I don’t know about you, but not being able to travel or even plan for future travel has been a very difficult thing for me during this pandemic! We usually always have some trip planned…and then we plan on our next trip while we are on our current vacation! I know that must seem crazy, but we love the planning and anticipation of travel as much as we love the travel itself!

The birthplace of Pizza - Naples! L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele

If you know me, you probably already know that I LOVE Italy! It is one of my favorite places…and I could go over and over again. I love the culture, the history, the people, and of course the FOOD!

In April and May, I even did a virtual tour through Italy on my Instagram. If you have not seen it, check it out here!

During our last trip to Spain, we discovered Airbnb Experiences. These experiences are done all around the world; they are tours, cooking, art classes, photography, and so much more…all done by locals to give you a more immersive experience. Just like the rest of the world, these experiences have had to morph due to the pandemic. They now have a ton of online experiences, including cooking pasta with a grandma in Italy! Sign me up!

Unfortunately, when I first discovered the class, I could not get the schedule to work right because I was working…and the time difference to Alaska is always an issue! Therefore, once I got laid off from work, it was the perfect opportunity to register! I registered directly through Nonna Live!

There are many choices in types of pasta when registering: Lasagna, Ravioli, Fettucine, Gnocchi, and Cannelloni (each offered on a different day of the week). There are also three different time slots available. I signed up to make Ravioli with butter sage sauce. Although, I had to improvise and make a garlic butter sauce because my sage did not arrive on the airplane on time! Life in Alaska can be challenging that way sometimes!

Once registered, they sent me a list of ingredients and tools that I would need. I registered a few weeks ahead of my class, so I could ensure that I could order items that I would need from Amazon. Items always take longer to arrive here!

They also sent me an Italian playlist on Spotify, so I could listen to the music during the class! Listen Here! I am listening to it as I write this! It is sure to make you smile!

On the day of the class, I was sent a link to join a Google live meeting. There were about 5-6 other people in the class. The teachers (a grandma and her granddaughter) were very accommodating. They went at a pace that ensured everyone could keep up, allowed for modifications, and assisted with recipe adjustments depending on how many people you were cooking for!

The class was a little stressful because I had no idea what I was doing, and my raviolis were not the most beautiful; however, they tasted wonderful…and I am confident that I will be able to recreate the dish and that it will get better every time!

I recommend that you check out this and the other experiences on Airbnb. What a wonderful way to bring travel into our homes, since we cannot actually travel right now!

Now I need to pick which experience will be next! Ciao!

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Traveling to Italy via my Kitchen