Sarah
Cesarina from 2023I live in: Riccò del Golfo di Spezia
Spoken languages: Italian and English
Good to know
I offer vegetarian alternatives
Hi from Sarah!
I'm Sarah, and I've been living in Italy for over 30 years, even though I'm American. I spent three decades with an Italian grandmother, my beloved mother-in-law Silvana, who passed on her love for Ligurian cuisine to me. I want to share the memories of the scents and flavors of her kitchen and honor her by preparing the recipes she taught me, such as pesto with croxetti, rice cake, stuffed vegetables, and the traditional mesciua soup.I will welcome you to Podere Ferrari, a historic colonial-style estate on the outskirts of La Spezia. Surrounded by vineyards and immersed in nature, Podere is the ideal place to experience gastronomic delights amidst greenery. I'll be happy to welcome you along with my family to this timeless space.I look forward to seeing you in the marvelous Cinque Terre, where you can savor our specialties and immerse yourself in the beauty of the Ligurian coast!
Experiences
Cooking classes (3)
Reviews
5.0
8 reviews
- This was the highlight of our entire European vacation. My Wife and I had the pleasure of spending 5 hours or so with Max. We arrived to this beautiful setting overlooking a small Italian village amongst the vines on property. Max set out some Mellon and offered us some wine to drink while we walked through the vineyard while he began to prep for our meal by rolling out some pasta. The setting was phenomenal but Max was truly the star. He made us pretty much whatever asked. We picked his brain about pasta making and he shared his passion for pasta making with us. We had two pasta courses and more than a few glasses of wine. It was an experience I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. It was simple, straightforward and couldn’t have been more perfect. I can’t recommend this experience enough to anyone who is considering it. I promise you it will vastly exceed your expectations.
- This experience was out of a fairytale. Sarah went out of her way to make us feel welcomed and special. Massimo was an EXPERT in his craft, and walked us through how to professional make the most incredible Pesto & Pasta. (We had SO much fun! So many laughs) The space is a DREAM. The wine was INCREDIBLE. If you want to feel like you're in a movie, book this experience. I cannot recommend them enough!!! I would give them 10 stars, if allowed!!
- As someone who has never cooked pasta from scratch before, I went in expecting to be lost and basically along for the ride, but Massimo was a wonderful teacher who managed to help guide me through each step that I was struggling on. The pasta came out amazing and delicious and I was surprised that we were the ones who made it in the end. The venue was beautiful and it was obvious that a lot of work as gone into it as well. I’m also not much of a wine guy but the wine from their vineyard was fantastic. Would definitely go again and cannot recommend it enough.
- I have been returning to the Cinque Terre area for many years and Sarah and Massimo’s cooking class “experience” at Podere Ferrari is hands down the most enjoyable evening I have spent in Liguria. Sarah has transformed her family villa into a magical space, the decor, the original furniture mixed in with modern conveniences, the vineyards, the amazing history were all so fascinating. Massimo is a creative and talented chef and teacher who kept us engaged and entertained while passing on truly valuable cooking secrets. Would encourage anyone visiting this area to spend an evening with Sarah and Massimo. Did I mention their fantastic local wine?!? Not to be missed, especially if you are looking for a “locals” experience.
- We had such an amazing experience!! Greeted with lovely food and wine, it started out the night perfectly! Sarah and Max were so kind and patient! The location was phenomenal! Truly it made you want to pack up and move to Italy! We are not particularly good with cooking but Max helped foster an environment of learning and grace! Luckily he is amazing at cooking and turned our rough and ready pasta into delicious dishes! Thank you so so much for the warm hospitality!! We will absolutely be back!!!
Andrew - July 2023
Jenny Dell - July 2023
Sam - July 2023
Lisa Meares - June 2023
Amanda - June 2023