charming 600-year-old building in the heart of the city. In this hands-on Venetian cooking class, learn to prepare a traditional meal from the Veneto region using fresh, seasonal ingredients while enjoying a true local food experience in Venice.
Over the course of 1.5 to 2 hours, Massimo will guide you through the preparation of classic Venetian and Italian dishes such as handmade pasta with your choice of meat, fish, seafood, or vegetables in a flavorful sauce, as well as a seasonal salad and freshly baked focaccia. As you cook together, Massimo will share stories, techniques, and insights into Venetian cuisine and local culinary traditions.
After the cooking class, sit down to enjoy the delicious meal you helped prepare in Massimo’s home, ending with a classic Italian dessert. Massimo has a wide repertoire of recipes and is happy to personalize the experience, so if there is a particular Venetian or Italian dish you’d like to learn to cook, just let him know in advance.
If you choose the optional alcohol add-on, Massimo will serve a local Italian wine or an Aperol Spritz — Venice’s iconic aperitivo — paired with a traditional cicchetto, a small Venetian bite. Vegetarian guests are welcome too; Massimo is happy to prepare traditional Italian vegetarian dishes with advance notice.
Market visit:
(2-12 guests)
Enjoy a guided tour of Venice’s iconic Rialto Market with Massimo, a wonderful way to experience one of the city’s most vibrant and historic food markets. On this Venice market tour, stroll through the bustling stalls alongside Venetians shopping for the freshest seasonal produce, seafood, and local ingredients, while gaining an authentic glimpse into everyday life in Venice. As you explore the colorful fruit and vegetable stands and visit the famous Rialto fish market, Massimo will share stories, culinary traditions, and insights into Venetian cuisine and the ingredients that define cooking in the Veneto region. Together, you’ll select fresh fish and other ingredients for your cooking class before heading back to Massimo’s home for a hands-on Venetian cooking experience in Venice. Please note that the Rialto market is closed on Sundays.
Notes:
1. Massimo is happy to personalize the menu and can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free diets with advance notice. Please share any dietary restrictions or preferences at the time of booking.
2. For groups of 8 or more guests, Massimo brings in assistants to help host the experience, so pricing is higher. For groups of 15 or more guests, the experience is hosted at a different venue in Venice to better accommodate the group size. For pricing and venue details for larger groups, please contact reservations@travelingspoon.com.
3. For larger groups, guests will be divided into teams and rotate through three hands-on stations to prepare the Venetian meal. Francesco’s home is a traditional Venetian home, offering an intimate and authentic setting for this experience. With a larger group, the space will feel cozy, adding to the charm of cooking together in a real local home in Venice.
Languages spoken:
English, Italian, Spanish
Sample menu
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.
Best meal in Italy so far! Massimo has a lot of personality and he's a ton of fun. His cooking class was hands on. We ate and chat, then cooked and ate, then chat and ate again. It was three courses over 3 hours. We had so much fun and think he'd be a great addition to the Traveling Spoon community. Also, I'm not a fish lover and Massimo helped me love fish. We had a blast with Massimo!
Alex & Mike, Traveling Spoon Ambassador
Traveler reviews
Amazing dinner with great hospitality. Learned a lot would love to have their cooking every night
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ron
October 19, 2026
The group was 7 ladies that travel together. When I choose an experience on our trip it is after a lengthy research and review. Well this one was so worth it! The ladies are still talking about it weeks later. Mossimo promptly met us at the location, interacted with each of us, and was a very charming professional chef. The food, wine, interesting 600+ year old home, and everything was such a delightful experience. So worth the money! I am so happy we chose to spend our evening in Venice with him. ❤️
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orry
October 19, 2026
So grateful that we took part in this unique culinary experience in the 600+ year old home. Massimo made helping him prepare a variety of authentic Italian food so much fun. Eating our creations, while sharing wine and laughter, was the cherry on top. I highly recommend this cooking delight.
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remy
October 16, 2026
The greatest dinner of the trip. Massimo was excellent. Made us feel at home. Managed 10 family members with baking bread, making the cheese filling and making/cutting the pasta for tortellini and ravioli. As well as a salad mix and homemade gelato! Everything was made from scratch. We made everything ourselves and ate it for dinner. We also had great wine, music, italian history lessons, Italian cheese and meats. It was an experience everyone should have traveling to Italy. It was perfection. Great guy, even better chef!
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nicola
October 05, 2026
Guide was amazing and fun, food was the best we have had!
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gaby
October 04, 2026
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