Cookies! They are not just something we eat. This site uses cookies so we can provide you the best user experience and deliver advertising and offers that are relevant to you. To read more about our cookie policy, including how to change your cookie settings, please read our Privacy and Cookie Policy. By continuing to use the site you are agreeing to our cookie policy.
I accept
VIEW PHOTOS
VIEW PHOTOS

Host: Pio

Bologna, Italy

USD
$92-$152 per person

Create your own homemade Bolognese pasta with a professional pasta maker

Host offerings
  • Apartment
  • Home cook
  • Pets
  • Vegetarian
  • Alcohol
  • Transportation
  • Cooking class
  • Market visit
  • Food tour

Meet Pio

Pio has always had a passion for cooking but Bologna is where he found his true love, pasta making, so much so that he abandoned his previous life as an accountant to become a full time artisan pasta chef. The word “sfoglia” means “large sheets of pasta” in Italian, and “sfoglina” refers to a female pasta-making woman who uses traditional techniques to make pasta. Pio considers himself a bit of an anomaly because he considers himself a "sfoglino", an Italian word that does not really exist. Pio considers himself very lucky to be able to make a living doing what he loves. He finds cooking to be very meditative and loves spending time with his daughter when they make pasta together.

Besides cooking and rolling pasta, Pio's big passion is American Swing dance. He enjoys dance gatherings in Bologna and if you join him at his home for an evening meal or lunch he may even show you a few steps!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-4 guests) Join Pio at his dining table in his small Bologna apartment and share traditional Bolognese cuisine, particularly fresh pasta dishes. You may enjoy dishes such as a classic tortellino in brodo and tagliatelle with ragù alla bolognese or his lasagne and passatelli in brodo. Pio likes to pay homage to his roots, and often includes traditional Pugliese dishes as well, such as orecchiette with turnip greens. Every so often he reinvents recipes by combining ingredients in different ways. Your meal will include a couple of fresh pasta dishes, a second course, dessert and coffee.

Cooking experience: (2-3 guests) Learn to make together with Pio in his small apartment kitchen, fresh Bolognese pasta, from tagliatelle to tortellini or passatelli. This is a casual experience with a jovial pasta maker. During your fresh pasta making lesson in Bologna, you will learn how to roll, cut and cook pasta for a delightful meal that may include a couple of dishes prepared in advance. The cooking portion of your experience will last about an hour before you sit down to enjoy the Italian meal you helped prepare with Pio.

Languages spoken: English, Italian, Spanish

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • An antipasto with parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar, olives, crostini
  • Homemade pasta with Bolognese ragù: tortellini, tagliatelle, passatelli
  • Second course meat dish: Bolognese cutlet or other with vegetables
  • Dessert: zuppa inglese or other
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Cooking with Pio is a wonderful experience, very casual and relaxed and not very formal at all. He loves music and likes to laugh as well. Makes people feel comfortable and welcomed in his home.

Carol, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
Pio was a great host and teacher... he obviously loves cooking and sharing it with others. My husband is a novice to the cooking... considering toast a huge culinary victory. I understand cooking and enjoy it but am by no means a master. Pio worked well with both of us. We got to his flat, which was easy to find on a major street. We took a taxi but found it simple enough to take a bus back. He had everything prepared for the class.We took time to watch his demonstration and then both mixed our own dough... we kneaded, rolled and stretched all with conversation and paced for our learning. I loved watching my husband learn to roll the tortellini around his fingers. We also made tagliatelle. We learned about other pasta shapes and sizes. While we cooked we learned more about Pio and the town. He showed us the ragu he had cooked prior to our arrival and explained the simple sauce of sage and olive oil he would use for our other dish. Dinner was a nice time with a simple starter and our pasta's... we were surprised by a main protein entree and then a great dessert. Pio sat and shared with us as our wine and conversation continued. All in all it was one of my favorite memories in Italy... I hope to see Pio again and I hope to share the pasta and sauces with friends here in Arizona. Thanks Pio!!!
- Elaine S August 26, 2018
Pio had a friend join him to help translate in English for us and both were so knowledgeable and fun. Pio has a slab that was made just for pasta and rolled it all out by hand. We learned the tricky business of tortelloni as well as tagliatelle. There were several dishes Pio made to show us local favorites- and we had dinner on his patio.
- Teri V December 19, 2017
F3a791a8 081f 442b a428 17432f603eff

Pio

$92-$152 USD

per person
100% VETTED
Learn more
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee or your money back
  • Credit card is not charged until the host confirms your booking
  • Private experience
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $92 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $152 Not offered
Alcohol
 $8 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $92 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $152 Not offered
Alcohol
 $8 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-3:00pm 7:30pm-9:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-3:00pm 6:00pm-10:00pm

Meet Pio

Pio has always had a passion for cooking but Bologna is where he found his true love, pasta making, so much so that he abandoned his previous life as an accountant to become a full time artisan pasta chef. The word “sfoglia” means “large sheets of pasta” in Italian, and “sfoglina” refers to a female pasta-making woman who uses traditional techniques to make pasta. Pio considers himself a bit of an anomaly because he considers himself a "sfoglino", an Italian word that does not really exist. Pio considers himself very lucky to be able to make a living doing what he loves. He finds cooking to be very meditative and loves spending time with his daughter when they make pasta together.

Besides cooking and rolling pasta, Pio's big passion is American Swing dance. He enjoys dance gatherings in Bologna and if you join him at his home for an evening meal or lunch he may even show you a few steps!

What to expect

Please note menu might vary. If there are particular dishes you are interested in trying, please include your request in the booking form.

In-home meal: (2-4 guests) Join Pio at his dining table in his small Bologna apartment and share traditional Bolognese cuisine, particularly fresh pasta dishes. You may enjoy dishes such as a classic tortellino in brodo and tagliatelle with ragù alla bolognese or his lasagne and passatelli in brodo. Pio likes to pay homage to his roots, and often includes traditional Pugliese dishes as well, such as orecchiette with turnip greens. Every so often he reinvents recipes by combining ingredients in different ways. Your meal will include a couple of fresh pasta dishes, a second course, dessert and coffee.

Cooking experience: (2-3 guests) Learn to make together with Pio in his small apartment kitchen, fresh Bolognese pasta, from tagliatelle to tortellini or passatelli. This is a casual experience with a jovial pasta maker. During your fresh pasta making lesson in Bologna, you will learn how to roll, cut and cook pasta for a delightful meal that may include a couple of dishes prepared in advance. The cooking portion of your experience will last about an hour before you sit down to enjoy the Italian meal you helped prepare with Pio.

Languages spoken: English, Italian, Spanish

Sample menu

This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
  • An antipasto with parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar, olives, crostini
  • Homemade pasta with Bolognese ragù: tortellini, tagliatelle, passatelli
  • Second course meat dish: Bolognese cutlet or other with vegetables
  • Dessert: zuppa inglese or other
PERSONALLY VETTED REVIEW
A Traveling Spoon ambassador visited this host. Here is their personal review.

Cooking with Pio is a wonderful experience, very casual and relaxed and not very formal at all. He loves music and likes to laugh as well. Makes people feel comfortable and welcomed in his home.

Carol, Traveling Spoon Ambassador

Traveler reviews

5.0 (2)
Pio was a great host and teacher... he obviously loves cooking and sharing it with others. My husband is a novice to the cooking... considering toast a huge culinary victory. I understand cooking and enjoy it but am by no means a master. Pio worked well with both of us. We got to his flat, which was easy to find on a major street. We took a taxi but found it simple enough to take a bus back. He had everything prepared for the class.We took time to watch his demonstration and then both mixed our own dough... we kneaded, rolled and stretched all with conversation and paced for our learning. I loved watching my husband learn to roll the tortellini around his fingers. We also made tagliatelle. We learned about other pasta shapes and sizes. While we cooked we learned more about Pio and the town. He showed us the ragu he had cooked prior to our arrival and explained the simple sauce of sage and olive oil he would use for our other dish. Dinner was a nice time with a simple starter and our pasta's... we were surprised by a main protein entree and then a great dessert. Pio sat and shared with us as our wine and conversation continued. All in all it was one of my favorite memories in Italy... I hope to see Pio again and I hope to share the pasta and sauces with friends here in Arizona. Thanks Pio!!!
- Elaine S August 26, 2018
Pio had a friend join him to help translate in English for us and both were so knowledgeable and fun. Pio has a slab that was made just for pasta and rolled it all out by hand. We learned the tricky business of tortelloni as well as tagliatelle. There were several dishes Pio made to show us local favorites- and we had dinner on his patio.
- Teri V December 19, 2017
Pricing (per person)*
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $92 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $152 Not offered
Alcohol
 $8 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
1 person 2-4 ppl 5+ people
In-Home Meal
 Not offered $92 Not offered
Cooking Experience + Meal
 Not offered $152 Not offered
Alcohol
 $8 per person
*Does not include 3% payment processing fee applied at checkout.
Experience Timings
 Lunch Dinner
In-Home Meal
 1:00pm-3:00pm 7:30pm-9:30pm
Cooking Experience+ Meal
 11:00am-3:00pm 6:00pm-10:00pm
ABOUT TRAVELING SPOON

Traveling Spoon connects you with meaningful culinary experiences, from private cooking lessons to homecooked meals in people's homes. Enjoy an immersive cultural experience that gives you a glimpse into the local way of life.

FAQ

    You can cancel your reservation up until 48 hours before your experience for a full refund minus a 3% processing fee. Experiences within 48 hours are not refundable.

    If you have a question for your host, you can include a note in the field "Write a note to your host" during the booking process. Once your booking is confirmed, you will be emailed your host's direct contact information and you will also be able to message the host through your profile. You can always cancel your booking and receive a full refund 48 hours or more before your experience. If you have other questions you can also email us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Most of our hosts are able to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies, including vegetarian and gluten free options. For vegetarian travelers, we have an icon on each host profile to indicate whether that host can also offer a fully vegetarian menu. There is a section in the booking form to note any allergies or dietary restrictions which will be sent directly to your host.

    Some hosts offer alcohol as an optional add-on for travelers who are of legal drinking age. Pricing for alcohol is visible on the host profile page and includes one to two glasses of wine, beer or local alcohol.

    Have a flight or other tour planned and can’t make the timing provided? If the timing listed on the host’s profile doesn’t work for you, our hosts can often accommodate timing changes. Because all of our experiences are private our hosts are happy to tailor experiences to meet your travel needs. Simply note your request in the booking process.

    Your card will not be charged until your host accepts your booking. Typically hosts respond to bookings within 72 hours. In the event your host is unavailable on your selected date and your host rejects your booking your credit card will not be charged.

    Your host's detailed contact information, including their phone number, address, and direction notes, will all be provided immediately upon successful confirmation of your experience (after your hosts accepts your booking and your credit card is successfully processed). This information will be emailed to you to the email address you used to sign up, and will also be visible on your Traveling Spoon profile.

    All prices are noted per person prices unless otherwise specified. Transportation is typically charged on a per car basis. Children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free. Hosts set their own prices and Traveling Spoon marks up the experiences; on average hosts receive over 70% of the price paid by the traveler.

    100% of Traveling Spoon experiences are private! Just you and your host and host’s family.

    Hosts typically respond to booking inquiries within 72 hours. If for some reason you have not heard from your host or if you have any questions you can always contact us at reservations@travelingspoon.com.

    Your safety and security are our top priority. To ensure this, Traveling Spoon personally vets 100% of all hosts, including an in-person host visit, to ensure each host and experience meets our strict quality requirements.

    Some hosts offer transportation as an optional add-on for travelers. Typically this is round trip transportation with pick up and drop off at your hotel. Pricing is quoted per car. Specific instructions for transportation will be provided in your confirmation details when your booking is confirmed.

    Many of our hosts accommodate solo travelers. You can see if a host accepts solo travelers by looking at the traveler range found next to the experience descriptions on the host profile (indicated by the numbers in parentheses next to "In-home meal", "Cooking experience" and "Market visit").

    Most of our Traveling Spoon experiences are incredibly family friendly and can accommodate infants and children. If a host is unable to accommodate children that will be noted in the “Notes” section of their profile. Our child pricing policy is children aged 5-11 are 50% off, and infants aged 0-4 are free.