Nov 1, 2024
Absolutely Outstanding! - I am an Italian American and was excited to go back to where my family was from and take a cooking class from Silvia. What an amazing experience. Silvia is an excellent cook and teacher. I even picked up on a few tips I wasn't aware of when making ravioli. I highly recommend booking time with Silvia. it is a life changing memory I will cherish forever!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 15, 2024
Sylvia in Salerno, Outstanding - We took a taxi from our cruise midmorning to a nearby residential area, having some mobility issues. We were greeted warmly before entering Sylvia's condo building by her assistant and interpreter Angela. An elevator is available if stairs are an issue.
Upon entering, Sylvia assured us we were welcome in her home. We were family, not just students of traditional regional Italian cooking for this private class.
While I sipped Italian espresso and my husband pet the tiny family dog, Sylvia and Angela gathered ingredients, provided aprons, shared our menu for preparation today.
Sylvia oversaw our enthusiastic, yet amateur, efforts to throughly hand-knead a pasta dough of only semolina flour and farm-fresh egg. While the dough "rested" she involved us in preparing a tomato salad and a ratatouille-like dish of grilled peppers.
Sylvia's homemade tomato puree magically joined olive oil and smashed garlic to become a tasty pasta sauce for our self-made ravioli. We made a spinach and multi-cheese filling for the ravioli. Ravioli was made in two ways; using a hand crimper and then in a mold. Later we learned to make another dumpling-like dish with walnut-sized balls of the spinach-cheese filling encased in a boiled flour shell.
We made traditional tarimasu. Yummy!
Added to our feast were dishes that Sylvia made earlier: eggplant parmigiana in impossibly thin, delicious layers; a potato fritata with cheese and accents of Italian dried meat.
It seemed we were guests of an extended neighborhood network: the foccia bread, the red wine, limoncello, and fennel liquors were from neighbors. The anchovies, meats, olive oil, aged cheeses and fresh vegetables were from local providers.
What a memorable day with a highly skilled and loving Italian cook. Her home, family members and dog brought glimpses of multiple generations, careers, and traditions. Their company was a gift of time.
Recipes will follow, allowing us to make the dishes at home. We'll imagine Sylvia saying "knead the pasta dough with more energy" and gently boil the ravioli, but aldente."
Having been introduced to CESARINE, Italy’s first nationwide community of local home cooks, through Viator TripAdvisor we look forward to direct-bookings in other Italian regions.
Review provided by Viator
Sep 1, 2024
Best way to get a taste of Italy - By far our favorite experience here in Italy. We absolutely loved working with Sylvia and Angela as they made the experience fun and memorable. We hope to come back and do another class.
Review provided by Viator
May 12, 2024
Elegance with Elena. - Our dinner with Elena, Mauricio, and Marta was so intimate and wonderful. They shared the entire home, patio and collection of animals with us. Our meal was better than any restaurant and served with elegance. We have told many friends about this and they hope to do the same thing some day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Apr 11, 2024
Homemade Pasta Class in Salero with Silvia Tortoro - I took the “home made pasta: gnocchi and tagliatelle in Salero” cooking class with Silvia Tortoro and it was one of the best experiences during our time on the Amalfi coast. Silvia has a warm demeanor and graciously welcomed us into her home.
I mentioned in the booking that the date of the cooking class is my 40th birthday and she planned a lovely celebration with tiramisu, themed candles, and a pretty card.
Best of all, the pasta we made was excellent. Silvia’s son joined us to translate and he explained the recipes and details of what we were making. Almost every single ingredient we used, from the tomato sauce to the pesto, was locally sourced and home made.
Before we had the pasta, Silvia prepared a huge antipasti spread with local cheeses, olives, bread, and various other small plates. We enjoyed this with her while chatting about Italian culture and her family.
I highly recommend the class with Silvia if you’re looking for an authentic cooking experience in Salerno. Thank you for an unforgettable experience and for making my birthday so special!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 11, 2023
Can't Miss - This was such an incredible experience! Silvia and Angela are wonderful and so welcoming. Silvia's home and kitchen are so beautiful and is easy to find (my wife and I walked from our Airbnb). Silvia makes a ton in advance so she can focus on teaching you and hosting you. Angela is also so welcoming and fun. She translates and takes great photos during the time their. While you make 2 pastas, and a dessert, Silvia has prepared much more and it is a true feast. The food is delicious, and the company is great as well! There's also great wine with fruit! My wife and I left with very full and happy stomachs, great knowledge, great photos, and even some new Italian sayings! It was the true highlight of our honeymoon, and Angela and Silvia felt like old friends! We would send anyone to them and will definitely come back to visit again!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aug 3, 2023
A wonderful evening where you get a taste of real Italian cuisine & culture - Perfect birthday gift for my 50th birthday!
This evening was one of those evenings that has left a lifetime memory in our hearts. How honoured we are that you have invited us to your beautiful home and let us experience a taste of true Italian food & tradidion!
It already started with the warm welcome from Angela and you: we immediately felt at ease and how wonderful it was that you wrote me a birthday card! [heart]
It was one loveable night where we got an insight in the Italian cuisine, what to do (and what NOT to do - like drinking cappucino in the evening :-)). We had a delicious meal and you taught us so many things that we'd love to teach our children & friends as well!
But most valuable was that you shared your values with us - what's important to you and part of the Southern Italian culture: sitting around the table with friends, share stories, learn from each other, laugh, learn from the culture and history. And all that while enjoying delicious Italian food.
We sure hope to get back one time to learn how to cook fish in the Italian way!
Grazie mille, grazie mille, Silvia & Angela!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jun 4, 2023
Favorite Experience in Salerno!! - This was my absolute favorite experience in Salerno!! Antonia and her husband were such gracious hosts, they immediately made me feel right at home in their beautiful place! And the meal was just incredible, more than the 4 courses promised, everything delicious! And topped off at the end with home made sorbet and liqueurs. They also gave me suggestions on a couple of places not to miss and looked up and wrote down the train schedule for me. Truly wonderful hosts, I couldn't have imagined a better experience. Cosi grato!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor