Perched high above the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea in the serene town of Ravello is one of the finest gems in all of Italy, a cooking school named Mamma Agata. This family-run business has been heralded world-over and for good reason: it is the embodiment of learning, family, and love for the precious ingredients used to create unforgettable dishes. The first time Linnie and I attended this day-long culinary adventure was in 2012 when I happened upon a Tripadvisor review of the school. Our trip that year took us throughout Italy and culminated in a relaxing stay on the Amalfi Coast. We had attended a pasta-making class in a small Tuscan town prior to this course and thought that this would be more of the same. Walking down to Mamma Agata’s school from our hotel, the Caruso, was easy and peaceful, but once we stepped foot on the terrace of Mamma Agata’s and were greeted with warm hugs and an exuberant ‘Ciao’ by Chiara, our expectations of just another pasta course were immediately reimagined. The view of verdant gardens abundant with plump tomatoes and fat lemons, the dainty scent of fresh basil wafting in the breeze, and the intoxicating vista of the sea were awe-inspiring. The beauty of the landscape was overwhelming. And, that was just the first impression!
Before class began, we were invited to the terrace for Mamma’s famous lemon cake that was so delectably moist, it simply melted in my mouth. It only got better from there with Mamma at the stove carefully showing her students how to create magical dishes like eggplant parmigiana, meatballs and tomato sauce, and spaghetti of the farmer to Chiara’s exuberant step-by-step explanation in English. As students for the day, we tasted the fresh ingredients individually first after selecting them from the garden in order to understand how combining them could bring out the best notes in each one. The morning lingered, and we cooked and tasted, talked, and sampled wines, all while listening to Chiara’s stories of how her mother prepared meals for some of the world’s most iconic figures: Jaqueline Kennedy, Fred Astaire, and Humphrey Bogart, to name a few. By mid-afternoon, we sat around the table on the terrace and tasted the fruits of our labor as Chiara’s husband, Gennaro, a sommelier and cook in his own right, generously introduced us to wine selections for each course followed by his limoncello, the nectar of the gods. That special day is etched in my memory as a perfect moment, like time just stood still. I loved the experience so much that I returned with my sister-in-law two years later for another slice of Heaven… and a slice of lemon cake!
Check out their website if you want to make a booking, or just order their artisanal products right to your door. https://www.mammaagata.com
