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 â€œcucina Italiana,â€ 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

Lucca Cooking Class: Traditional Pizza and Focaccia in Lucca

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CHEF’S PLACE

Wine Included

What Guests Are Saying About These Experiences With Chef Paolo or Resident Chef

Laurie Minger .

09/16/2025

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 B.

08/12/2025

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!

David

02/27/2025

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

02/26/2025

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

02/25/2025

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

02/24/2025

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

02/23/2025

Chef Paulo's cooking class was instructive, entertaining, engaging and delicious. Highly recommend. Thank you for amazing memories.

Barbara

02/23/2025

Best experience â€” 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

02/22/2025

Fun and informative cooking glass! We made so many different types of pasta sauce and enjoyed it with wonderful wine! Would highly recommend!

Coopy

02/20/2025

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

Naftali

02/01/2025

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

01/29/2025

Chef Paolo Montiâ€™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!

Chef Paolo or Resident Chef

Cooking Classes WITH Chef Paolo

Traditional Pizza and Focaccia in Lucca

Authentic Italian Pasta in Lucca

Risotto, Carpaccio and Veal Scaloppine Lesson in Lucca

Authentic Tuscan Cuisine Specialties in Lucca