Lake Como • hands-on • about 3 hours
Farfalle and Garganelli Masterclass in Como – Two Shapes from One Sfoglia
Farfalle and garganelli with ragù + gelato with balsamic vinegar
Aperitivo with cured meats & cheeses Local wine · 1 bottle every 4 guests Dessert · gelato with 25-year balsamic Vegetarian option
from €150 per person · tomato €150 / ragù €160 · up to 12 guests larger private groups on request.
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For practical details, read our FAQ or see how our cooking class works.
The experience
One sfoglia, two shapes. In this hands-on farfalle and garganelli masterclass in Como you knead your own dough, roll it out with the matterello, then turn it into two very different forms: farfalle, pinched by hand one by one at the centre of each square of pasta, and garganelli, rolled around a small stick over the ridged pettine until the grooves take hold.
It’s the right class for understanding why, in Italy, shape is never a detail: the same dough changes character depending on how you fold it. The method is the one Marco, our resident chef, learned on the professional programme at the Accademia della Sfoglia – we tell that story on our page about the art of sfoglia.
At the end, two pots go on the stove, one per shape: you taste both formats with a slow-cooked ragù and feel how the same sfoglia holds the sauce in different ways. If you don’t eat meat there is a clear vegetarian option: a fresh cherry-tomato sauce prepared in front of you.
While the dough rests, the aperitivo: everyone gathers around a board of cured meats and cheeses, time for a chat before going back to the sfoglia. The table closes with a dessert that surprises: gelato with traditional balsamic vinegar, the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP from Acetaia del Cristo – a single ingredient, cooked grape must, aged twenty-five years in a battery of casks of different woods. The one matured in cherry-wood barrels is fruity and sweet, sweet-and-sour: a few drops are enough on the gelato. Read more about the Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena we use.
From the sfoglia to the table
The signature dessert
Gelato with Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, aged 25 years
Every masterclass ends the same way: a scoop of gelato and a few drops of Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP from Acetaia del Cristo, a family acetaia in Modena run for three generations.
It is made from one ingredient, cooked grape must, and it waits twenty-five years in a battery of wooden casks. Dense, dark, sweet and sharp at once: it is served by the drop. The one aged in cherry wood is the fruitiest, and it is the one we pour over the gelato.
- 25 yearsin wooden casks
- DOPTradizionale di Modena
- 1 ingredientcooked grape must
You’ll cook with Marco
Our home chef
Mani in Pasta is a family: Marco at the wooden bench, Valentina at his side — and some evenings Marco’s mamma, Silvana, at the stove. The ragù is hers. You cook the way this house has always cooked: together.
Frequently asked questions about this class
Do we really make two shapes in one class?
Yes: farfalle pinched by hand and garganelli rolled on the ridged pettine, both from the same sfoglia. The sauce is your choice: fresh tomato (€150) or ragù alla bolognese (€160).
What's included in the price?
The hands-on class of about three hours with all ingredients and your apron, an aperitivo with cured meats and cheeses, and the meal you cooked, eaten together at the table with local wine (one bottle for every four guests). To finish, our signature dessert: gelato with 25-year-aged Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena DOP from Acetaia del Cristo. No upfront payment.
How do I book?
Send a request from the booking form — no online payment. We confirm your date within 24 hours by email or WhatsApp. Up to 12 guests per session, minimum age 14.
Moments from our classes
What our guests say
5.0 · 12 Google reviews
Wonderful experience with delicious foods and wines!
Cannot recommend this experience enough! Marco was very knowledgeable and explained every step of the process. Val was extremely helpful with translating and had perfect English. Between the appetizer, main course, and dessert everything was fantastic and one of the best meals I have ever had. We cannot thank Marco, Val, and their mother for the hospitality and unforgettable experience.
More than 5 stars for Val, Marco and Silvana, who welcomed us into their family home to teach us Italian homemade pasta techniques in such a friendly pleasurable way. They made it fun and you can't help but love this family! A perfect family team working together wanting to share their love of traditional Italian food cooked with joy. We loved every minute. Our favorite thing in Como — this authentic Italian family cooking class should be at the top of your list to do! Grazie mille!!!
My mom, sister, daughter, niece and I did the tagliatelle al ragù pasta making class with Mani in Pasta and had such a great time! Val, Marco and Silvana were wonderful teachers and hosts! They are a wealth of knowledge and are happy to share it with you. I would highly recommend this class for anyone interested in learning how to make delicious, authentic Italian pasta. Gelato at the end was a delicious treat.
We had fun and learned so much! They were so knowledgeable and treated us like family. Not to mention the food was delicious (and maybe I can try to recreate it again at home)! They provided insight into the history of Italian food culture that can only come from generations who live here.
Wonderful experience near the center of Como. The cooking class was very detailed, engaging, and enjoyable. I learned a lot and had a great time. Highly recommended!
I loved the experience! A fun and easy way to learn how to make pasta, the REAL pasta. The chef was super friendly and patient, I really enjoyed the environment she created. I definitely recommend this experience, worth the money and the time.
I had a wonderful experience at this cooking class! The atmosphere was warm and welcoming from the very beginning, and the instructor explained everything clearly and with great enthusiasm.
It's a fantastic and unforgettable experience! A warm place with good vibes and atmosphere! Fun and very professional team! If you visit Como, don't miss Mani in Pasta.
Fantastic cooking class! Clear instructions, great atmosphere, fresh ingredients, and delicious homemade pasta. Highly recommended!