percorsi con gusto

On a family vacation in Sangemini my daughter, son-in-law, grandson and I spent the day with Lorena learning the fine point of many dishes. The 8 other members joined us for dinner. What an experience. We all enjoyed it throughly. We would recommend this event, particularly if you are at her home in Sangemini Umbria.

I have had the pleasure of taking two classes with Lorena in Boston as well as enjoying a four-course Easter dinner made by her in 2012 and I can honestly say I have learned a lot about Italian food and cooking and have had a great time getting to know her. Her hands on teaching really makes you feel you are a part of her kitchen, not just sitting in it and listening. She has the patience of a saint with a great sense of humor. Italian cooking is definitely an art and Lorena delivers. From making homemade pasta to sauces and back, one is guaranteed a great time and great food. Just add wine and good friends and you're set to go!Ciao,KendallBoston, USA

Spent the afternoon with Lorena, a premier hands on Chef and instructor. The class was set in the medieval town of San Gemini in the Umbrian region. It was a perfect backdrop for learning authentic Italian cuisine. Lorena was a very welcoming and excellent cooking instructor and provided a wonderful atmosphere in her private home which was a truly authentic italian home setting. The experience was phenomenal, creating an assotment of Italian dishes. This was a hands on class, such as creating homemade pasta from scatch and wasn't just demonstrational. A full course meal was created and cooked and enjoyed with Lorena's mother and husband who joined us after work, which added much atmosphere to the whole experience. It felt as if we were enjoying an old fashion Sunday meal with family. Lorena was very knowledgeable about the history of Italian cooking as well as the history of the region itself and provided us with insights into other attractions in the area. It was a fantastic evening capped off with good wine, food and company. Lorena is a great chef who is warm, welcoming and very "simpatica". Her cooking class is highly recommended.

I would highly recommend taking a cooking class with Lorena Autori as a way to enhance and personalize your next visit to Umbria. Her kitchen is located in a historic building in the very center of the drop-dead charming medieval hill town of San Gemini. Lorena customized a cooking menu for our ten-year-old daughter and her parents. She was very attentive, clear and patient especially with Stassa, and with us as well! Together we whipped up some amazing delicacies that we had chosen with her in advance, including gnocchi made from scratch, a special Umbrian version of pesto, polpette di pollo (chicken croquettes), vegetarian stuffed peppers, batter-fried zucchini blossoms stuffed with mozzarella, and an awesome lemon cream tart. (She even contributed on her own a special local dessert that she thought our daughter would like, since there wasn’t enough time for us to bake two desserts.) The whole cucina italiana experience with Lorena, while intense and focused for almost four hours, was an absolute delight. And then we ate! Buon appetito!

I started chatting with Lorena months before we went to Italy. There were 17 of us, heading to Italy for 22 days. We were all celebrating different things; I was celebrating my 45th Birthday. I am a good cook - but had never mastered the art of making Pasta. We spoke to our Villa owner, and he said, "you must go see Lorena". The 9 adults took Lorena's cooking class on July 9, 2013. We made many things - and the handmade pasta was worth the trip alone. Paired with a simple tomato sauce - it has become a staple in my home. Lorena is authentic and so is her cooking. She is the "real deal" as we say in the US - and I cannot recommend her classes enough. Don't leave Italy without taking her class. Lorena is also wonderful at creating a cooking class menu for you.Since July of 2012, our families have become friends. Lorena comes to cook in Boston and is a class favorite. We will be adding more classes to the Olivia Browning Cooking School. She is also a private chef and guest chef at leading restaurants. Don't walk to your cooking lesson, run!

My husband and I have done two classes with Lorena in Boston and would love to do the next one in San Gemini! Lorena is a wonderful chef & teacher and is a lovely person, as well. We learned a lot, we had fun and ended the class with a great meal. We have easily repeated the recipes at home. I would highly recommend cooking class with Chef Lorena!

I had a totally wonderful experience when I recently attended a cooking class in Boston. Lorena is such a warm giving person and we are now amicas!!! I usually make reservations, but she has inspired me to take little baby steps and start cooking!! I made pasta ( now on the hunt for a pasta maker), stuffed peppers, a vegetable lasagna with a bechemal sauce, so good lamb meatballs, and Lorena made a strawberry tiramisu that I could have easily eaten by myself. I am going to visit her in Umbria when I next go to Italy and look forward to her cooking lessons, company and friendship for years to come.

This is one of the best cooking classes I've ever taken and I've experienced them all over the world. It goes without saying that Chef Lorena is a top notch chef. But, not only is she a very good chef, she is also a wonderful teacher. Chef Lorena is extremely knowledgeable and patient. I learned so much from her and hope to attend another one of her classes very soon. The only thing that would have been better is if the class was held in a different location. Please allow me to explain. The class was held at St. Mary's Rectory in Winchester, MA. Unfortunately, it was one of the hottest and most humid days of the summer and the rectory had no air conditioning. As one can imagine the kitchen area was very warm, but once we moved into the dining room, it was fine. The class was originally to be held at Wellesley College. Unfortunately, there was a problem and the college could not accommodate. Obviously, the lack of air conditioning would not have not been a problem there. Once again, I highly recommend anyone who has a chance to take Chef Lorena's class do so. Thank you.

You have seen the sites and visited some extraordinary locations in Italy. Why not bring something home with you that won’t exceed your luggage limit? In one of San Gemini’s historical buildings you are able to learn to cook traditional Italian fare. You are able to choose your own menu from a vast selection. If you are after something particular, Lorena will deliver. If choosing is difficult then set menus are available from the classic dishes such as gnocchi, pasta, and tiramisu – hand made by yourself. I am not a big pasta eater, but having now made my own it is a regular event at home. The strawberry Panna Cotta a favourite for our friends.Small to medium groups are catered for over the course of an afternoon, finishing up the event by eating the feast you have created with local wine. Only the freshest local ingredients are selected, and for some of the more exotic items bookings are required well ahead of time. This is a great way for families to get together in intimate and friendly surroundings. Young children will enjoy the experience.On booking Lorena will meet with you and discuss your needs and the menu. The courses are popular so expect to have to book in advance. Costs are reasonable and not much more than expected at a local restaurant. Costs do vary depending upon your selection of menu items (first course, second course and desert).

Lorena made it fun and easy to enjoy italian cuisine. Make sure to have some ratafia and tomatoes pate. I would highly recommend taking her courses.

I enjoyed the experience with Lorena so much that I went back 3 different times to learn how to cook 3 different traditional Italian meals...each of which topped the list of best meals during my time in San Gemini and Italy in general. The gnocchi was amazing, the bolognese fantastic, the panna cotta wonderful, and the tiramisu incredible (along with everything else that we made). Everything that we needed was provided. Her home is lovely and everything about the experience was great and very welcoming. It was great learning how to make the dishes and getting a copy of the recipes so that you can make the dishes again.Lorena is a gracious host and once everything is finished everyone sits down to eat family-style with Lorena, and occasionally her family, which helps bring a wonderful homestyle feel to the whole experience...expect to stay longer than you may originally planned. Each time I went, I was there for 5 or 6 hours.

Lorena is a wonderful teacher, full of the love of good, healthy food. She makes her class light and easy to follow. You definately feel that you can repeat her recepies at home. I took her class during her summer tour in Boston, but I can only imagine how much more special it would be in her 17th century home in Umbria! If you have the time for this during your stay in Italy I highly recommend it. In my opinion, it is a perfect way to experience Italy and take home some cooking tricks of your own.

In her own lovely home, Lorena taught a large group of us (foreign students) how to cook pasta from scratch, with amazing bolognese, along with stuffed zucchini flowers and wonderful panna cotta. She provided everything we needed and is an excellent hostess as well as teacher!

Questa fantastica esperienza è stata organizzata dalla mia ragazza Claudia per farmi una sorpresa.Alle 15 nella sua casa ci aspettava la signora Lorena, che da subito si è dimostrata molto gentile e affettuosa.Appena arrivati, ci ha fatto assaggiare un dolce buonissimo fatto da lei, la Crescionda, che subito ci ha deliziato il palato.Poi siamo passati al menù che prevedeva:-tortino di zucchine-tagliatelle con gli asparagi-coscio di agnello ripieno accompagnato con patate-panna cotta al caffèDopo una breve chiacchierata iniziale, abbiamo iniziato a preparare il menù, con lo chef Lorena che ci spiegava ogni passaggio delle varie preparazioni, e ci insegnava qualche "trucco" per migliorare il piatto.La giornata si è conclusa con la cena (ovviamente con i piatti da noi scelti e preparati) tra noi e la chef; i piatti finali semplicemente sensazionali, da vero e proprio ristorante di qualità.Alle 23 abbiamo salutato Lorena con la promessa di ritornare per ripetere un'esperienza così bella e particolare.

Abbiamo scoperto questo corso per caso, sbirciando su internet alla ricerca di un'idea diversa per il nostro decimo anniversario. Dopo aver concordato il tutto con la Chef Lorena Autuori siamo stati accolti nella sua casa, nel centro storico di Sangemini. Con la sua preparazione ma soprattutto con il suo amore per ogni singolo ingrediente, siamo stati condotti alla creazione e poi all'assaggio del menu della giornata, che consisteva di:- tartare di manzo (per me che non mangio carne cruda tatin di pere)- pasta e ceci (maltagliati fatti a mano)- coscio d'agnello ripieno con farcia grassa- torta caprese. Il risultato è stato eccellente e noi che amiamo la buona cucina abbiamo apprezzato la genuinità dei prodotti scelti ma soprattutto il nostro palato ha avuto un vero momento di goduria!!E' un'esperienza diversa e stimolante, che noi abbiamo fatto in coppia, ma che può essere fatta da tutti, anche i bambini. Nel salutare la Chef ci siamo lasciati con la promessa di un nuovo corso di cucina!!!