La Cuoca Calabrese - School of Calabrian Cooking

We are a Calabrian-based cooking school taught by grandmothers. Our school is located in the chestnut tree-covered hills west of Cosenza, Marano Marchesato. In this small village are the secret ingredients to our school. Please visit our website http://lacuocacalabrese.com to get an overview.  Or, write to us at info@lacuocacalabrese.com.

First, a family-owned 400 year-old Palazzo turned B&B and an adjacent treehouse village nestled in the olive trees. This is the lodging component for our school.

Next, we have the chef of a popular ristorante, which is only open in the evening, as our lead instructor and grandmother wrangler. This gives us full access to her incredible professional kitchen and dining room during the morning hours.

Finally, our translator and guide, is certified by the Italian government and is our highly-respected bridge between the non English speaking grandmothers and our North American students.

Our desire is to teach the history of Calabria through its iconic foods. Many of these were brought to Calabria via thousands of years of invasion and occupation. Using grandmothers (nonne) to help us tell the origin stories of traditional Calabrian cuisine. While tourist don’t go to Calabria…travelers do. And, it’s to these people, our school provides what they seek. Authenticity. There is nothing more authentic than a Calabrian grandmother.