Nord Salento Tour — Local services in Ceglie Messapica

I recently participated in a cooking class with Simona while on a family holiday in Puglia, and unfortunately, the experience was far from what I expected, especially considering the positive reviews I had seen on Tripadvisor.

To begin with, we had trouble finding the location as there was no sign outside to indicate where the class was being held.

Once we arrived, the class itself was overcrowded. Our family of 8 was squeezed into a small, uncomfortable space outside, and the overall group size was 24 people—far too many for a class like this. We were seated on a cramped bench for nearly 4.5 hours, which made the experience physically uncomfortable. The Tripadvisor listing mentioned a limit on the number of participants, but that limit was clearly not enforced.

The cooking area didn’t seem very clean, which made me uneasy from the start. The large group size only added to this, as we ended up handling each other's food. While everyone did wash their hands, it didn’t feel sanitary or respectful of personal boundaries. Sharing food under these circumstances made me uncomfortable.

We also had to wait a long time for basic refreshments like cold water and wine. While wine, tea, and coffee were advertised, the portions provided were inadequate for the group size. The coffee wasn’t enough for everyone, and the wine tasted diluted and of poor quality. This was disappointing, especially in Italy, where I expected something more authentic.

When it finally came time to taste our own pasta, the portions were insufficient, and we left still feeling hungry. Given the size of the group, it was clear that there wasn’t enough food to go around.

While Simona did provide explanations, they often focused more on her opinions and less on the actual cooking techniques, which was frustrating. I would have appreciated more detailed instruction on the cooking itself rather than being told what to do without much reasoning behind it.

For the price we paid, the class felt like poor value. The ingredients used were basic and cheap, and the overall experience didn’t match up to what was advertised. I left feeling disappointed and somewhat concerned about the cleanliness and handling of the food.

Simona, I’m sorry to say this, but I believe there’s room for significant improvement in your class. Limiting the number of participants, ensuring a more intimate and hygienic experience, providing larger portions of refreshments, and focusing more on the cooking techniques would greatly enhance the experience.

I hope this feedback helps, as I believe your class has potential, but it didn’t meet the standard I expected this time.

Added after Simona's comment:

Thanks for taking the time to engage with my review. I truly value the dialogue, and I understand that sometimes what's planned and what happens can diverge, especially in dynamic group settings.

I'll be brief: the experience fell short of what was advertised, notably regarding the beverages—we didn't receive the two bottles as you say. Also, while I respect the simplicity of your ingredients, the cost of the (shared and private) classes seems quite steep compared to similar experiences that offer a bit more.

On hygiene, a simple separation of preparation materials by family could enhance safety and comfort, a small tweak with a big impact.

I'm sharing this with a constructive spirit, hoping that it can contribute to making your class an even more delightful and authentic experience that everyone looks forward to. After all, it's the joy of cooking and community that makes these...

Friendly & fun experience and was interesting to make pasta

However, it was clear that the cooking class was completely overbooked. Considering it was a 5-hour activity, the seating was suboptimal (consisting of uncomfortable benches) and positioned in the extreme heat & sun (beware that there is no air condition and no cold drinks served). It also seemed like there was not enough food to accommodate the entire group.

The class would certainly have been much better if it was a group of max 10...

Had an amazing time at the cooking class. Learned a ton around pasta and different regions in Italy. Beautiful scenery with a real trello and a homey kitchen....