We just finished Chef In a day's market visit and cooking class. What an amazing experience. We made beautiful Italian food from scratch. Chef Federico and his staff made it fun, entertaining, and left us confident that we could make these recipes at home. Chef Federico is the real deal. he is professionally trained, he went to culinary school, and he is a real working Chef. Warning, don't be fooled by imposters. Make sure you choose a school taught by real culinary professionals like Chef Federico. We had the best time, Enjoy. Your new friends Tom & Sandy Ps, our adult Culinary School joined us for the class and loved it. read more

See all

Amazing and unique experience! Strongly recommending this to anyone visiting Italy. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed it - from the market tour to cooking and eating all the meals we helped prepare. Chef Alessandri is very professional and entertaining. We learned a lot from ingredients selection to cooking techniques plus making pasta and mother sauce from scratch. Kudos to his sous chefs as well who were efficiently working alongside us all. Don't miss this experience. You won't regret it. Definitely one of the highlights of our trip. Thank you, Chef! read more

We took Chef's class on our honeymoon. What a wonderful way to spend a day, especially our first in Rome! First, we met chef and the rest of the class in the Campo de Fiore to learn how to shop for produce at the farmer's market. Then we wound through the streets to delis, cheese stores, and the butcher to learn how to shop for the other ingredients. Finally, we ended up at Chef's kitchen where we cleaned up and started cooking a 5 course meal. Chef Federico was entertaining, patient, always encouraging, and a brilliant teacher. We've taken cooking classes in the states; Chef Federico's course is by far the best we have experienced, hands down! No contest! I wish we could go back to Rome and take another. I am a basic cook at home. The instructions and techniques I learned here have influenced and improved my cooking immediately! Making a pomodoro sauce from scratch was a revelation because by doing so, I learned about how to balance acidity and sweetness without adding sugar, controlling the acid and bitterness, how to use garlic, how to properly sweat onions and make a confit, and the best ways to prepare pasta with sauce. You might think you know how to do this, but I would bet that once you take Chef's course, you won't ever do it the old way again. The difference is too great. The preparation and courses were all separated by glasses of wine, of course. We had the best time! One of my top highlights of a three week tour, for sure! In fact, we're trying to figure out ways to get Chef to come teach in Los Angeles so our friends can experience what we did, since we have been talking about it so much. Thanks for such a great day, Chef Federico Alessandri! read more

See all

Highly recommended, highlight of my trip! Sounds cliché but in all seriousness, it was a blast and I learned a lot. Chef Alessandri, has a rockstar personality with celebrity chef skills to back it up. He was well versed in modern gastronomic techniques but preaches fundamentals. We made lots of delicious food and stuffed ourselves full. I'd love to take an advanced course if it becomes available! read more

Definitely the greatest experience I've had in Rome. I met such friendly people in my group, chef was so informative I have learned so much more than I ever anticipated. This is a real cooking class not a tourist trap. If I were staying longer I would do another class or two. Such an incredible day. Thank you Chef for all the great knowledge I can't wait to apply it at home for the ones I love. read more

Chef in a Day - The best olive oil I have ever eaten - Cooking Classes Near Me - Rome, RM

Our friends signed up to take this cooking class with Chef Federico thinking it was going to be really fun, but it definitely turned out to be the BEST part of our time in Rome! Starting from the visit to the market to pick out the ingredients we'd be using, to going to the butchers and cheese shop, Chef Federico pulled out all of the stops! He was really great at telling us how to pick ingredients and explained everything as we were going! Once we got to his kitchen to cook, things got even better! He explained why and how to do things, and is really passionate about cooking! And he's super funny! Our class ran over the 5 hours, and we never felt rushed! If anything, Chef Federico took the extra time to explain the recipes and process of how to prepare and cook things. Seriously, this is a really great way to spend a day in Rome! Our group had such a blast, and we will definitely take another class with him when we go back to Rome! Thanks for a great day, Chef Federico! read more

See all

Chef Federico is a true professional. Passionate about culinary history, process and presentation. My wife and I, along with our 3 year old son had an amazing afternoon learning under Chef's tutelage. The food came out perfect and we tasted the love that was incorporated in every bite. It was a memorable experience and a cornerstone of the amazing moments we had visiting Rome. read more

Chef in a Day - March 2017 - Cooking Classes Near Me - Rome, RM

See all

Had a wonderful experience with my adult family of 6 learning to make the mother sauce of all tomato sauce, making the perfect gnocchi and making pasta. I knew making pasta was a little involved but I learned that kneading the dough was physically a lot of work! We met near Campo Di Fiori market, where we chose several varieties of tomatoes for the Mother sauce. Chef Alessandri's passion for cooking was evident through out the experience. He also cold presses his own oive oil from olives from his property in Umbria. It was the best olive oil that I have ever tasted. Looking forward to the coming of his chef classes with lodging in Umbria. read more

We had a wonderful last day in Rome with Chef Fredrico. Picking out food at the markets at Campo de' Fiori, being educated on cooking principles and also chopping and cooking together made the day pass quickly. The food we ate was amazing and we were laughing that we were glad he was our last stop before we left Europe as now we know what really great pasta tastes like. Our teenagers had just as much fun as we did and we lucked out with our group from Hungary and Brazil, as they were very entertaining. Defiantly 5 stars ! read more

We met Federico Alessandri at The Campo de' Fiori in Rome. While at the market, Chef Allsesandri spoke about the different varieties of tomatoes available at the market and introduced his mother sauce. The mother sauce, to me, became the focal point of the nearly 6 hour class. While everything we prepared was delicious and well presented, the mother sauce with handmade spaghetti, parmigiano, and olive oil was the highlight of the class. Chef Alessandri was friendly, gregarious, and informative. While working, he explained his techniques clearly and with a generous portion of good humor. His assistants, Brenda and Kelly were quietly and efficient and ensured that we had a great experience. In addition to the great food and wine, Chef Alessandri also spoke of his Umbrian estate and shared with us the olive oil produced on site. The extra virgin olive oil was fantastic. I'm now inclined to visit Umbria on my next visit to Italy. If you're looking for a fun, informative primer on local cooking while in Rome, Chef Alessandri's class is a good one. read more

If you want to take a cooking class in Rome you have no shortage of options, but there are only a very few that are actually taught by professional chefs in a professional environment, and this is one of them. Nothing against cooking a traditional meal in a home setting, but if you really want to learn a few things - in addition to preparing a really excellent meal - this is the class for you. You'll have something to learn from Chef Federico's class if you fall at any level between enthusiastic beginner and advanced home or even professional cook with an interest in high-end yet accessible Italian cooking. Very hands-on class with plenty to experience and plenty to learn. Highly recommended. read more

This experience was one of the highlights of my trip to Italy. Can you imagine an event where you get to eat like a king and learn how to make each dish? Anyone that loves Italian food and has the curiosity to learn what makes their dishes so unique can appreciate this event. The chef is patient, well trained and professional. The class moves efficiently and is well organized, packing a big punch for the cost. I was able to understand the why and the how of each delicious moment! Perfect to do alone or with friends/family. Make food, friends, and memories! read more

Chef in a Day - Cooking Classes Near Me - Rome, RM

My daughter and I saved this class for our last day in Italy. We had so much fun that we would go again in a heartbeat!! Federico was so knowledgeable and shared so much of this knowledge with us. We learned how to choose fresh ingredients and made a four course meal that was amazing!! He shared all of his recipes and now we hope to share what we learned with our friends and family! read more

My husband surprised me on our first day in Rome with chef Federico's cooking class which turned out to be the highlight of my trip! It ended up being just us and actually just me since my husband put himself in charge of keeping our three year old busy so "mommy could learn". The food was amazing and I'm excited to try to recreate some of chef's creations now that I'm back home! Chef Federico is truly passionate abut what he does and it shows in his presentation and execution form start to finish! read more

This was absolutely an amazing class! We met Chef Federico at a central location and began the tour with a shop at the market. Chef Federico explained what to look for in vegetables. Afterwards we walked a few steps over to his professional kitchen and after beverages began cooking. This was hands down the best cooking class I've ever been too! And Chef Federico kept us laughing and intrigued in all the processes - he let us jump in at any point we wanted. Chef Federico is a trained and experienced Chef; I would totally recommend his class. read more

What a fantastic experience. Chef Federico is a true professional and a great teacher. Anyone can show you how to follow a recipe and on the surface, seem like a chef, but this chef is the real deal - he explains the underlying principles of the food and cooking methods so that you understand why some decisions are better than others. He is humorous, entertaining, and incredibly skilled. I'm a serious amateur cook and learned much more than I expected to in the 5-hour experience. 9:30am-2:30pm was a perfect window and the price was more than fair. I can't recommend this more highly. read more

My wife and I had the wonderful opportunity to take a cooking class today with Chef Federico Alessandri. What a great time and what an amazing feast! We started the morning at the outdoor market in Campo di Fiori. Chef Alessandri took his five students' preferences into account as he built the menu and shopped for ingredients. After a few stops we were on our way across the river to his kitchen in Trastevere. For the next five hours, he demonstrated and taught, as we practiced new skills and techniques, learned and laughed, ate delicious food and drank wine. There were only a few of us, each with different skill levels, and he made us all feel at home! While I enjoyed the banter and laughter, I especially loved learning about molecular structure and how to layer flavors and textures in the different recipes. Chef Alessandri is able to explain these things clearly and easily, and then you get to taste exactly what he is talking about! The food was spectacular! From stuffed zucchini blossoms, three different types of pasta, a meat dish, and dessert, everything was delicious! If you are in Rome and love to cook, or love to eat, I wholeheartedly recommend taking a class with Chef Federico Alessandri! You will love it! read more

Words cannot accurately describe how amazing this experience was with Chef Federico and his assistant, Aziz. I know that there are plenty of cooking classes being marketed in Rome- but I honestly can say that none of them would be able to match the experience you'll get at Chef in a Day. Chef Federico has been professionally-trained by Michelin chefs and has a vast knowledge of molecular gastronomy, food integrity and presentation. This, in itself, differentiates him from 'chefs' from other schools who are really just instructors with no formal training. The experience- from shopping in the market, to detailed, hands-on instruction throughout the day- was done with fluidity, humor and encouragement. Chef Federico is truly passionate about food, but also about bringing excitement to his students in the kitchen. By chance, my family of 3 got a private lesson but we would have had just as much fun in a larger group. The facility is gorgeous, comfortable and located on a quiet street in the amazing Trastevere neighborhood, which is very centrally located. The walk from the market to class was short and easy. The food. The FOOD! We were in Italy for 10 days and we compared every single meal to the food we ate during this class. The gnocchi with clams is something I would generally not order off of a menu- and it was literally one of the best meals I have ever eaten; and I travel around the world just to eat. Cod confit with spring onion... "Mother Sauce" with caramelized tomatoes...ravioli with mushroom stuffing...Each bite was truly unique, and paid such tribute to the fresh, local ingredients. The afternoon was spent discussing food and travel; enjoying wine while we watched Chef and Aziz put together the spectacular plates, presented to us as we sat together for our lunch. All in all, we were there for the entire day- and gladly would have stayed for hours more if we didn't have a tour to take that evening. This experience is worth every single penny and we have been speaking fondly about Chef Federico since that day. Book early, arrive hungry and cancel dinner reservations, because you will not need to eat much after this meal. A huge thank you to Chef for this beautiful day we will never forget and the recipes we will undoubtedly never be able to pull off that well on our own! read more

See all

We are two families vacationing together, in total 12 adults and this was such a great experience to share. First the obvious stuff, the food we made was absolutely stunning (and varied, we made 3 different pasta dishes and oh, that mother sauce) as well as a chicken dish and a small marinaded peach dessert. This was down to the wonderful high quality ingredients we sourced at the market and local shops with chef and then his instruction (and patience!). I came away with more skills and really keen to experiment in the kitchen. Less obvious perhaps but this was a lovely, sociable activity. Chef is super knowledgeable and communicates in such an effective way. He very quickly got the temperature of the room and worked out "who" we were. He's hilarious so everyone has a great time chatting with him, with each other, about the food and about everything and anything. Oh and yes there's wine but not until around midday which was perfect, we'd earned it by that point and were then able to enjoy it with the fruits of our labors for the remaining couple of hours of our time. This was one of the best things I've ever done on holiday and honestly, I'd do it again tomorrow read more

My wife and I were on a two week cruise and stopped for a day in Rome for one of chef Alessandri's cooking classes. It was fantastic, a highlight of our trip. The food was phenomenal, simple yet elegant. He went into great detail about the ingredients, proper cooking techniques, and blending of flavors. He personality and character were as great as the food; very entertaining, fun and engaging. Loved his assistant Aziz as well. A wonderful experience you can't get anywhere else, Worth Every Penny! We'll be back for sure! read more

A highlight of our trip to Rome! My husband my son and I agree that it was one of the most memorable things we did in our trip. Chef Federico made cooking fun, interesting and delicious! I am not longer afraid to make my own pasta and feel totally empowered to never open another can of supermarket sauce because I will always make my own fresh one. Also, very important, Federico is a real Cheff. That is not something you can count on with all other classes offered around. He explained not only the steps but also the "how and why" So you can transfer that knowledge into any other dish you make. We will go back to Italy and will take more classes with him for sure! read more

A wonderful way to spend a day in Rome with a professionally trained chef! Chef Alessandri is entertaining and informative. We visited the market to pick up our ingredients before heading back to his cooking studio. We were able to help with hands on prep of sauce and in particular learning the feel of properly made pasta dough - both semolina and egg dough and also potato gnochi. His class is definitely worth the extra few dollars with the instruction and follow up recipes, great food and wine, and fun atmosphere provided. read more

Our experience with Federico Alessandri from Chef in a Day was amazing. Our class of 12 had a blast cooking and learning culinary tips from a master chef. The food we cooked was delicious and his personality made every phase of the experience fun and interesting. I would highly recommend the class. If he ever makes it out to Southern California, I would sign up again. read more

I am really surprised not too many people have reviewed this GEM of an Italian Experience! WoW! My son and I had the most wonderful time with Chef Federico, Summer2016. He is professionally trained and a natural, organized, skilled, and courteous instructor. He will help you and your friends or college-bound children learn skills they will enjoy for a lifetime! All in a stress-free fun environment for all! read more

Let me preface this by saying that we toured Italy for 10 days. We saw 5 cities and participated in amazing activities including private guided tours of the Colosseum and the Vatican, a tour of the Amalfi coast, a wine tasting and dinner in a Tuscan vineyard. I specifically waited until the end of our trip to write this review so that I could finally say, without a shadow of a doubt, what both my husband and I knew within hours of meeting Chef Federico...This class was BY FAR the highlight of our trip! I don't know if what I write will do Chef Federico and his class justice, but if you are considering booking a cooking class, do not look anywhere else! Seriously! He was professional from the very first e-mail, always being sure to respond promptly and thoroughly to any questions I had. The day of the class, he and his assistant Aziz came to meet my husband and I and together we went to the market where he helped us decide on a menu depending on which produce was in season and also taught us how to pick out the best produce. In this class, the chef whose face is on the website is the SAME person you meet, and who instructs you the ENTIRE class! He has his credentials displayed on a shelf in his professional kitchen so you know he is the real deal (beware there are many people who claim to offer you an authentic cooking experience, but they are NOT actual chefs. They may be cheaper, but so will be your experience!) He also speaks perfect English which made understanding and retaining all the information that was presented to us that much easier to do. Speaking of information, Chef Frederico was incredibly knowledgeable about all things cooking. As a physician myself I was impressed by how much chemistry and knowledge of molecular biology and enzymatic reactions played a role in what chefs do on a daily basis. He explained how to have a garlic flavor in your food without having the garlic breath as a souvenir. He distinguished (and taught us how to separate out) the different flavors inside a tomato (who knew there was a acidic/sweet/bitter component) and most importantly highlighted the importance of establishing an understanding of how to accurately recognize when something is cooked. It's easy to follow a recipe that says to cook something for 10 minutes, but when factors like elevation from sea level, and strength of your heating element come into play, 10 minutes for one person may mean 15 minutes for another person to create the same result. So, how do you know when any given dish is done? You look for certain qualities to appear in the food you're preparing. Chef Frederico expertly teaches you how to do this. Now on to the food. While explaining, he gives you adequate time to actually get hands on experience preparing the food. We cut and separated the tomatoes for the sauce, we kneaded the pasta dough, we rolled gnocchi and folded the pasta. After we were done handling sharp objects, he let the wine flow and, unlike other classes out there, there was no limit to how much wine we could have, nor was there an extra charge. One by one the courses were ready. We would watch as he deftly crafted beautiful presentations of the food we had just created. Then, after plating one course, it would be served, eaten, and then after eating we'd stand up and watch as the second course finishes being prepared. Then, like the first, he'd create a new intricate presentation that would easily rival the first, and then that course would be served, eaten, and ... you get the pattern. THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS. No other meal we had on our trip could compare! He mentioned that eating was an experience that was first meant to be seen with the eyes, then smelled with the nose, and then lastly, tasted. Well, the entire meal from the appetizer of smoked salmon with burrata cheese and a teriyaki glaze to the dessert of a panna cotta with apricot drizzle and all the 4 other dishes in between gave us quite the amazing experience. Every dish was a kaleidoscope of flavors that lent a surprise at every bite. As I said before, THE BEST food we had all trip, if not, that I've had in years! And, last but not least, his personality. Chef Frederico was warm and inviting. He kept my husband and I laughing throughout the almost 8hrs we spent with him. He was patient and thorough with his answers to our questions. He was charming and made us feel at ease almost immediately as he shared stories about himself and his interests in life apart from cooking. He never made us feel rushed even though he had a private class to teach after ours. We had the ultimate experience with him and would without a doubt recommend him to anyone who is looking for an AUTHENTIC cooking class with a REAL chef who is amazing and talented at what he does. He truly shows you the art and science of cooking and leaves you more appreciative and respectful of the cooking experience than ever before. If you're still reading, what are you waiting for? BOOK THIS CLASS! read more

My husband and I took the cooking class with Chef Alessandri while in Rome to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We had a great time! We both agreed that his set-up is great for everyone to have a clear view. I loved learning how to make a proper tomato sauce and the different varieties of pasta. I figured out what I had been doing wrong- my dough (at home) was too wet! Chef has a fun personality, and we really enjoyed many laughs with him and with our entire group. I highly recommend his classes to anyone who enjoys cooking. He is able to cater to experienced cooks, as well as beginners. Grazie mille! read more

Not only a class to learn some culinary skills for chefs of all skill levels, but also relaxing, fun and very tasty! Chef Federico is professionally trained and passionate about cooking, but so happy to share his knowledge and his recipes. I chose his class over others because it looked out of the ordinary, and it was. We made a nice variety of dishes that were absolutely delicious and with each dish he demonstrated how to present the food in the most creative and appealing way. We took home lots of ideas and inspiration and are excited to use them at home. May be a little more expensive than some other cooking classes available but absolutely worth it. read more