Join Executive Chef Eugenio in Rome for an exclusive hands-on pizza making class in his authentic Roman-style kitchen. He will teach you the history, technique, and skills to making the perfect pizza. Learn the tastes and traditions of authentic pizza with Italy’s most colorful and acclaimed chef in the heart of Rome. This cooking class is a great day activity for adults and children. (Classes for kids are hosted separately from adults and are grouped by family or age group).
Chef Eugenio’s family, originally from outside of Naples, immigrated to the Eternal City in the early 1900s. Though still very connected with his countryside roots, Chef Eugenio is 100% Roman and allows no exceptions in his kitchen. Learn how to cook without recipes, timers, measuring cups and scales, but with the smells, instinct, and technique that only Chef Eugenio has gained after years of experience. He cooks with his eyes, like most Italian chefs, using his senses and know how.
His philosophy is ‘hands-on cooking classes, using fresh seasonal ingredients bought at the Testaccio Market that day made with love.’ Chef Eugenio turns out antipasti, pasta, main courses and pizza. In this authentic pizza making class, he will teach you his philosophy of cooking, tricks of the kitchen, along with passion and love for food.
He takes you up close to the classical cuisine of the Eternal City, while transforming dough into a delicate golden crust topped with Italy’s finest tomatoes, Mozzarella and more. You too can become a Pizzaiolo, pizza maker, for a day.
As featured in 
December 2011 – Click here to read more!
Pizza School
Chef Eugenio’s pizza making class brings you up close with our Pizzaiolo showing you how to mix, knead and bake a true Italian pizza. Learn the technique of dough making, rolling & driving the dough for the perfect pizza. Then slice into your Roman style pizza garnished with your choice of tomatoes, assorted cheese, grilled vegetables, salumi, ham or more!
The morning class starts at 10am with a welcome and introduction followed by the preparation of authentic Italian pizza. Join Chef Eugenio for this intense pizza cooking class as he takes you through the technical steps to making perfect Italian pizza. Lunch follows on the foods prepared in class.
A recipe book is included with compilation of Chef Eugenio’s creations; recipes may vary depending on the seasons, so we encourage each guest to bring a notebook and camera into the kitchen.
The History of Pizza Margherita
The story of how pizza became more than a peasant’s dish is quite a story. In 1889 Queen Margherita accompanied her husband, Umberto I of Savoia, on an inspection of his Italian Kingdom. During her trips around the kingdom she saw many peasants and poor people eating a flat bread which they called “pizza.” While in Naples, the curious queen summoned her guards and asked them to bring her a piece of this flat bread. The queen liked what she ate and would eat this flat bread every time she went out of her palace.
The Queen developed a great liking for their pizza and became extremely popular with the masses. This taste was considered somewhat undesirable in court circles.
One day in June, on the Queen’s insistence, Chef Raffaele Esposito was summoned from his pizzeria to the palace to bake a selection of pizzas for the Queen. Raffaele, in order to honor the Queen’s desire for his pizzas, created a special pizza with tomato, mozzarella, and basil (the colors of the Italian flag – red, white and green). The pizza was a great hit with the Queen, and Esposito was summoned to create this specialty pizza regularly. When the news got out that the Queen’s favorite was tomato, mozzarella & basil, she not only became an even greater hit with the public, but also started a trend for the “Pizza Margherita.” To date, the Pizza Margherita is Italy’s most popular!
Chef Eugenio takes you up close to the classical cuisine of the Eternal City, while transforming dough into a delicate golden crust topped with Italy’s finest tomatoes, Mozzarella, basil, olives and anyone of the delicious pizza toppings. You too can become a Pizzaiolo, pizza maker, for a day.
Program Includes:
- Hands-on cooking class featuring the preparation of true Italian pizza.
- Lunch following on the foods prepared in class. Wine and beverages not included.
- Recipe book with compilation of Chef Eugenio’s creations; recipes may vary depending on the seasons, so we encourage each guest to bring a notebook and camera into the kitchen.
Program Prices
$325 per person, based on 2 guests. Classes start at 10am.
For Single Guests: If you are traveling on your own, please call us for the best group price. We are happy to welcome you into an already scheduled group.
* Please note: One-day cooking classes do not include transportation, accommodations, or any other excursions. If you would like to add on transfers to and from your hotel or cruise ship port ~ please let us know your group size and we will be happy to provide a price and reserve the transfer(s) for you. If you have a non-cooker who would like dine, but not cook, please let us know and we will also send you pricing.
2023 Dates: This program is available throughout the year. You can reserve your cooking program for any day of the week. Rates are subject to change based on currency exchange. Call for updated rates. Airfare not included. Group transfers for any cooking tour or tours that include transfers, are for the group and are not private. Transfers before, after or to another destination outside of your cooking tour are not included in the program price. If you would like to add on a private transfer or transfers, let us know and we will send you pricing.
