Top Lake Maggiore Food & Drink

Learn to prepare several classic Italian dishes at a private home in Ticino Natural Park, located 36 miles (60km) from central Milan. Help to make a 3-course lunch with menu options that are tailored to the tastes of the participants. Have lunch accompanied by wine, dining at a table in the forest (weather permitting), and look for local wildlife such as fox, hare, and bird life.

Valli Ossolane gained its DOC title in 2009, in the period of 2009–2010 when several DOC titles were added to the already impressive wine portfolio of Piedmont, north-western Italy. It covers red and white wines from the Verbano–Cusio–Ossola province in the far northern reaches of Piedmont. Meet the winemaker, a passionate wine lover who traveled around the world to study and learn the most famous wine regions. You will spend time walking in the vineyard and he will tell you about the wine culture in Ossola valley with a 700-year history. You will taste 3 different type of wine from the winery and he will explain to you more about the process from grapes to wines. He will give the answer to every question about Ossola wine or Italian wines. Coming to his winery, you will have a chance to enjoy the wine with the wonderful view of the Alps and see Domodossola from above.

This is a great choice for travelers looking for an authentic dining experience at Lake Maggiore. Rather than going to a restaurant, enjoy the special experience of eating at a Cesarina’s home. It’s a great way to try a variety of different dishes, as you’ll enjoy a 4-course meal, including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, and dessert. As an added bonus, you’ll also be able to assist your Cesarina with preparation stages, and learn the secrets of the regional recipes.

If you are looking for a suggestive and welcoming place to savor excellent wines and food and enjoy peace and tranquility surrounded by greenery, the Fontechiara Winery is what you are looking for. Come and visit us, you can visit the cellar and savor the magic and charm of the process of transforming grapes into wine. We will tell you the story of our company, illustrating the techniques of cultivation of the vineyards and the methods of vinification and aging. In a suggestive and familiar setting, you will then taste our wines, Nebbiolo DOC, Vespolina DOC and Rosato DOC, served in combination with typical local, fresh, artisanal and zero-kilometer products such as local cured meats and cheeses, specially selected to enhance the best aromas, tastes and organoleptic characteristics of each individual wine.

Hospitality, experience,passion and fun are essential ingredients in all my encounters, besides the fact that everyone who tries my kitchen always remains extremely satisfied

Don't lose the opportunity to become a "pizzaiolo" (pizza-maker) and a great tiramisu maker! Enter a local home, connect with an expert home cook and discover how Italian mamma and nonnas used to prepare awesome pizza at home. With this private hands-on cooking class, you will learn how to make pizza and tiramisù from scratch from a real Italian family. To complete your feast, enjoy what you have prepared for lunch or dinner with a selection of local wine included. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family with a pizza party once you come back home! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages. Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

If you are looking for a charming and welcoming place to savor excellent wines and food and enjoy peace and tranquility surrounded by greenery, the Azienda Agricola Fontechiara is what you need. Come and visit us, you can visit the winery and enjoy the magic and charm of the process of processing grapes into wine. We will tell you the history of our company, illustrating the techniques of cultivation of the vineyards and the methods of vinification and aging. In a suggestive and familiar setting, you will then taste our wines, Nebbiolo DOC and Vespolina DOC, served in combination with local, fresh, locally produced and zero-kilometer products such as local meats and cheeses, specially selected to enhance aromas and flavors to perfection and organoleptic characteristics of each individual wine.

Enjoy the personalized attention of your chef guide, Cesarina, during this private cooking class focused on traditional Italian dishes. Each participant will get hands-on experience, with their own workstation and utensils, creating three authentic dishes. Then, sit down and enjoy the meal you’ve created, along with water, coffee, and wine. You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions and get recipes to take home.

We will spend time walking inside the vineyard where we will discover the culture of grapevine and wine in the Ossola Valley with over 700 years of history. You will taste a wine from our cellar in combination with typical products and I will explain more about the production process. I will try to answer any question about Ossolano wine or Italian wines. Coming to our cellar, you will have the opportunity to taste the wine with the wonderful view of the Alps and see Domodossola from above.

Every course has its own goals. We’ll start to prepare the food all together as a group. We will know the recipes and their history, learn the basic skills, cook them.

Have you ever been to a local market and traditional food shop in Italy, full of ingredients you'd love to experiment with? This is your chance to visit a market with a local expert, choose your most inspiring ingredients, and create and name your very own two recipes.  Go food shopping with your Cesarina and choose 3-5 staple ingredients that capture your imagination before immersing yourself in a private cooking class at their home. With their expert guidance, you will learn how to prepare your chosen ingredients and make your own two Italian creations. Cultivate your creativity and confidence in the kitchen by adding an Italian flair to your dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of 600+ home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Experience the northern Italian tradition of aperitivo in the picturesque setting of Lake Maggiore. This private experience features a selection of five dishes made with fresh, local ingredients such as Italian olive oil, cured meats, grilled vegetables, and cheese as well as local wines and typical drinks. Enjoy this array of dishes at a local home, for a bite-sized depiction of the aperitivo.

You can't visit Italy without trying at least one pasta dish... So, we'll teach you two! Learn how to roll 'sfoglia' (fresh pasta) by hand and how to prepare 2 simple different kinds of pasta (filled pasta + fresh pasta) from scratch with your Cesarina. As the icing on the cake you will learn to prepare also the iconic Tiramisu. Share your passion for the Italian cuisine as you make new friends in this hands-on cooking class. It's a great way to truly experience Italian culture. • Learn to roll 'sfoglia' (fresh pasta) by hand • Learn to make 2 iconic pasta types • Learn to make the iconic tiramisu • Small-group cooking class with a maximum of 12 people. Share your passion for the Italian cuisine with other lovely guests • Enjoy an Italian Aperitivo to warm-up Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country. They are welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

With this experience you will be able to live the experience of becoming a wine producer too and having the wine with your label and the taste you like best! come and try it too!

Meet a local “cesarina” to learn the secrets of Lake Maggiore cuisine. At the market, shop alongside your instructor, who will teach you how to select the best ingredients. Then it’s back to the kitchen where you’ll help prepare three dishes that best represent the region. When the cooking is done, enjoy the meal—plus local wines—together with your classmates.

Through our path you can discover the wines of the territory and learn to refine your senses like all the best sommeliers!

If you are looking for a suggestive and welcoming place to savor excellent wines and food and enjoy peace and tranquility surrounded by greenery, the Fontechiara Winery is what you are looking for. Come and visit us, you can visit the cellar and savor the magic and charm of the process of transforming grapes into wine. We will tell you the story of our company, illustrating the techniques of cultivation of the vineyards and the methods of vinification and aging. In an evocative and familiar setting, you will then taste our wines, Nebbiolo DOC, Vespolina DOC, Rosato DOC and Rosso DOC served in combination with typical local, fresh, artisanal and zero kilometer products such as local cured meats and cheeses, specially selected to enhance the best aromas, tastes and organoleptic characteristics of each individual wine.

Immerse yourself in a private pasta-making class at a local's home, learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and taste the fruit of your labour accompanied by a selection of local wine. During the lesson, the local home cook will reveal the tricks of the trade of 3 authentic regional pasta recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test. Each participant will have a workstation equipped with utensils and all the ingredients to make the dishes. Then, taste everything you have prepared accompanied by a selection of red and white local wines. This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

The traditional recipes of lake Maggiore are a well balanced encounter of seafood and each cuisine: rice," polenta", and vegetables meet perch, bleak, eel and trout. This exclusive experience, taking place on the only permanently inhabited one among Isole Borromee, in the central part of the lake, will allow you to learn the secrets of making fresh pasta and dumplings, besides learning how to match your dishes with the local, prestigious wines. At last, you will be delighted by your self-prepared food, during an unforgettable lunch.

Get an inside look at Italian cuisine on this private dining experience in Lake Maggiore. The tour begins at a local market, where your guide offers tips for navigating the vendors and choosing the freshest ingredients. Afterwards, head to your guide’s kitchen for an intimate cooking demonstration and freshly-prepared four-course meal. In addition to a souvenir tote and apron, take home the secrets of preparing authentic Italian cuisine.

Cooking has always been my passion since I was a child and thanks to the teachings of mom, dad, but above all grandmothers, I developed this art, remaining tied to the flavors and tradition of the past.

Would you like to discover the most authentic side of Italian gastronomy and share it with other enthusiasts of the “cucina italiana”? Enjoy this shared Market tour and typical Dining experience. Visit the vibrant local market and learn about the seasonal produce and secret ingredients. Then, head to your Cesarina’s house to enjoy a 3-course dining experience, showcasing the authentic regional dishes stored in the cookbooks of your host. You will take part in an experience which is so much more than just a lunch or dinner. You will make new friends, feel like one of the family and live like the Italians do.

Italy has a vast and varied culinary heritage, and our local hosts are proud to share its hidden secrets. Share your passion for Italian gastronomy with other lovely guests, immerse yourself in the vibrant local market and enjoy an authentic hands-on cooking class. You'll visit the local market with your Cesarina host, who will teach you all about how to select the best ingredients with the seasons. Then, you'll return to their home, warm up with an Italian Aperitivo and enjoy the class. You'll learn how to make one iconic Pasta type, typical of the city you are visiting, and the famous Tiramisu. After the class, you will enjoy everything you've prepared with local wines. This experience is the perfect choice if you want to encounter the real Italian regional gastronomy through genuine connections, food, and friendship.

Immerse yourself in a private pasta and tiramisu-making class in a welcoming home, learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and tiramisu and taste the fruit of your labour for lunch or dinner accompanied by local wines. During this private lesson, you will learn how to prepare 2 pasta recipes and the tiramisu dessert from scratch. Your Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of these iconic recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family once home with an Italian meal! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.