Food, friends, and wine—done right. This is a hands-on international aperitif experience at Chef and the City, where Chef Ilaria helps you go from a first glass to a full table of things you made yourself. I love that the welcome happens in a cozy dining room with a small buffet and sparkling wine, then the group cooks together (no awkward “watching only” vibes). I also like the focus on variety: you’ll make several appetizer recipes plus a sweet treat from different parts of the world, paired with wine while you all chat.

One consideration: the schedule is tight, and the experience ends at 9 p.m. sharp, so plan your evening around that finish time.

Key Things You’ll Enjoy Most

• Chef Ilaria’s hands-on guidance: You cook under expert direction, even if you’ve never measured flour.
• A real aperitif before the apron: Sparkling wine and a small sweet-and-savory welcome buffet set the tone.
• 3 to 4 global appetizers plus 1 sweet treat: Less repetition, more tasting range.
• Two cooking rounds: About 30 minutes, then a break, then another 30 minutes.
• The best part is eating together: A full tasting stretch with wine included.
• Clean, organized kitchen energy: The vibe stays focused and practical while still friendly.

Meeting Chef and the City: The Workshop With the Red Signs

This class happens at CHEF AND THE CITY in Lombardy, on Laura Ciceri Visconti Street (street number 4). When you arrive, you’ll spot three large windows and big bright red signs. Look for the main door and ring the bell on the center window to enter. The instructions are clear: you do not need to enter any apartment building.

I like this kind of meeting point because it removes the guessing game. You get visual cues fast, and you’re not wandering around late-afternoon streets with a “did we get the right place?” feeling.

Also note: the experience is for adults (minimum age 18). If you’re coming with friends, this is the kind of group activity that naturally turns into conversation without anyone trying too hard.

Your First 30 Minutes: Welcome Buffet and Sparkling Wine

Before you cook, you’ll gather in the dining room (not just the kitchen). While everyone arrives, there’s a small welcome buffet with sweet and savory snacks, plus tea/coffee and soft drinks. You also get a glass of sparkling wine early on.

This matters more than it sounds. Aperitif time is usually where people loosen up. Here, it also helps you settle in because you’re not thrown straight into chopping and timing. You can watch how the kitchen team organizes the flow, ask basic questions, and get comfortable with the group.

A practical detail: this is a relaxed format, but it’s still structured. You’ll be moving into cooking in a controlled window, so treat this first stage as the warm-up, not the main event.

The Two-Round Cooking Session: Appetizers From Different Parts of the World

You’ll cook in a professional kitchen using the tools they provide, plus aprons and gloves. No special skills are required. That’s a huge part of the value here: you’re learning-by-doing, not learning-by-studying.

The class is built around making 3 or 4 appetizers plus 1 sweet treat from different regions. And the goal is not “one person’s family recipe.” It’s recipe variety designed for a class setting—so you’ll learn methods and combinations that travel well to your own home cooking.

Round one (about 30 minutes)

You’ll get instructions, assemble components, and put the first items together. You’ll be active the whole time rather than standing around. If you’ve been worried you won’t keep up, don’t be. The teaching style is meant for people with different levels, and you’ll have help right there in the kitchen.

The short break

After the first cooking stretch, there’s a break while the kitchen resets for the next part. This is smart pacing. It prevents the class from feeling like nonstop stress, and it keeps everything moving smoothly.

Round two (about 30 minutes)

You return to the kitchen for the second set of recipes. At this point, you usually have a better feel for how the tools work, what the kitchen expects, and how quickly you need to move.

One tip before you go: bring a hair tie. It’s specifically listed, and in a real kitchen it’s an easy way to feel prepared from minute one.

The Tasting Hour: Wine Included, Plates Circulating, Real Conversation

This is where the experience clicks. The last hour is devoted to tasting what you cooked, with wine included—listed as 1 bottle for every 4 people.

Eating what you made is not a small add-on here. It’s basically the point. You’ll taste in a group setting, and you’ll likely talk about what worked, what surprised you, and how different flavors land when you’re not just watching someone else cook.

The class also leans into conversation around food and travel. That might sound like a soft bonus, but it’s actually part of the learning. You’re sharing perspectives—where you’ve eaten, what you like, how you interpret ingredients—while the room stays social and relaxed.

If you’re the type who worries cooking classes feel awkward or too competitive, this format is designed to avoid that. The shared table and wine make it feel more like a friendly evening at a well-run venue than a strict lab.

What You Really Learn (Beyond Recipes)

This isn’t a sit-there-and-collect-facts session. You learn by preparing dishes, tasting them, and comparing notes with other people. Here’s what I think you can take home from a class like this.

You learn technique through small steps

Because you’re making multiple appetizers, you practice repeated fundamentals: prepping, portioning, building flavors, and finishing. You’re not stuck on one complicated dish for hours.

You get exposed to “real” Italian cooking discipline

Even though the recipes span different parts of the world, the Italian teaching approach tends to be strict in a good way. You’ll get guidance that respects traditional method while still keeping it beginner-friendly.

You learn how to talk about food

This class is built for mingling—sharing travel stories through what you eat. That means you’ll leave with more than recipes. You’ll have better language for ingredients and pairing, so cooking conversations at home become easier.

One extra detail I appreciated from the feedback style around this class: there’s an emphasis on healthy options and even vegan choices being handled within the flow. If you have preferences, you’ll want to declare any food intolerances, allergies, or restrictions in advance, since that’s required.

Wine Pairing and the Included Drinks: Good Value by Design

Let’s talk about where the price makes sense.

At $39.86 per person, you’re not just paying for cooking instructions. You’re getting:

• tools plus aprons and gloves
• snacks and coffee/tea
• sparkling wine at the start
• still and sparkling water
• wine during tasting (with a bottle split)
• plus the meal you helped create

In other words, you’re paying for a full evening: prep, cooking, tasting, and drinks. For many people, the value is that you get both learning and enjoyment in one tight time block.

Also keep your expectations realistic: wine glasses aren’t listed as unlimited. If you want extra bottles or extra glasses, that’s not included (it’s priced separately). If you’re happy with what’s planned, you should be fine.

Price and Logistics: What to Budget for and How to Plan Your Arrival

This class runs 2.5 hours. The exact start time depends on availability, so check what’s offered for your day.

There’s no mystery about the end: it finishes at 9 p.m. sharp. That means you’ll want to schedule dinner plans with that in mind, or plan a nearby, easy follow-up.

On the logistics side, here are the practical rules that affect your day:

• You can’t bring suitcases or large bags, and there’s no luggage storage listed.
• Smoking isn’t allowed.
• Pets aren’t allowed.
• Wheelchair access isn’t available, and the activity isn’t possible for wheelchair users.
• Children aren’t allowed, and the minimum age is 18.

If you’re traveling light and mostly just wearing comfortable clothes, you’re set.

Is This Cooking Class Worth It for You?

This is a great fit if you want:

• a social cooking experience where you eat together at the end
• an evening built around international appetizer variety
• structured guidance that doesn’t punish beginners
• a friendly host vibe with a focus on keeping the kitchen clean and moving

It may be less ideal if:

• you need a class that lasts longer than 9 p.m.
• you want English instruction (the class is listed in Italian)
• you’re bringing more complicated mobility or family needs (wheelchair access and children aren’t allowed)

If you’re a solo traveler, this format is especially useful because you’re cooking alongside others, then sitting down as a group. You’ll be talking while plates land in front of you, which lowers the awkwardness factor a lot.

Should You Book It?

I’d book this if you want a compact, well-run cooking night that combines hands-on cooking, an aperitif start, and a satisfying tasting hour with wine. The best reason to choose it is the structure: you’re not stuck waiting your turn, and the meal is the payoff.

If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to go beyond eating out and actually learn how to build flavors, this class gives you practical results fast. Just make sure you can work with the Italian-language format, travel without heavy luggage, and plan your evening around the 9 p.m. stop.

FAQ

What’s the duration of the international aperitif cooking class?

The experience lasts about 2.5 hours. Starting times depend on availability.

What dishes will we cook?

You’ll cook 3 or 4 appetizers and 1 sweet treat, with recipes from different parts of the world.

Do I need any cooking experience?

No. You’ll cook together under expert guidance, so it’s fine if you’ve never weighed flour before.

What languages is the class taught in?

The class is listed as Italian.

Is wine included?

Yes. You’ll have wine as part of the experience, with 1 bottle for every 4 people included. Extra bottles or glasses cost extra.

What should I bring, and what’s not allowed?

Bring a hair tie. The class also lists restrictions like no pets, no smoking, and no luggage or large bags.

What are the age and accessibility rules?

The minimum age is 18. Wheelchair users can’t participate, and children aren’t allowed.