Private cooking class with a chef to prepare pesto in Portofino

This private Portofino cooking class will just be you (and perhaps your travelling companions) spending some time together in an old mill making one of the most famous Italian sauces – pesto! Not only will you have a great time at the class, you’ll learn a skill to take home and impress your family and friends.

Enjoy this exclusive private Portofino cooking class experience in an Old Mill

One of the major attractions of the Ligurian Coast, the wonderful village of Portofino is certainly one of the main attractions not to be missed in Northern Italy. Portofino is a tourist destination of great popularity due to its natural heritage but also for the elegant atmosphere and the chic shops that characterize the colorful streets of the city center. For those visiting the Liguria region, a stop in Portofino is a prerequisite. Get ready to be enchanted by nature and breathtaking views on the sea!
Get also in touch with the real soul of Portofino through its tastes! Arrive at a stunning Mediterranean location in the Ligurian countryside. Your private Portofino cooking class takes place in an old mill surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, and Mediterranean vegetation. Smell the basil in the air that will going right into your pesto. Feel the sea air coming from the bay and take a moment to truly realise you’ve escaped the hustle and bustle of the city!

Your private Portofino cooking class is led by a local culinary expert

A local culinary expert will be knowledgeable about food and show you the ropes of how to make pesto. From chopping the basil, to grating the parmesan, and using a mortar and pestle to grind everything down and blend it together, they’ll be with you every step of the way. Listen to their stories about the area and learn more about Ligurian culture as you enjoy the therapeutic private Portofino cooking class.
You will learn how to make the most famous Genoese pesto sauce in the traditional way (using mortar and pestle) and accompanied with corzetti pasta (a fresh typical pasta stamped with a design). Do you know that ... basil is the first ingredient for this exquisite sauce? It must be very fresh, preferably with small leaves which gives a gentler taste and not that minty and are better as you can crush them easily in the mortar. In Genoa it is traditionally used basilico di Pra type.

Taste the pesto you’ve prepared at your private Portofino cooking class

The best bit? You can taste the pesto that you’ve lovingly prepared at the private Portofino cooking class. At the end of the class, you and your group will in fact enjoy a light lunch, with some traditional local specialties paired with an excellent glass of local wine, of course!
Trust us: it will be an unforgettable eXPerience and you will take home the recipe of the pesto, so that you can make it for your friends and family! Your professional Italian chef will introduce you to these typical Ligurian recipes and at the end of your private cooking lesson, enjoy your hard work!

Other eXPeriences in Liguria

If you liked this activity, try also this Shore excursion by boat from La Spezia port to visit Cinque Terre, or this Private Tour of the Centre of Genoa, with visit to the old shops and food tastings!