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Sicilian Cooking Class: Taste Local Delights
5.0
33 Ratings
Siracusa
Join Teresa Zimmitti on a Syracuse Market Tour in Ortigia, Sicily. Explore the vibrant Ortigia market, learn to cook traditional Sicilian dishes, and indulge in a tasting tour. Book now!
Join Teresa Zimmitti on a Syracuse Market Tour in Ortigia, Sicily. Explore the vibrant Ortigia market, learn to cook traditional Sicilian dishes, and indulge in a tasting tour. Book now!
Duration:
4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
-
Via Isole delle Molucche, 8 - Teresa Zimmitti warmly invites you to dive into a genuine Sicilian culinary and cultural journey!
The experience unfolds in two segments.
Meeting point:
Meet your Guide at 8:45 am at the Ortigia Point of Sale (Burgio Salumeria), conveniently located near the port.
Tour of the Ortigia Point of Sale (8:45 - 9:45)
Savor a…
-
Via Isole delle Molucche, 8 - Teresa Zimmitti warmly invites you to dive into a genuine Sicilian culinary and cultural journey!
The experience unfolds in two segments.
Meeting point:
Meet your Guide at 8:45 am at the Ortigia Point of Sale (Burgio Salumeria), conveniently located near the port.
Tour of the Ortigia Point of Sale (8:45 - 9:45)
Savor a pleasant walk through the lively Point of Sale, engaging in Food Shopping, exploring local flavors, learning basic Mediterranean recipes, tasting Sicilian specialties, and gaining insights into fresh and preserved foods.
A 15-minute drive will take you to the Villa in the Arenella bathing area, where the lesson will commence around 10:00. Transport is available for an additional €20. At Teresa’s Villa, you will be guided in preparing traditional and family recipes, using some of the fresh ingredients selected at the Point of Sale. The lesson lasts two hours, after which you can enjoy your time in the garden.
What's Included
- Hands-On Cooking: You’ll be involved in every step of the process.
- Cook three family-style recipes
- Wine, mineral water and coffee
- Private transportation
- Book a private experience for your family ask for information
- If you want to prepare fresh pasta or birthday cake, ask for IT when you book
- For organizational reasons, the reservation with only one participant can be canceled.
- Hands-On Cooking: You’ll be involved in every step of the process.
- Cook three family-style recipes
- Wine, mineral water and coffee
- Private transportation
- Book a private experience for your family ask for information
- If you want to prepare fresh pasta or birthday cake, ask for IT when you book
- For organizational reasons, the reservation with only one participant can be canceled.
What's Not Included
- Flours contain gluten
- Flours contain gluten
Meal Options
-
Pasta or arancine with ragù , or sicilian impanata with vegetables and cheese - The fresh or dry pasta with meat, vegetables or fish sauce.
You can specify your preferences, I can also satisfy you with a vegetarian menu. - caponata, parmigiana,bruschetta,meat or fish dish ,vegetable sweet and sour - The appetizer will be typical Sicilian…
-
Pasta or arancine with ragù , or sicilian impanata with vegetables and cheese - The fresh or dry pasta with meat, vegetables or fish sauce.
You can specify your preferences, I can also satisfy you with a vegetarian menu. - caponata, parmigiana,bruschetta,meat or fish dish ,vegetable sweet and sour - The appetizer will be typical Sicilian traditional.Vegetables, fish and local and fresh meats
- Traditional Sicilian dessert ,usually dessert with fresh ricotta - We will make a dessert with local product : ricotta, almonds or pistachio, tiramisu, rolle’, almonds cake, pistachio cake, cannoli.
- Vegetarian menu - On request, the menu can be all vegetarian.
Additional Information
This experience is designed for at least two participants. Teresa, who was born and raised in Syracuse, will be your guide throughout this engaging and practical course of medium difficulty.
At the Point of Sale, from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, participants will delve into the world of local cuisine, enjoying insights, tastings, and recipes.
The “Cook &…
This experience is designed for at least two participants. Teresa, who was born and raised in Syracuse, will be your guide throughout this engaging and practical course of medium difficulty.
At the Point of Sale, from 8:30 am to 9:30 am, participants will delve into the world of local cuisine, enjoying insights, tastings, and recipes.
The “Cook & Enjoy” session will take place from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Teresa’s Villa.
By booking this experience, participants will receive a complimentary family cookbook (in English) to recreate the classic Sicilian dishes taught by Teresa at home.
Please book in advance and inform us of any allergies or intolerances. For families larger than six, please inquire about availability, as special pricing is offered.
- A gluten-free menu is not available
- A minimum number of travellers is required for this experience. In case of cancellation for not reaching the minimum number, you can choose between another date/experience or a full refund
- This experience admits up to six travelers
Location
Fratelli Burgio
Piazza Cesare Battisti
The meeting point is at 8.45am in front of the Burgio deli shop at the Ortigia Point of Sale.Teresa will be waiting for you on site.
If you do not have a car Teresa can arrange transportation.
The extra cost of the service is €20cash
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(33 Ratings)
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79marlas
Jan 27, 2026
Ortigia Market Tour and Sicilian Cooking Class - I had the pleasure of taking the Ortigia market tour and traditional Sicilian cooking lesson with Teresa and it was an incredibly immersive experience into the vibrant culture and cuisine! The tour was highly informative and provided a thorough foundational understanding of the spices, fruits, and vegetables that are utilized in Sicilian cuisine. I also greatly enjoyed the opportunity to learn how to prepare multiple authentic dishes that were absolutely delicious! I particularly enjoyed making several types of Sicilian pasta from scratch and artfully shaping each piece in traditional style. The lesson culminated with a beating dinner In Teresa’s lovely home. This was an incredible experience and I highly recommend taking the tour and cooking class with Teresa!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Averells2026
Jan 26, 2026
Great market tour and cooking class! - Theresa is awesome! We did the market tour and the cooking class. During the market tour she gave us a breakdown of the various items and what is worth buying and what is not, as well as what is in season and what is not. (Note: You can find many of the packaged items cheaper at stores outside the tourist area). I do recommend the fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and spices Theresa suggests.
As for the cooking class, it is great. Theresa lets you choose your own menu. I would recommend at least one pasta dish. We did the Sicilian sauce, but she has a ton of sauces to try to make. Also, we made the pasta by hand without having to resort to special tools. Because I am trying to eat better, we did the fish al forno (with sea bass). If you ever see whole fish at the store and think “I wish I knew how to make that”, this is the dish for you. And we did parmigiana, which is simple and good. Theresa really knows her dishes and she can tell you about substitutions and how to alter them to make new dishes. We left with more recipes to try at home. And now pasta making is less intimidating.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amanda
Nov 8, 2025
Wonderful experience! - Super great experience with Teresa staring with visiting the Ortiga market learning about different Sicilian items and then to a beautiful villa to prepare and learn about traditional recipes and tips. Teresa is a lovely hostess and a great Italian mother.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
652jeanas
Sep 21, 2025
A wonderful and delicious afternoon - I am an avid cook, and my newly retired husband has just started taking an interest in cooking. We thought this private cooking lesson would be a fun experience together — and it turned out to be so much more.
Teresa began with an in-depth tour of the local Ortigia food market, where we were immersed in the vibrant atmosphere — from the fishmonger loudly calling out his fresh catch to a generous sampling at the local salumeria of cheeses, meats, and olives. As we moved from stall to stall, Teresa introduced us to the incredible variety of fruits and vegetables, and gave us lessons on almonds, pistachios, tomatoes, and other local specialties.
With our ingredients in hand, we went to Teresa’s home, where her patio and garden became our classroom. The setting was beautiful, complete with two lazy cats lounging in the afternoon sunshine. Together we made three outstanding dishes and several types of pasta. Teresa was a wonderful teacher — patient, knowledgeable, and engaging — explaining techniques as she went along.
After cooking, she left us to enjoy the meal we had prepared together with a bottle of delicious Sicilian white wine. It was the perfect touch to a perfect day.
Teresa was everything you would imagine a warm Sicilian cook to be, and more. We both would absolutely do this again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nina
Sep 17, 2025
Interesting and fun - Teresa was a very good guide at the market. The cooking at her house was interesting and we felt very welcome. Made different types of pasta, melanzane parmigiana, a ragu and tiramisu with peaches. Everything tasted nice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephenhl8809hh
Sep 9, 2025
Amazing Experience and Delicious Food! - My wife and I had an amazing time. She was a very kind and gracious host. The recipes we made were so good! Everything was super fresh as we had bought the ingredients ourselves at the market earlier in the day. We had so much fun and the recipes reminded me of my childhood. Without a doubt while you are in Ortigia you need to book this experience! Super authentic and incredibly delicious
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T1447eytomr
Sep 4, 2025
Wonderful cooking experience - Teresa met us at the market and we tasted some cheeses and caponata after she explained some differences in traditional Sicilian and regional foods. Next, she welcomed us into her home where we made pasta, octopus, and swordfish. She's a warm welcoming person and a great teacher!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Quest27585626679
Aug 25, 2025
Market tour and cooking class - It was an excellent tour of the market and the food we made was amazing. Highly recommend both the tour and the cooking class.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Bonniesl4498ek
Aug 25, 2025
Cooking with Teresa was amazing! - This was a highlight of our trip! Teresa was so easy to be around and a great teacher for cooking Sicilian dishes. Everything was delicious and we were able to take extras home. Wonderful experience!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert
Jul 30, 2025
Fantastic culinary experience - We met Theresa at the market. She was prompt and immediately welcomed us with a wonderful cappuccino. She is extremely knowledgeable of the Italian and Sicilian cuisine. We asked her what type of olive oil she prefers to cook with and to our surprise She informed us she uses olive oil from her family farm! We sampled a number of items in the market. All was wonderful. To our disappointment my spouse was still not feeling well after a night of rough seas on the cruise. Theresa was disappoint as she had prepared all the ingredients for a wonderful meal, but quickly changed the experience and treated us to some fresh seafood at the market. HIGHLY RECCOMEND.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
