Pizza and Gelato Cooking Class

Pizza and Gelato Group - Class description

Are you looking for a unique and delicious culinary experience in Italy?

Italy is best known for two foods: pizza and gelato. But this class goes further - your professional English-speaking florentine chef will introduce you to the process of making gelato with fresh, local ingredients from Florence. You will never think of pizza or gelato in the same way again after trying these homemade masterpieces.

Is this cooking course in Florence suitable for children?

Pizza is easy to make and everyone creates their own pizza and chooses their own dressing, so Yes! This class is suitable for children over 6, teens and families in general. And the delicious menu of pizza and gelato is sure to be a huge hit with even the pickiest eater.

 

What You'll Learn during your Pizza and Gelato Group Cooking Class:

Key learning elements of this class

• Dough Preparation: Select, mix, and knead the best ingredients for pizza dough.
• Pizza Styles: Understand the differences between various Italian pizzas, especially Neapolitan pizza.
• Dough Rolling and Topping: Roll out dough and create a variety of pizzas with fresh ingredients.
• Baking Techniques: Heat and use an electric oven to bake pizzas just like at home.
• Coccoli Dough: Prepare and fry Coccoli dough, served with Prosciutto and Stracchino.
• Gelato Ingredients: Use fresh, seasonal ingredients for making gelato.
• Gelato Making: Create gelato and fruit sorbet, avoiding chemicals and using natural ingredients.

How to make Pizza dough

Your pizza-making class in Florence begins with the foundation: making the dough. You'll start by learning how to select the best ingredients, and then move on to mixing and kneading your dough. Your chef will explain the differences between various styles of pizza across Italy, with a special focus on the original Neapolitan pizza from Naples, the birthplace of Italian pizza.

Next, you'll roll out the pizza dough and create a variety of pizzas with different delicious toppings, using only the freshest ingredients. You might also learn to make fluffy and light focaccia, or crunchy and salty Coccoli fried pizza dough with Prosciutto and Stracchino. Once your pizzas are assembled, your chef will demonstrate how to heat an electric oven just like you would at home, so you can recreate these tasty creations for your family and friends.

Classic Italian Pizza Toppings

Enjoy these classic toppings that bring out the authentic flavors of Italian pizza by making your own classic pizza or get creative and invent your special one! 

• Margherita: Tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves, finished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
• Marinara: Tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, and extra virgin olive oil, without cheese.
• Quattro Stagioni: Divided into four sections, each representing a different topping: artichokes, ham, mushrooms, and black olives.
• Capricciosa: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, artichokes, ham, mushrooms, olives, and a touch of basil.
• Quattro Formaggi: A mix of four cheeses, typically mozzarella, gorgonzola, parmesan, and fontina, with tomato sauce.
• Diavola: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, and spicy salami, often with a sprinkle of chili flakes.
• Prosciutto e Funghi: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto, and mushrooms.
• Napoli: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, and capers, with a sprinkle of oregano.
• Vegetariana: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, and a variety of seasonal vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant.
• Boscaiola: Tomato sauce, mozzarella, sausage, and mushrooms, sometimes with a touch of cream.

How to make Coccoli Prosciutto e Stracchino

Coccoli Prosciutto e Stracchino is a traditional Tuscan appetizer that embodies the simplicity and rich flavors of the region. Coccoli are small, fried dough balls, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. These golden delights are typically served with thin slices of savory prosciutto and creamy stracchino cheese. 

• Coccoli: Made from a simple dough of flour, water, yeast, and a pinch of salt, coccoli are deep-fried until they puff up and turn golden brown. Their light and airy texture makes them an irresistible treat.
• Prosciutto: This dry-cured ham is thinly sliced and provides a savory, slightly salty flavor that perfectly complements the mildness of the fried coccoli.
• Stracchino: A soft, creamy cheese with a delicate flavor, stracchino is spreadable and adds a rich, creamy contrast to the crispy coccoli and salty prosciutto.

To enjoy this dish, simply take a piece of coccolo, spread some stracchino on it, and top it with a slice of prosciutto. This combination of textures and flavors creates a delicious bite that's quintessentially Tuscan.

Become a Master in Gelato Making

Following the pizza, you'll dive into the world of gelato. Gelato is the original Italian ice cream, with a rich history from iced fruit to today's commercial gelato. Your chef will show you that making great Italian gelato is simpler than it seems. Using fresh, seasonal ingredients as a base, you'll create gelato together, adding milk, cream, eggs, and sugar in varying degrees, or perhaps making a lactose-free fruit sorbet.

Your chef will emphasize the importance of avoiding chemicals during the process and might introduce unexpected ingredients like balsamic vinegar or farm-fresh yogurt. By the end of the class, you'll have created some of the best gelato you've ever tasted!

 

Socialize and Enjoy a Full Meal of Group-Crafted Pizzas

An opportunity to meet new friends from around the globe

At Mama Florence, sharing around the table embodies the spirit of friendship, love, and creating lasting memories with people from around the globe. This philosophy reflects the essence of the real person behind Mama Florence, who is the soul of the place. The culinary experiences here are designed to connect individuals from different places and cultures through delicious food, heartfelt conversations, and cultural exchanges. Each meal is an opportunity to bond, celebrate togetherness, and build a sense of community, making every dining experience a cherished memory.

Sit down and share your Pizza and menu creations 

After crafting delectable homemade pizzas under the guidance of our expert chefs, sit down with your newly made friends to savor the culinary creations from the group class. This tasting meal will include:

• Coccoli with Prosciutto and Stracchino
• A variety of freshly made pizzas
• A delicious dessert

Each dish is perfectly paired with three fine wines: a bubbly, a white, and a red, enhancing the flavors and providing a truly social and immersive dining experience. Enjoy socializing and having fun with fellow food enthusiasts as you share this memorable meal and celebrate your newfound skills.

 

What's included in your Pizza and Gelato Group Cooking Class

• Gorgeous, Spacious Air-Conditioned Gullo Kitchen: Enjoy cooking in our beautifully designed, comfortable kitchen.
• Hands-On Cooking Class: Learn from experienced and engaging professional chefs.
• High Quality, locally Sourced, Sustainable Ingredients: Use the finest ingredients for your dishes.
• Use of Aprons and Tools: Aprons and tools are provided (apron purchasable on-site at an extra cost).
• Preparation of a Pizza Menu:
  • Coccoli, Prosicutto e Stracchino
  • Pizza of your choice
  • Dessert
• Full Meal of Prepared Dishes: Enjoy your creations with seated table service.
• Prosecco to Start Your Meal: Begin your dining experience with a glass of Prosecco.
• Wine Pairings or beer:
  • Fine Italian white wine to pair with your appetizer or first course
  • Fine Italian red wine to pair with your second course
  • Classic Italian beer
• E-Recipes: Receive electronic recipes of all the dishes you've prepared, sent to your inbox.
• Class Duration: Approximately 3.5 hours, including the meal.
• 22% VAT Tax: Included in the price.

Important Notes about the Pizza and Gelato Group class

• Shared Kitchen and Tools: Our kitchen and tools are shared by participants. Cross-contamination is possible. Classes are NOT suitable for individuals with SEVERE or life-threatening allergies. Please prioritize safety before enrolling.
• Dietary Requirements:
  • Vegetarian Options: Can be easily accommodated.
  • Other Dietary Needs: For vegan, gluten-free, or dairy-free requirements, please inquire prior to booking.
• Minimum Enrollment:
  • General: A minimum enrollment of 3 people is required for course activation.
  • Sundays: A minimum enrollment of 5 people is required.
  • Options if Minimum Not Met: If the minimum is not reached, you will have the option to:
    • Pay an additional fee to reach minimum
    • Make the class private
    • Change to another available date
    • Receive a full refund
• Special Requests: If a specific class is not listed on our calendar, let us know and we will try to activate it for your desired date.
• Seasonal Ingredients: We use fresh, seasonal ingredients from trusted local suppliers and farms. The cooking class menu will vary depending on what is available that day.
• Allergies and Preferences: It is essential to email us ahead of time with any food allergies or preferences so we can verify if we can accommodate them.
• Private Classes: If you would like to make this a private class for you and your group, please get in touch for details.

 

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