Craft authentic Italian pizzas, focaccia and regional loaves with breadmaking tips from an expert chef.
Live your pizza-making dreams while visiting Italy with an interactive cooking class in Lucca.
Chef Paolo will have you tossing pizzas like a pro in this hands-on lesson in Italian breadmaking. Drawing from decades of experience, the chef shares time-honored methods for preparing fresh pizza dough for a variety of signature pies.
You’ll learn tips for making crispy pizzas loaded with Italy’s favorite toppings from pizza margherita and amatriciana to fungi and prosciutto crudo. The chef also teaches you to make three unique Italian breads, highlighting how different flours affect each loaf. You’ll practice making Ligurian-style focaccia and even turn pizza dough into a fruity dessert.
Immerse yourself in authentic Italian breadmaking by booking your class today!
With whole wheat bread, semolina flour bread and Tuscan bread
Basic Focaccia & Basic Pizza Dough
Pizza With Savory Toppings
With tomato, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, spicy salami, Parma ham, buffalo mozzarella and more
Sweet Pizza
With seasonal fruit and chocolate
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted prior to the event. Please mention this in the message field when you submit your booking request as adjustments to recipes cannot be made during class.
Born in a Tuscan bakery, it may have been inevitable that Chef Paolo was destined for a storied culinary career. Inspired by his mother, Chef Paolo gained expertise around the world before opening his cooking school in the heart of Lucca in 1992. With a focus on “cucina Italiana,” Chef Paolo teaches quick, simple recipes made with quality ingredients, welcoming cooking enthusiasts with humor, hospitality and fun.
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Cancellation Policy
Flexible booking: Cancel or reschedule this event's reservation for free up to 48 hours before the event.This experience is not refundable as it includes a meal kit.
Craft authentic Italian pizzas, focaccia and regional loaves with breadmaking tips from an expert chef.
Live your pizza-making dreams while visiting Italy with an interactive cooking class in Lucca.
Chef Paolo will have you tossing pizzas like a pro in this hands-on lesson in Italian breadmaking. Drawing from decades of experience, the chef shares time-honored methods for preparing fresh pizza dough for a variety of signature pies.
You’ll learn tips for making crispy pizzas loaded with Italy’s favorite toppings from pizza margherita and amatriciana to fungi and prosciutto crudo. The chef also teaches you to make three unique Italian breads, highlighting how different flours affect each loaf. You’ll practice making Ligurian-style focaccia and even turn pizza dough into a fruity dessert.
Immerse yourself in authentic Italian breadmaking by booking your class today!
With whole wheat bread, semolina flour bread and Tuscan bread
Basic Focaccia & Basic Pizza Dough
Pizza With Savory Toppings
With tomato, mozzarella, ham, mushrooms, spicy salami, Parma ham, buffalo mozzarella and more
Sweet Pizza
With seasonal fruit and chocolate
Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted prior to the event. Please mention this in the message field when you submit your booking request as adjustments to recipes cannot be made during class.
Verified guest reviews for other experiences with Chef Paolo or Resident Chef
Stephanie
24 Apr 2026
We cooked a full meal from appetizers to dessert. Chef Paolo was both funny and kind , guiding us through ravioli and biscotti making
Laurie Minger
16 Sep 2025
We spent the morning learning to cook upscale Italian dishes in Lucca. Chef Paulo and his helper did a wonderful job instructing us, and we very much enjoyed the delicious food we made.
I highly recommend this experience!
Charleen
12 Aug 2025
Loved this class! It was very satisfying as we made eight sauces, three different raviolis and an amazing dessert! Class moved along at a good pace. Chef was entertaining and educational. Final products delicious!
Reviews Chef Paolo or Resident Chef received outside of Cozymeal
David
27 Feb 2025
We had a couple of rainy days in Lucca, and I happened upon Chef Paolo's cooking studio while walking around the old town. He graciously added me to his morning class for the next day. What a wonderful experience it was, with a focus on Italian sauces and antipasti dishes. I had so much fun I booked in for the following three days, and my partner joined us on the last day. Chef Paolo is a natural teacher and mixes lessons with humour and hands-on training to make the experience very enjoyable. I came away with a renewed appreciation for Italian cooking and will be making many of the dishes I learned on my return home. Thank you, Chef Paolo and your team, for the fun learning experience. Your passion for what you do shows!
Lynn G
26 Feb 2025
The class was excellent. I have taken numerous cooking classes and this was one of the best. The chef is passionate about what he does. It was the right amount of hands on and instruction. I picked up numerous tips even though I had cooked similar dishes myself. The food that we cooked was excellent. The pace was great as cooked part then ate it, then cooked more and sat down to a feast. The school is in great location as within Lucca walled city. Thank you Chef Paolo for a great experience.
Tony
25 Feb 2025
Chef Paolo was awesome. We had the best time and the food was great and plentiful. Hands on cooking with some great tips. Grazie Chef Paolo.
LHDelray
24 Feb 2025
Once again we had an amazing cooking class with Chef. His recipes, his endless wonderful jokes and his general helpfulness in showing us and teaching us the process makes for a wonderful time. We took his Tuscan cooking class this time and met two other lovely couples. Chef just moved to a new space inside the wall-so much more convenient. Highly, highly recommend ANY of his classes. Last time we did two! Thank you Chef Paolo. Much success in your new space and always good health.
Sarah
23 Feb 2025
Chef Paulo's cooking class was instructive, entertaining, engaging and delicious.
Highly recommend.
Thank you for amazing memories.
Barbara
23 Feb 2025
Best experience — a highlight of our entire vacation in Italy. We had a private class with Chef Paolo and it was beyond any expectations. An unexpected surprise was a break in the class where we were seated in the restaurant portion of the cooking school, served antipasti and wine! We then continued the class and when we finished cooking, we again sat down and were formally served all the things we had made. It was a wonderful experience and a huge dinner that we could not finish. If we were staying another night, we would have done another class!
Tori
22 Feb 2025
Fun and informative cooking glass! We made so many different types of pasta sauce and enjoyed it with wonderful wine! Would highly recommend!
Coopy
20 Feb 2025
We totally enjoyed our cooking session with Chef Paolo. He is an excellent teacher. We learned a lot and the food was amazing!
Naftali
01 Feb 2025
Chef Paolo was as entertaining as he was instructive and a tremendous chef. I did 3 classes in 3 days with my 25 year old twins and we will be going home to high expectations after we sent home pictures of all the delicacies we prepared (under Paolo's careful guidance, of course).
These courses are so much more than the typical pizza-pasta coming courses you mostly find on the internet. And our course included 3 days accommodation in a very adequate b&b in central Lucca. Thank you Paolo and Serena.
Silvia
29 Jan 2025
Chef Paolo Monti’s cooking class in Lucca is an unforgettable experience for anyone passionate about learning authentic Italian cuisine. His is approachable, engaging, and full of humor, making the class enjoyable for cooks of all levels. The setting is warm and inviting, providing a great atmosphere!
Somo
27 Jan 2025
Chef Paul's cooking class was instructive, entertaining, engaging and delicious.
Highly recommend.
Thank you for amazing memories.
