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
10/10 experience with Massimo! We had such an incredible time at his private cooking class, which he hosted right in his beautiful home. From the very beginning, he made the experience feel so personal and special. He took us to the local market and helped us select ingredients based on our preferences and allergies, which we really appreciated.
The food was absolutely delicious and unique, and every dish was better than the last. The wine and bubbly were also incredible and made the whole experience even more memorable. Massimo was such a wonderful host — knowledgeable, welcoming, and clearly passionate about sharing his food and culture with others.
If you’re looking for an authentic, intimate, and truly special experience in Venice, we couldn’t recommend Massimo and his cooking class more! 🇮🇹🍷
-
cam
September 24, 2026
Outstanding experience. Massimo was the ultimate host. We felt like we were family with him. The food preparation was fun, educational and easy! And the food and wine were spectacular! Can’t wait to make at home!!
-
ben
September 18, 2026
We had a private cooking lesson with Massimo and it was one of the best things we have ever done while vacationing. He made the whole experience feel like cooking with family. The food was delicious and we can’t wait to try out the recipes when we get home. Our son is on the Autism Spectrum and he’s usually grumpy but he didn’t stop smiling the entire afternoon. It was a magical day. When we come back to Venice one day we will definitely be booking another lesson with Massimo.
-
ariel
September 17, 2026
What an incredibly unique experience to enjoy a meal prepared by a chef who welcomes you into his home in Venice, Italy and then joins you for the meal making you feel like you are family. Massimo was incredible as was the food he prepared for us.
-
charlotte
September 13, 2026
Very personable. Fun tour of the market and brought some seafood to his home for cooking our lunch. We were able to participate in cooking with his instruction
He then presented a full lunch with wine appetizers, salad, focaccia bread and our seafood pasta dish and our goat cheese gelato desert.
-
quenie
September 13, 2026
Read More
