Mamma Agata

Buon, giorno, Gennaro, Chiara,and Mamma Agata, What can we all say about the time we spent with you? You opened your home and kitchen to us. We felt immediatly welcomed and loved. We learned so much from Gennaro about wine, more than a book could ever try to do. What fun we had eating all the delicious food and tasting it with the perfect glass of vino. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!!!! We had so much fun we had to come back and go to mamma's cooking class. Lord Byron and I had a blast. Once again we learned all the secrets of fabulous Italian cooking. Mamma you amazed us in your kitchen, from the lemon chicken to your home made pasta sauce. You truly are a dear. Thank you for all the food you sent home for Jeffrey and Ryan. They were thrilled and ate every morsel. Their favorites were the pennette con zucchine e panna and the zucchine flowers. Jeffrey asked me to have this dish at least once a week on our dinner table. We can't thank you enough for a memorable time. One we will hold dear forever in our hearts. The time spent with you was our most favorite part of our three weeks in Italy. When you come to New York call us and we will be there in a flash. Lord Byron knows New York city well and knows all the great restaurants. We can't wait to be with you again soon. You truly have a beautiful family. Mamma when you come to California we will take you to our cabin in Big Bear, along with our Husky, Rocky. He would love to have you cook for him in our kitchen!!!!!! Love and blessings

Dear Chiara and Mamma Agata, I was part of the cooking class on July 13. It was absolutely one of the highlights of the trip and possibly my life. I will never forget it. The whole experience was so special from the first moment of tasting the lemon cake to the signing of my folder by you and Mamma Agata. I would love more information on the cookbook. If you can tell me how to get it or get on the list, I would be very appreciative. It was so wonderful and the wine we had there was the best of the trip. Thank you for your help and best regards to all of you. Our stay in Ravello was our favorite

As an experienced home cook and someone who has taken many cooking classes with professional chefs, my expectations for this class were high. Mama Agata and her daughter Chiara far exceeded every expectaion and quite honestly, this was the best "class" that I have taken...anywhere! To call this a cooking class though really shortchanges it since it was an entire "food experience" from start to finish. While traveling throughout Italy, this was the one experience that transformed me into the lifestyle of an Italian. Mama and Chiara opened their magnificent home (which has been in their family for 300 years) and hearts to us -- sharing recipes, techniques and stories about their gardens and their lives! Anyone who has every taken a formal cooking class would consider this to be a BARGAIN! For apx $200 you spend over 5 hours learning, laughing, touring the gardens, eating, drinking and talking to two of the most gracious, knowledgable and talented women I have had the pleasure of cooking with. In the kitchen the experience was as "hands on" as we wanted and that varried from person to person (we had four in our class). Whether we helped stuff zuchini flowers or fry eggplant was our choice. Regardless, the food and sampling in the kitchen was definitely part of the fun. We were treated like long lost relatives and made to feel perfectly at home from the moment we were greeted at the door. ChIara and Mama are the most perfect hosts...these are real women, passionate about food (and obviously entertaining!). Chiara made sure that we had our fill of every single dish and that our wine glasses were always full! One tip...for an additional $50 a non cooking partner may join the class to share in the lunch which is seved on the patio overlooking the bay (at around 1:30). This is an option I would most definitely jump at! I booked on-line which was very easy. The communication via email was perfect! I duplicated the recipes tonight for my family at home in California and was told this was better than any Italian restaurant any of them have eaten at! Thank you Mama and Chiara for giving me something really valuable to share with my family upon my return from Italy!

Dear Chiara, having taken cooking courses in the past, I was prepared for something of the same.. nothing could have surprised me more!!! What an incredible experience!!Our arrival at Mama's set the stage for the most marvellous 2 days that were over much to quickly..Chiara welcomed us with so much enthusiasm and genuine affection,we were quite bowled over.. and Mama, even though she does not speak English, quite obviously is a very smart woman and understands a great deal! the lessons were as smooth as silk, full of great tips, much laughter, and food soooo good! we were moaning with pleasure! A truly phenomenal experience, and one I would highly recommend to anyone who loves food, fresh, beautiful, well prepared and a gastronomic delight!! I will dream of this for months to come.. and would most definitely go back to Ravello and Mama and Chiara's in a heartbeat! A thousand thanks! best wishes Tricia.

Dearest Chiara, Mamma & Gennaro, My son Carl and his wife Marie held their wedding reception at your beautiful home. It was the perfect setting for a perfect day. We were blessed with beautiful weather (thanks to your prayers Chiara) along with the most amazing views AND....... the most delicious food I have ever tasted !! But it was not just the excellent food, weather and perfect scenery over the Mediterranean sea that made the day ....it was the welcome we received from you and your family. You wrapped your arms around us, tending to every need, nothing being too much trouble and treated Carl and Marie as if they were the two most important people at that moment in time..... Chiara, you played a vital part in making it a day our son and his wife will never forget and Stan and I would personally like to thank you and you family for the most PERFECT wedding reception. Congratulations to you all..... the day was just wonderful !!! Love and best wishes from Diane & Stan x