Florence Cooking: Gluten-Free Pasta Class with Local Chef

4.96

(70 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We ducked down a quiet street in Florence, following the smell of something warm and familiar — not quite bread, but close. The kitchen was tucked behind an old wooden door, and our guide (Francesca) greeted us like we were cousins she hadn’t seen in years. I’d never done a gluten-free cooking class before, let alone in Italy, so I was half-expecting to feel left out or limited. But right away, Francesca asked what we actually wanted to make — “Tagliatelle? Ravioli? Gnocchi?” She said it in that sing-songy Italian way that makes everything sound like an invitation.

The flour felt softer than I expected as we mixed it by hand — rice and corn instead of wheat, but still somehow sticky between my fingers. Someone tried to say “farina di riso” and Francesca laughed, correcting our pronunciation gently (I think I got closer on the second try). We all picked our sauces together; I went for a classic tomato-basil while another person wanted something creamy but dairy-free. There was this moment when the room went quiet except for the scraping of dough on the table and the clinking of glasses — she poured us local wine while we waited for things to cook. It smelled faintly sweet, almost grassy.

I didn’t expect to actually enjoy kneading dough without gluten — it’s different, sure, but there’s a kind of satisfaction in seeing it come together anyway. When we finally sat down to eat what we’d made (three kinds of pasta, three sauces), everyone compared notes on texture and taste. The gnocchi was so soft it almost melted; even the non-celiacs at the table looked surprised. Francesca told us stories about her grandmother’s kitchen and how she learned these tricks after her own diagnosis years ago.

Walking out into the evening air after that meal — full but not heavy — I realized I hadn’t thought about missing out once. That’s rare for me when it comes to food travel. If you’re looking for a gluten-free pasta class in Florence that feels welcoming and real (and yes, includes wine), this is honestly worth it. Still thinking about that first bite of ravioli.