Paola Maria
Cesarina from 2025My speciality: Orecchiette with tomatoes, ricotta cheese, and basil
I live in: Alberobello
Spoken languages: Italian and English
Good to know
I offer vegetarian alternatives
Paola Maria
For me, cooking is about sharing.I learned this from my grandmothers, who passed down the ancient family recipes to me, pieces of history captured in flavors and aromas."Sharing" was the word my mother always said when she brought food to the table for me and my siblings: simple dishes made with vegetables from our garden and a pinch of love.Even today, cooking is my language. Sharing my passion with family and friends, in exchange for smiles, is what makes me happy.The dishes I prepare most often are: panzerotti, traditional pasta dishes, focaccia, and desserts made with jams from the fruits of my trees. This is what I want to share with those who enter my home: the Puglian essence to enjoy together.
My specialities
- Eggplant parmigiana
- Orecchiette with tomatoes, ricotta cheese, and basil
- Tartlets with jam or ricotta cheese
Experiences
Cooking Classes (6)
Reviews
5.0
19 reviews
- We had a beautiful and delicious day with Paola and her daughter Rosanna. They warmly welcomed us, and our children aged 3 and 6, into their lovely home and gave us not just a day of food delights but a real insight into Italian cooking culture and life! The day started picking vegetables from their home garden, then we made a “mocha” espresso, tiramisu and 2 types of pasta and sauce from scratch. There was lots of other food treats throughout the day and we left very full and happy! They were so accommodating of our children making sure they felt involved as well as us adults. The food was delicious and there was real pride knowing we’d made it ourselves! Huge thanks to Rosanna and Paola for letting us into your home and a fabulous day of cooking and eating - thanks also for all the tips for the next part of our trip in Puglia. I write this review from one of the beaches you recommended - it’s beautiful!
- Thank you so much, Paola and Rosanna, for this truly amazing, beautiful, and unforgettable experience. My mother and I were completely blown away—it exceeded every expectation we had. This wasn’t just a pasta-making class; it was a genuine family experience. Thank you for welcoming us into your home and making us feel like part of your family. The love, warmth, and passion you shared made this experience far beyond anything we could have imagined. Thank you for the beautiful memories we’ll carry with us forever. We can’t wait to come back and create more special moments with you. Until next time, with all our gratitude!
- This cooking class was fantastic. Paola is such an incredible cook and host. Both of her beautiful kind daughters also joined and assisted in hosting. We are a family of 4 (kids aged 13). We all loved it and found it such a fun thing to do as a family. The location and home is so special and we felt really honoured to be welcomed into their home and feel so at home there. The food was fantastic, we all were so full and happy. It included lots of snacks, two pastas, tiramisu and accompanied with espresso and wine as well as some limoncello to top it off. Such a great way to spend an afternoon in such a beautiful town. Highly recommend!
- Truly one of the best parts of our trip. Paola and Rosanna are two joyous people who were kind and great with instruction. To cook and then eat at their own dinner table was indescribable. If you’re looking for an authentic experience with incredible hosts, you HAVE to try this. Thank you for an incredible time!!
- This was one of the best things I have ever experienced! This wonderful family welcomed us into their home with great joy for sharing food and friendship. They were kind and patient, and the meal we helped to prepare was extraordinary! I am happy to provide them the highest possible rating. They helped us create a memory that will last a lifetime!❤️
Carina -
Veronica Gonzalez -
Linda Hamilton -
Kylie -
James Kadlecek -