Image Profile

Giovannella

Cesarina from 2024

My speciality: Savory Babà, Bucatini Dome, Sea Bass with Traditional Herbs

I live in: Martina Franca

Spoken languages: Italian, English, Spanish, French

Good to know

I offer vegetarian alternatives
Cesarina Green
Has pets

Giovannella

My cooking is the result of a family passion passed down from my mother, my grandmother, and shaped by the experiences and places that have been part of my life. I love cooking with seasonal, local products, and whenever possible, ingredients from my own garden. I enjoy growing and using aromatic herbs, transforming fruit into unique and healthy jams, as well as creating traditional liqueurs. My cuisine is typical of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, as a Neapolitan transplanted to Puglia, with Sicilian and Campanian grandmothers and a Pugliese mother-in-law. I love French cuisine and exploring “fusion” experiences that blend Southern Italian and international flavors.

First Mosaic image
Second Mosaic imageThird Mosaic image

My specialities

  •  Savory Babà, Bucatini Dome, Sea Bass with Traditional Herbs

Experiences

Reviews

5.0
47 reviews
My husband and I had a wonderful experience taking a cooking class with Giovannella. She was friendly, welcoming, and incredibly knowledgeable. We learned to prepare three traditional foods of the region: almond cookies, focaccia, and orecchiette pasta. Giovannella provided pen and paper so we could write down the recipes as she explained the ingredients and steps. Throughout the class, she shared helpful tips and little details that make all the difference in getting each dish just right. We started with the almond cookies, whisking egg whites and adding the other ingredients while learning how to recognize when the batter was ready to pipe. Even the finer points, such as tricks for piping the cookies, were covered. Next came the focaccia. Since the dough needed to rest overnight in the refrigerator, Giovannella had prepared a batch the day before for us to bake and enjoy during our class. We also prepared a fresh batch for the following day, giving us the opportunity to learn exactly how it was made. The focaccia was topped with fresh halved cherry tomatoes, olives from her property, and fresh oregano. Lastly, we learned to make orecchiette pasta from scratch. We mixed the dough, rolled it into thin ropes, cut off small pieces, and practiced shaping each piece with a small knife. It was a little tricky at first, but we soon got the hang of it! Meanwhile, a simple, delicious sauce of garlic, olive oil, tomatoes, and fresh basil was simmering on the stove. While the focaccia baked, we enjoyed a short walk around the beautiful property at Masseria Battaglini. We took in the traditional buildings, lovely countryside, and olive trees. We also visited the chickens and spent time with their two friendly dogs and cat. The setting was peaceful and charming, and it was a pleasure to get a little glimpse of life at this lovely family-run masseria. When we returned, the dining table had been beautifully set for us, with an appetizer of cheeses and homemade onion jams, along with a delicious local wine. Then came the focaccia, which was honestly the best we have ever tasted! The orecchiette followed, and it turned out beautifully. The sauce was delicious, and the finishing touch of grated cacioricotta cheese made it even better. Giovannella was also kind enough to find the cacioricotta cheese and the specific flours she uses online so I could order them when we return home. I really appreciated her thoughtfulness and willingness to help us recreate these dishes in our own kitchen. For dessert, we enjoyed the almond cookies, served in a lovely glass dish. They were crisp on the outside, soft and chewy in the middle, and full of wonderful almond flavor. My favorites were the ones topped with homemade cherry jam before baking. We finished our meal with a little espresso. All in all, it was a delightful way to spend the morning and enjoy an incredible lunch. We came away with new skills, wonderful recipes, and lovely memories of our time with Giovannella. We look forward to making these dishes when we return home and highly recommend Giovannella and her cooking classes to anyone looking for a memorable, authentic culinary experience in the region!

Frank and Brandie - 

We had such an amazing experience at this cooking class! It was unlike anything we have done before and we absolutely loved it! Giovannella was incredibly hospitable and kind, as well as knowledgeable and answered any questions we had. Not to mention, the lunch prepared was absolutely delicious, and the property was beautiful! We would definitely recommend this experience.

Camille H. - 

We had a beautiful time! Giovannella is a queen! Susan was so kind and we learned so much! We were also allowed to participate using our hands and hearts! We requested the ravioli class and it was great. So delicious and I was allowed to write down the recipe and instructions. We highly recommend this class 💖💝💗💕🙏🏼💐

Christine - 

Our day with Giovanella was one of the highlights of our trip and time in Puglia. We were very fortunate to have a private cooking class where we were the only two people in the class. Giovanella and the team made us feel so welcome from the minute we stepped foot onto their gorgeous property. We had the chance to observe, participate and take notes, writing down the recipes and tips and tricks for each dish. Giovanella explained the methods in depth and the choice of each ingredient. When it came to eating, there was an incredible spread on the table. Besides the incredible food, what was most special was the way Giovanella, Susan and Maria let us share about our Italian heritage and the foods we made with our Nonni growing up. It was a very emotional day with happy tears honouring Italian culture and traditions. This will be a day we remember forever and we hope to return to Giovanella's property in the future. Thank you Giovanella, Susan and Maria for this wonderful experience. We would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic, friendly and unforgettable day.

Emily e Dominic - 

10/10 experience! We had such a wonderful, intimate dining experience with our hosts. The meal was several courses, and so many of the ingredients were incredibly fresh, including produce straight from their own farm. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious, and they were so accommodating of our vegetarian diet. What made the experience even more special was how warm and welcoming the hosts were — it genuinely felt like being invited into someone’s home for an incredible meal. They even sent us the recipes for some of the dishes we loved and asked about, which was such a thoughtful touch. Amazing food, fresh local ingredients, and wonderful hospitality. One of the most memorable dining experiences of our trip. Highly recommend — 10/10!

Milind patel - 

Where

You'll receive the exact address after booking

Meet other hosts in the same city

Copyright 2004-2026 © - Home Food s.r.l. Benefit Corporation