Fish shopping in Rialto and home cooking in Murano

I really did not know what to expect when my wife signed me up for an Italian Cooking Class for our May 2024 visit to Venice, Italy. It seems that somehow I never inherited the “cooking gene” and this was my wife’s opportunity to fix that problem. We were traveling with her sister and husband, their first visit to Venice. For about four hours, we were the students and our professor was master Italian cook, Valerio. Valerio met us at 11:00h near the public market adjacent to Rialto Bridge. We immediately discovered that Valerio was more than a cooking instructor, with his encyclopedic knowledge of Venice and its history. The first order of business was to select fresh tomatoes, artichokes, lettuce, potatoes, fish, shrimp, freshly cut rosemary leaves, and parsley. Valerio explained his methods for finding the best produce and fish. We next stopped at a bakery for fresh whole grain bread and a dessert. After a gondola ride from the market to the Vaporetto Station, we were soon on our way to Valerio’s home on the Island of Murano. Once there, Valerio patently explained his plan and assigned us roles that matched our skill levels. I was initially assigned to cut the bread, and I am proud to say that I still have the same number of fingers. I also cut the tomatoes for the salad. My fellow students raved at how skillfully the bread and tomatoes were cut. The five of us enjoyed drinks of Prosecco, mixed with a variety of aperitives. An excellent local white wine was also served. Food started with a lettuce and tomato salad along with bronze cut spaghetti served with a homemade tomato sauce. Valerio guided us through the preparation of the fish, a fresh water bass stuffed with salt, olive oil, and rosemary leaves. I expected the fish to taste salty, but instead it was richly delicious. After enjoying more Prosecco and the culinary results of our efforts, we enjoyed a chocolate cake dessert followed by after dinner drinks. We came away with a great appreciation for Italian food, Venetian style. If you are planning a trip to Venice and enjoy Italian food (who doesn’t), Valerio’s Italian Cooking Class should not be missed. Without question, it was the highlight of our visit to Venice. Valerio’s cooking class rates five out of five stars.

Valerio est un guide qui met tout de suite à l’aise. Très sympathique, passionné ! Nous avons adoré faire le marché du Rialto avec lui et cuisiner chez lui. Top!

Wir haben Valerio schon im April 2022 bei der Tour "auf den Spuren von Commissario Brunetti" kennen gelernt und uns dann gleich über weitere Touren mit Valerio informiert! Nun war es endlich soweit, ich habe meinen 60. Geburtstag mit meiner Freundin und meinen 3 Schwestern in Venedig gefeiert und an meinem besonderen Tag haben wir die Tour "Fischeinkauf am Rialtomarkt und häuslicher Zubereitung in Murano" gebucht. Es war einfach GRANDIOS!!! Nach unserer interessanten Einkaufstour am Fischmarkt machten wir uns mit super frischem Fisch, Gemüse und Salat auf den Weg nach Murano und haben dort bei Valerio nach Einstimmung mit Prosecco gemeinsam ein super leckeres Geburtstagsessen zubereitet. Jeder hat eine Aufgabe übernommen und durch Valerio's sympathische und liebenswürdige Art war es als würden wir uns schon ewig kennen. Wir haben uns alle sehr wohl gefühlt, das Essen war einfach super lecker und ich hätte meinen besonderen Tag nicht schönerer verbringen können!!! DANKE Valerio!!! .... und bei meinem nächsten Venedig Besuch ist somit eine Tour mit Valerio ein absolutes MUSS!!!