Verified chef

13 Reviews

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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Cooking Classes

Cooking Classes WITH Chef Paolo or Resident Chef

Lucca Cooking Class: Traditional Pizza and Focaccia in Lucca

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CHEF’S PLACE

Wine Included

REVIEWS

Chef Paolo or Resident Chef's Overall Rating

5.0 / 5

Based on 13 reviews

Reviews guests left for this experience

Laurie Minger

09/16/25

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!

09/16/25

Charleen

08/12/25

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!

08/12/25

Reviews Chef Paolo or Resident Chef received outside of Cozymeal

David

02/27/25

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!

02/27/25

Lynn G

02/26/25

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.

02/26/25

Tony

02/25/25

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.

02/25/25

LHDelray

02/24/25

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.

02/24/25

Coopy

02/20/25

We totally enjoyed our cooking session with Chef Paolo. He is an excellent teacher. We learned a lot and the food was amazing!

02/20/25

Naftali

02/01/25

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.

02/01/25

Silvia

01/29/25

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!

01/29/25

Chef Paolo or Resident Chef

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Traditional Pizza and Focaccia in Lucca

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