At Casa Di Cilla

I have taken part in cooking classes around the globe, but this was by far the best. Marco was charming, knowledgeable and friendly. I chose this class for my wife’s birthday as I wanted to do something special. I was not disappointed. We met at the local market to purchase our ingredients, which allowed us to meet the market vendors and sample a variety of treats and wares along the way. Our group was small and the space well equipped. We cooked four different dishes, plus a dessert and snacks. Everyone was encouraged to take part, but nobody was pushed to do something they felt uncomfortable doing. We felt like we were learning and laughing the whole time. Marco’s instructions were clear, everyone had a designated work space and his meals were planned and perfected. He ensured all dietary needs were accommodated and everyone was happy with the planned menu. Everyone took part in prepping and cooking, and I learned some new skills along the way. Marco was patient and kind. The wines were excellent and generous. When everything was finished we sat down together for a fantastic meal in Marcos beautifully appointed apartment. It was literally the best meal I ate in Palermo. If you are looking for an excellent cooking class, and are hoping to eat delicious food, have a laugh, learn about Palermo and spend a day with great people, then this is the class to take! Salute and bon appetit mi amici!

This cooking class was the highlight of our Palermo trip. Marco's hospitality was unmatched and the food was delicious and authentic. Everything was fun, from picking out the menu and exploring the market for a bit, to heading back to the kitchen and learning how to cook sicilian dishes... not to mention eating them ;) We made handmade tagliatelle with pesto, stuffed squid (my fave), and cannoli and cassatelle (my other fave) for dessert. Highly recommend this experience, worth every cent!

This was a fantastic experience from start to finish. My wife and I are experienced cooks, but this cooking class was tailored to all levels and everyone had a great time irrespective of experience. Marco communicated with us in advance using WhatsApp about the meeting point at the Capo market, even providing his live location, and we had no trouble connecting. There were 7 in our group, two of whom were vegetarians, and he asked each of us what we wanted to make, and was flexible enough to accommodate all reasonable requests that could fit within the time frame. We then tramped through the market as he selected ingredients, including giving us samplings of fresh squeezed orange and pomegranate juice and watermelon, and then headed to his apartment about a 10 minute walk away. He has a demonstration kitchen with workstations set up, and everyone contributed to all of the dishes, which in our case included vegetarian arancine, pasta alla Norma, squid stuffed with herbs, pine nuts and raisins, pasta with red shrimp and pistacchio, egglant rollatini, and cannoli. Everything was made from scratch with fresh ingredients and lots of little tips along the way, and a delicious Carricante wine was provided for us to drink as we cooked. Because of the complexity of our dishes, we spent nearly 4 hours cooking, so lunch (served in his dining room) didn't actually start until after 2 pm, but everything was delicious and worth waiting for. Marco is an exacting chef, but also very warm and kind, and he graciously took our inevitable minor mishaps or misunderstandings in stride with a cheerful cry of "Disaster!!", accompanied by a wink. When my wife asked where we could procure the kind of cannoli tubes we had used, he went into his own kitchen and came back with a bag of 6 for her to take away, gratis. I just can't say enough good things about this experience. We booked another cooking class in Catania later in our trip at about the same cost, and it was truly pitiful by comparison. I can guarantee you won't regret spending an afternoon with Marco at Casa di Cilla. Just do it!!

Marco was a great guy! Knowledgeable, funny and shared so many tips. The market was crowded, but he navigated it well with our group of 6.

Start off by saying that this was our favorite cooking class ever. Marco is clear and personable throughout the market and kitchen experience. He allowed us to select what we were to make based on our desires. The market is a wonder, with different ingredients around every corner. He gave suggestions as how to pick the freshest and best ingredients and which to avoid. His interaction with the vendors was something to behold. His apartment is set up to keep everyone involved in every step of the process. We cooked so many dishes, and they were all great. We have taken many cooking classes in our travels, four of which have been in Italy. This was clearly the best. Thank you so much Marco, this was the best part of our vacation.

Chef Marco was an entertaining teacher. Chef Marco is personable, warm and knowledgeable. He started by giving tips about the market, the food and the people as he picked the ingredients for our menu. He interacted with each of us on a personal level, sharing his experience and his knowledge. His home was the oerfect setting for the class. It was spacious snd well appointed. He explained each step of the cooking process, and he ensured that everyone got equal attention. The food we prepared under his close guidance was delicious and we all felt good about our accomplishment. I will recommend his class to all my friends. In fact, I have slready done so. What a great way to learn Sicilian cooking! I would do it again!

What an incredible day my husband, daughter and I had with Chef Marco! We met him at Capo market, determined the menu together on the spot and then shopped for the ingredients. We walked back to his spacious apartment and started cooking! Our final meal included: pappardelle pasta with pesto and tomatoes, swordfish pie, caponata and chocolate chip cannolis - all from scratch of course :) The final meal was incredible, one I'll dream about for years. Chef Marco has a great sense of humor and was eager to share his passion of cooking with us, we had so much fun! This was definitely a highlight of our 10-day visit to beautiful Sicily!

Thouroughly enjoyed the day with Marco. A gracious chef, host and tutor. After shopping in the market we were able to cook 3 beautiful dishes. Marco was generous with teaching us his cooking techniques. After preparing the food we enjoyed it together in his dining room where everything was presented beautifully. Marco is a lovely and humourous host. I was so pleased to share this experience with my daughter and highly recommend.

Excellent cooking experience! We had s lot of fun, learned something, enjoyed the market visit, the cooking, the food and most of all the very friendly way of our chef Marco and really felt it was a perfect experience!

Our cooking class with Marco at Casa di Cilla was absolutely the highlight of our week in Sicily. We began the day at Palermo’s vibrant Capo market, where Marco expertly guided us through the colorful stalls like a local, selecting the freshest ingredients for our menu. Back at Marco’s immaculate and charming kitchen just minutes from the market, we rolled up our sleeves and got hands‑on. Under his expert, patient, and humorous instruction, we made swordfish rolls with a North African‑inspired touch (mint, raisins, citrus) as well as pistachio pesto ravioli—with fresh pasta from scratch—and a deeply flavorful aubergine caponata. For dessert, we prepared cassatelle—sweet fried ricotta‑filled pastries typical of western Sicily—a perfect finish to the meal. Marco made the kitchen feel welcoming, like cooking with a friend. He made the class both fun and informative, and deeply authentic. It was the best food we ate in Sicily, also! If you’re looking for an immersive, delicious, and culturally rich culinary experience in Palermo, this class with Chef Marco at Casa di Cilla is not to be missed.