Catania: Market Tour and Cooking Class with Chef Riccardo

Catania’s food culture makes the most sense when you shop for lunch before cooking it. With Chef Riccardo, you visit the market, choose ingredients with his guidance, stop for wine and local products, then prepare a three-course Sicilian meal at his home. The day ends around the table, often beside the pool with a wide sea view.

I like the flexible menu, shaped by the season and the group’s tastes rather than locked into a printed plan. I also like the personal setting: Riccardo and his wife Sally welcome a small group of no more than eight, making this feel closer to cooking with friends than sitting in a formal demonstration.

The main consideration is time. The advertised duration is 4.5 hours, but the relaxed market, meal, conversation, and wine can stretch the day. If you have a cruise departure or a tight afternoon appointment, leave plenty of room.

Key points to know before booking

• Market first, kitchen second: You help choose fish, meat, cheese, produce, bread, and other ingredients in Catania.
• Chef Riccardo leads the class: His background includes Michelin-starred restaurants, television, cooking shows, and private-chef work.
• The menu changes: Seasonal food and group preferences guide the three courses.
• Wine is part of the outing: You visit a local cantina or wine seller, taste options, and select a pairing.
• The setting is unusually personal: Cooking takes place at Riccardo and Sally’s home, with a pool and panoramic sea view when weather permits.
• Small groups help: The maximum of eight people gives you a better chance to take part at the counter.

Why this Catania cooking class feels different

Many cooking classes begin with premeasured ingredients and a recipe card. This one begins with a trip through Catania’s food market. That small change matters. You see the raw materials before they become lunch, and you get a better sense of how Sicilian cooks make decisions.

Riccardo chooses food according to the season and the tastes of the group. If something catches your eye, you can help steer the menu. The ingredients may include seafood, meat, cheese, vegetables, bread, and other products from nearby producers. The exact dishes are not fixed in advance, so the class has a genuine market-to-table feel.

I like that the shopping is not treated as a quick errand. The market is part of the experience. You can watch Riccardo select quality products, ask why one ingredient is preferable to another, and see how a Sicilian meal takes shape. It is also a useful introduction to Catania before you spend time in the kitchen.

The class is hosted by Riccardo, who was born and raised in Sicily. His professional background includes Michelin-starred restaurants, television appearances, advertisements, and cooking programs. He has also worked as a private chef for celebrities and football players, and spent more than 12 years living in China and Singapore while promoting Italian food abroad.

That background gives him a broad point of view, but the tone appears to remain relaxed. You are not signing up for a stiff professional training session. You are there to cook, eat, ask questions, and enjoy a Sicilian afternoon.

Starting at Catania’s market

The meeting point is the Sikelia coffee shop. From there, the food portion begins with a visit to a traditional market in Catania. The market is valuable even if you have no interest in cooking because it shows the city through its everyday food trade rather than through a museum display.

Riccardo guides the purchasing, but you are not simply watching him fill a basket. The group helps decide what will be prepared. The shopping can include a stop with a fish seller, butcher, baker, cheese producer, or other food vendor, depending on the day’s menu.

One particularly useful feature is the attention to km0 products, meaning food sourced from nearby farmers and producers. You may taste fresh cheese or other local products before choosing what belongs in the meal. These tastings help you understand the difference between buying a souvenir food item and selecting something for immediate cooking.

The market can also be the most unpredictable part of the day. The menu depends on what looks best and what the group wants, so you should not expect a guaranteed dish such as pasta alla Norma or a particular fish recipe. If you prefer a fixed menu, this may feel too open-ended. If you enjoy seeing plans develop naturally, it is one of the strongest parts of the experience.

Choosing a Sicilian wine

After the market, the group visits a local cantina or wine seller to choose wine for the meal. Wine tasting is included, along with the final pairing. This is more useful than simply receiving a glass at lunch because you can connect the wine to the food you have helped select.

Riccardo can guide the choice, while the group has input. You may taste several options and select the bottle that best suits the planned courses. The precise wines are not specified, and that is sensible because the food changes with the season.

The stop also breaks up the cooking class. Rather than spending four straight hours in one room, you move from market to wine shop to kitchen. That makes the experience feel like a food-focused day in Catania, not just a lesson.

Keep in mind that wine is part of the outing from the start of the pairing stop through the meal. If you do not drink alcohol, mention your needs in advance. The provider also asks you to share dietary requirements ahead of time, which is important because the menu is built around fresh ingredients purchased that day.

Cooking three courses with Riccardo

At Riccardo and Sally’s home, you prepare the meal together. The class covers three courses, with the ingredients supplied as part of the price. You can expect practical instruction rather than a lecture: chopping, preparation, timing, seasoning, and the small decisions that make home cooking work.

A good cooking class should leave you with methods you can repeat, not just a pleasant lunch. This one seems especially suited to that purpose because the dishes are described as authentic Sicilian food made from scratch. One group learned straightforward fish dishes that they planned to recreate at home, while others appreciated being included in every stage of preparation.

The kitchen setting also keeps the mood informal. Partners who were nervous about cooking were drawn into the preparation, and the class works for couples as well as solo participants. Since the maximum group size is eight, you should have a better chance of handling ingredients yourself rather than standing behind a crowd.

The class is not presented as advanced chef training. Riccardo’s professional experience is impressive, but the focus is on approachable food and shared preparation. That makes it a good fit if you want to learn useful techniques without spending a full day in a culinary school.

Sally is an important part of the welcome and hosting. The experience includes time with Riccardo, Sally, and their family at their home, so the social side is just as important as the recipes. You should be comfortable with a setting that feels personal and conversational. This is not a restaurant meal where you remain anonymous.

Lunch beside the pool

Once the food is ready, you sit down to eat what you prepared. The meal includes Sicilian wine and coffee, and, if the weather allows, lunch takes place beside the swimming pool with a panoramic sea view.

That setting gives the final hour a clear sense of occasion, but the food remains the point. You can taste the result while the preparation is still fresh in your mind. It is easier to remember a technique when you have just used it, eaten the finished dish, and talked through what worked.

The outdoor setting is weather dependent, so do not book this expecting guaranteed poolside dining. The activity still includes the cooking and meal if conditions keep you indoors. The pool itself is not presented as the main attraction, though some groups have had enough free time for a swim.

The home setting can also lengthen the visit. Conversation, wine, and lunch are not rushed into a strict restaurant turnover. That is a strength if you want a warm social experience, but a concern if you need to return to a ship, train, or scheduled tour.

What the $169.93 price includes

At $169.93 per person, this is not a budget meal or a basic market walk. The price includes the market-based cooking class, instruction from Riccardo, ingredients, wine tasting, the selected wine for the meal, local agricultural products, lunch, and coffee.

The value depends on how you use the experience. If you only want to eat Sicilian food, you can spend less at a restaurant. If you want a market visit, hands-on cooking, tastings, a hosted meal, and several hours of personal guidance, the price becomes easier to justify.

The small group is key. With no more than eight participants, the cost covers more than food. You are paying for access to Riccardo’s professional experience, help choosing ingredients, a private-home setting, and a meal prepared with the group.

I would consider it good value for someone who treats food as a central part of a trip. It is less compelling for someone who dislikes group activities, does not drink wine, or wants a quick, tightly timed excursion.

Who will enjoy this most

This experience suits couples, solo visitors, and anyone who wants a social way to meet local people. It also works well for mixed-ability groups because the cooking is hands-on but not described as technically demanding.

You should book it if you like:

• Choosing food instead of receiving a fixed menu
• Learning through practical work
• Meeting a Sicilian host and his family
• Eating a meal in a private home
• Taking your time over wine and conversation
• Adapting dishes to dietary needs with advance notice

It may not suit you if you need a guaranteed dish, dislike seafood or market shopping, or have only a narrow window between other plans. The exact menu changes, and the relaxed style is part of the appeal.

English, Chinese, Italian, and Spanish are available among the host or greeter languages. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. You should still share any mobility or food requirements before booking so the host can prepare properly.

Cancellation is flexible: you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later, which helps if your Catania schedule is still shifting.

How to plan the day

Meet at the Sikelia coffee shop, the stated starting point. The activity ends back at the meeting point, but the middle of the day includes several locations, so confirm the start time and allow extra time afterward.

The stated duration is 4.5 hours. In practice, I would avoid placing a major commitment immediately afterward. The market may invite extra stops, the wine tasting can take time, and the final meal is designed for conversation rather than a quick bite.

Wear something comfortable for walking and cooking. Specific clothing requirements are not provided, so practical travel clothes are the sensible choice. If you hope to swim, ask the host about conditions and available time rather than assuming the pool will be part of every visit.

Send dietary requests in advance. Since the menu is selected at the market, early notice gives Riccardo a better chance to plan suitable dishes. The flexible menu is an advantage here, provided you communicate clearly.

Should you book Chef Riccardo’s class?

Book it if you want more than a recipe lesson. The best part is the full sequence: market shopping, tasting local products, choosing wine, cooking from scratch, and sitting down with the people who hosted you.

I especially like the combination of professional instruction and family hospitality. Riccardo brings serious restaurant experience, while Sally helps make the home setting comfortable. You get a practical introduction to Sicilian food without losing the warmth of a shared meal.

Skip it if you need a short, predictable activity or prefer to keep your distance from hosts. For everyone else, this is a strong choice for a food-centered day in Catania, especially if you have enough time to let the market and lunch unfold at their own pace.

FAQ

Where does the activity begin?

Meet at the Sikelia coffee shop in Catania. The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the cooking class and market tour last?

The stated duration is 4.5 hours. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

How many people are in the group?

The activity is limited to eight participants.

Which languages are available?

The host or greeter languages are English, Chinese, Italian, and Spanish.

Is wine included?

Yes. The experience includes wine tasting in a local cantina or wine seller, wine for pairing with the meal, and coffee.

Can dietary requirements be accommodated?

Special dietary requests should be sent in advance. The menu changes with the season and can be shaped around the group’s needs.

Is the activity wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the activity is listed as wheelchair accessible.