Taste the Real Sicily:
Forget the tourist traps. Join me, Chef Ettore, for an immersive and emotional journey into authentic Sicilian cuisine with my exclusive cooking experience in Siracusa. We will dive into the vibrant colors of the local market, share unforgettable laughs, and prepare a feast that feels exactly like "grandma's kitchen".
An Authentic Cooking Class in Siracusa & the Ortigia Market
More Than a Class : It's a Game, a Story, and a Family Feast
My philosophy is simple: the market is not a supermarket! Together, we embrace strict seasonality and the rich historical-cultural storytelling behind our food. During our cooking experience in Ortigia, we’ll taste mortadella from above right at the stalls—because I invented that it brings good luck!—and uncover centuries of history. Expect a perfect balance: high technical professionalism wrapped in a deeply informal, incredibly welcoming environment. Explore our street food classes to find your perfect Sicilian journey.Â
Traditional Menu & Ortigia Market Tour
Meet me at the Temple of Apollo for an interactive shopping tour and tasting among the vibrant stalls. We’ll then head to our beautiful outdoor pergola to cook a full traditional meal together, with transportation, wine, and a special Sicilian sea salt gift included.
Sicilian Street Food Class
Master the art of our most iconic street food at the same price as our traditional menu. Learn the authentic secrets behind perfectly golden arancini and panelle in a fun, relaxed environment.
Authentic Sicilian Cuisine
Traditional recipes prepared with local techniques.
Local Organic Products
Fresh seasonal ingredients selected daily from the Ortigia market.
Immersive Experience
Authentic Sicilian culture, cuisine, and conviviality.
Grab a Seat at My Table
Ready to join the family? Choose your preferred date and experience below. Spaces are limited because I like to keep our gatherings intimate, authentic, and full of laughter. Pick your day and let the magic begin!
A small note for my guests: Your booking includes a formal membership to our local “Associazione Culturale.” This is a simple legal step that officially welcomes you into our culinary circle for the day—consider it your VIP pass to the real Sicily!
Meet Your Chef : Ettore Anastasio
With over 40 years of culinary experience across Italy, including collaborations with Michelin-starred restaurants, I am proud to share the soul of my beloved Sicily with you. By day, I am a school teacher, but in my kitchen, I am not a strict academic. For me, “it is always a game, because you are absolutely not students”! I’ll teach you my highly personal culinary techniques (like pan-risotto pasta) and debunk food stereotypes, welcoming you like an old friend. And if you ask me if this is like The White Lotus, my answer is always: “Yes!”. Discover my full story and why I believe cooking is the ultimate game of history and heart.
Join Our Worldwide Family: 4.9/5 Stars on TripAdvisor
Our guests arrive as visitors from the US, Australia, the UK, and beyond, but they leave with emotional hugs, having found a true taste of local genuineness. Read the stories of past travelers who have experienced the magic of our table. (A portion of every booking also formally registers you as a member of our Cultural Association, keeping our traditions alive!).
Posted on Tripadvisor HeimathafenVerified Absolut empfehlenswert, wenn man einen fröhlichen Tag erleben möchte! Ettore ist ein wunderbarer Entertainer, der unserer internationalen Gruppe (USA, GB, D) einen unvergesslichen Tag bereitet hat. Der Gang über den Markt,der fast 2 Stunden dauerte, war ein Erlebnis! Wir haben nicht nur viel über die verschiedenen typisch sizilianischen Lebensmittel gelernt und sie probieren können, sondern auch lustige bzw interessante Gespräche mit verschiedenen Standbesitzern geführt. Nach dem Marktbesuch ging es mit dem Taxi in ein Gartenlokal, wo wir nach dem Aperitif gemeinsam an einer Außenküche die Zutaten für drei verschiedene Pastasoßen (mit Fisch, mit Salsiccia und vegetarisch) vorbereiteten. Nach dem gemeinsamen Essen mit Wein, Wasser einem abschließenden Digistif und Caffè wurden wir mit dem Taxi zurück nach Ortigia gebracht. Danke, Ettore für diesen schönen Tag!Posted on Tripadvisor Peter FVerified Great Market and Cooking Experience Ettore was amazing, he grew up here and was a fountain of knowledge about the local places and food. His passion for food and teaching others about it was brilliant. He made as all feel like family. We chose the ingredients at the market and helped to prepare the dishes, then sat down together to eat. It was an amazing experience. I would definitely recommend this.Posted on Tripadvisor Mario RVerified Great experience in Siracusa A great experience! Everything was perfect down to choosing the meals and cooking together. I would 100% recommend it. We felt appreciated and seen and it was so funny getting to cook togetherPosted on Tripadvisor Yuri YVerified Superb! This was an amazing experience for us (we had two 14 year old girls with us). Make sure you go hungry and plan for this to be your main eating activity for the day. Highly recommend!Posted on Tripadvisor David CVerified Excellent day with Mariarita! We had chef Mariarita and had a great time cooking in her beautiful home overlooking the Neapolis Archeological Park. We made homemade cavatelli, swordfish, salad, and tiramisu. Everything was perfect - highly recommended.Posted on Tripadvisor Beunhaas__Verified Heerlijk gegeten, super ervaring! Ettore heeft op een super toegankelijke manier zijn passie voor koken en eten met ons gedeeld. De locatie waar we hebben gekookt was prachtig en uniek. De gerechten waren typisch Italiaans: simpel recept, maar ingrediënten van een super kwaliteit en daardoor heerlijk. Dankjewel Ettore!Posted on Tripadvisor livintotravelVerified Best afternoon experience (especially if foul weather) This trip was SPECTACULAR from start to finish. ETTORE, our chef and guide escorted us on a leisurely stroll through the market educating us on the importance of fresh and local ingredients for our subsequent meal. We tasted fresh oyster, capers, prickly fruit, limoncello, virtually anything we wanted, purchasing all the ingredients for our meal as we moved along. As a group of 8, we settled on a meal of caponata with both fish and meatballs. At Ettore’s suggestion, we also chose pistachio pesto with spaghetti. The cooking demonstration took place at an exquisite Oceanside restaurant where we soaked in the expertise of an experienced and local chef, juxtaposed with city and ocean views. The meal was replete with Prosecco and bountiful local vino rosso. Plan on a 5 hour experience but every minute full of a multi-sensory experience. Bravo!Posted on Tripadvisor Lynn CVerified Fabulous visit to market & cooking class with Ettore. We had a blast & l learned so much from this warm, friendly chef! We shopped at the market and then were taxi to the restaurant where we prepared the recipes, enjoyed local wines, and ate together. Very memorable time!Posted on Tripadvisor Simon RVerified 5 Star Amazing from start to end. Learnt a great deal and a wonderful immersion in to Syracuse and Sicilian cooking. Recommend wholeheartedlyVerified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
