On the Riveria: Italian Cooking Classes in Denver

If you’re not familiar with the colorful cliffside villages of the Italian Riviera, it’s a beautiful part of the world. There is wild basil growing in the hills, the Mediterranean Sea washes against a rocky shore. It is a region defined by dramatic landscapes and a food culture on par with any part of Italy. This crescent-shaped strip of land known as Liguria offers a cuisine that is distinct, aromatic and deeply tied to the seasons.

Join us as we bring a Ligurian Italian cooking class to Denver. We think you’ll fall in love with the Riviera just like we did.

The Allure of Ligurian Cuisine

To understand why this cooking class is so special, you first have to understand the region it celebrates. Because usable land is scarce, the locals have historically relied on terrace farming, growing olives, grapes, and vegetables on steep cliffs. Perhaps more than other places, the geography shaped the food. Ligurian cuisine is famous for its use of "magro" (lean) ingredients. It is the birthplace of pesto, focaccia, and ravioli. The food here is elegant in its simplicity. It relies on the quality of raw ingredients rather than complex techniques or heavy spices.

We bring the flavors of Liguria to the kitchen with a classic four-course menu, mirroring the courses you might find while visiting the region: Antipasto, Primo, Secondo and Dolce.

Our antipasto course features artichokes. In this case you’ll be lightly grilling them and pairing them with a fresh garlic and white wine dip.

The pasta course will be Trenette al Pesto, a fresh basil pesto tossed with pasta, green beans, and potatoes.

Secondo is the main event. We’ll be grilling sea bass Ligurian style. You’ll get to learn the secrets of Mediterranean seasoning.

Dolce is the sweet finish. For this menu you’ll be making Ligurian lemon and raspberry cake. We think you’ll agree that it’s a perfect finish to an exceptional meal.

Spring is around the corner, and we hope the allure of the Riviera is enough to bring you to our kitchen for this Italian cooking class in Denver. It will be fun and lively, built to give you an experience you won’t find anywhere else. If you want to see more details visit the Colorful Italian Riviera event page.