If there's one thing you absolutely must do in Puglia, it's attending one of Awaiting Table's…read morecourses with Silvestro. You will learn so much about Pugliese cuisine, Italy's history and culture, wine, olive oil, and literally anything that comes up in conversation with whomever else is taking the course with you. Silvestro's knowledge from decades of studying wine and olive oil and overall curiosity of the world makes him a wealth of knowledge. This was far and away the most fun, interesting, and engaging experience we had in all of Italy; our next visit to the country will be centered around taking another course here!

We just returned from an extraordinary week in Lecce with Silvestro at The Awaiting Table, and I…read morecan honestly say it was one of the most memorable and enriching travel experiences we've ever had. We first met Silvestro during a one-day class back in October 2021 as part of a Puglia food tour. Even then, we were blown away by his depth of knowledge, his passion for Salento's culinary traditions, and the way he paired incredible food with exceptional local wines. That brief introduction left a lasting impression--so much so that we knew we had to return for the full week-long experience. This time, we brought friends along, and it exceeded every expectation. Silvestro, along with his lovely assistants Anna and Antonella, are deeply devoted to the food, wine, culture, and history of Salento. What makes this course so special is how immersive and personal it feels. Each day included a morning visit to the markets--sometimes the fishmonger, a local butcher, or a charming wine shop--followed by hands-on cooking sessions where we learned to handcraft various regional pasta shapes, work with wild greens (and learn about the surprisingly political nature of them!), and cook traditional dishes with care and purpose. The days were long but joyful, with lunch and dinner prepared and enjoyed together, always with a thoughtfully paired local wine. We cooked, laughed, learned, and feasted--often finishing close to midnight, happily full and completely satisfied. Conversations flowed just as easily as the wine: from the nuances of olive oil and amari, to the complexities of wine classification, to the art of Salento coffee and gelato. Silvestro is witty, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable. Whether you're an accomplished cook or an enthusiastic beginner, you'll feel at home in his kitchen. One of the unexpected highlights was the camaraderie among the guests. Despite our varied cooking backgrounds, we all clicked and have become great friends. Sharing the joy of cooking and discovery in such an intimate setting really brought us together. I returned home with five bottles of Silvestro's exquisite house-made olive oil--both a delicious souvenir and a way to keep the memories of this brilliant week alive. If you're even remotely interested in Italian cooking, culture, or just having an unforgettable travel experience, The Awaiting Table is not to be missed.

We spent a week doing private lessons with Teresa and Maria. It was a really great experience and…read morewe learned a lot. We actually added two additional classes because we enjoyed it so much. Maria was easy to communicate with and we also enjoyed meeting Maya the pug. We hope to come back based on our very positive experience. We would highly recommend the lessons.

If you are looking for an Italian language school in Italy, DO NOT sign up for Monda Scuola Italia…read more& Homestay in Villa Castelli Italy. You can find the school by a Google search and will find only rave reviews. That is because the owner, Maria Rossini, only posts good reviews. A friend and I signed up for this 2 week program which included accommodations, all meals, classes and some optional tours. What a JOKE!!! We were to stay in authentic Trullo, which supposedly was 3 blocks from the family home where we would have meals and lessons. That wasn't the case. The picture of the Trullo was beautiful, but looks can be deceiving and this was. It was about a mile or more from the house. No street address. No wifi, no fan for ventilation in the very hot month of Aug. (We were promised a fan). A TV that did not work. Refills water bottles, from who knows where. Dry toast and jam for breakfast. Threadbare towels. AND Mice poop on the sheets and pillow cases. Totally disgusting!!! We had to walk over a mile to the lessons and to get our meals. It was extremely hot, as it was Aug. We ended up taking rides from strange men to get to the home. Cooking classes??? Another joke. It consisted of helping form orechiettis (little pastas). No clear instruction and no recipes..Classes taught by the mother of Maria Rossini, the owner and operator of Monda Scuola Italia. Tours??? Yet another huge disappointment. The tours were given by Maria's father who spoke no English. He walked us through an amazing town, but seemed to not have much knowledge of the background, other than to tell us that one of the hotels was owned by the Mafia. BUYER BEWARE!!!! I would not recommend this "language school" to anyone!!! I quit after 2 days and probably lost about $800USD. Julie Olson Bend Oregon USA