Bologna, July 23, 2024 – It was a lifelong dream: to open a live cooking school, with large windows overlooking the historic center of Assisi, to pass on the dishes and culture of the Umbrian region. A Cesarina since 2022, with a background in teaching and event organization, Eleonora describes herself as "a cook, not a chef, carrying on the
tradition." On her initiative, the first Cesarine-branded cooking school in Italy opened in the center of Assisi this July: a spacious area with exposed beam ceilings to immerse oneself in Umbrian gastronomic traditions and learn how to make fresh pasta – but not only – according to recipes passed down from generation to generation.
Eleonora's cooking class gathers twelve people around large tables who, for a couple of hours, get hands-on and discover the key element of this experience: sharing. People who often don't know each other choose this moment not only to experience authentic local cuisine but above all to share the table and their culture with other guests from around
the world. From the experience, one takes home a basic understanding of skills, the aroma of Umbrian cuisine, and – if desired – Cesarine merchandise, such as aprons, tote bags, and books.
Eleonora's lesson always begins with a tasting of typical local products, such as cheeses, cured meats, and olive oil, continues with the creation of three types of fresh pasta, and concludes with a tasting of the dishes prepared together, accompanied by local wine.
Eleonora's classes in the center of Assisi are held three times a day (10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm) and can be booked at Cesarine.com. Soon it will also be possible to book directly on-site via QR code a few minutes before the start of the course.
Eleonora's initiative in Assisi tells a lot about the community of micro-entrepreneurs who – through the cesarine.com platform – find a way to turn their passion for cooking into a source of income and, sometimes, a real job.
Cooking classes are a highly beloved trend both nationally and internationally: according to Cesarine's predictions based on Google Trends data, searches for cooking classes are set to increase by another 14% in the next two years.
Cesarine.com is the first online platform in Italy for food experiences with a community of 1,500 amateur cooks who in 2023 opened the doors of their homes and their regions to 50,000 guests, predominantly international (+65% compared to 2022) to offer cooking classes, dining experiences, and food, wine, and market tours. Founded in 2004 in Bologna as an Association for the Protection and Enhancement of Typical Italian Culinary Gastronomic Heritage, in 2014 the community became a platform under the guidance of tech entrepreneur Davide Maggi – creator of some of the first Italian digital startups and executive director of the Digital Marketing & Communication Executive Program at Bologna Business School. A widespread Slow Food community since 2019, Cesarine counts dozens of spontaneous applications every week on its 20th birthday. In the first quarter of 2024, food experiences branded Cesarine saw a 20% increase, with Bologna leading the travelers' choices for the first time, growing by 25% compared to 2023, and a notable increase in Sicily, with Palermo +60% and Messina +130%, and the Cinque Terre doubling the number of visitors compared to the same period in 2023.