CIBO Culinary Institute of Bologna

I rarely write reviews, but I had to write one for Stefano after a truly excellent 2 days cooking with him. He taught me so much from traditional Bolognese sauce(orange not red!) to pork scaloppine to a meat stock that we used as a rich flavor base in many of the dishes we cooked. I've been able to successfully reproduce at home many of the dishes Stefano taught me to much fanfare from family and friends. Learning all these cooking skills was worth the price alone, but I have to add that Stefano was also just a great guy to hang with for 2 days. We talked about so many interesting things from life, philosophy, technology, and more. I look forward to cooking with Stefano again one day.

CIBO is the best cooking school I have ever attended. I booked the 2 week course: it exceeded all expectations. Chef Stefano teaches with great flexibility, relentless energy, and contagious passion. He focuses on techniques/principles rather than recipes, so now, I feel like I can confidently adapt and create dishes according to my local ingredients. Additionally, Stefano is extremely knowledgeable about the history, culture, and reasoning behind Italian cooking—this has greatly enriched my understanding and appreciation of food. The menu was improvised every day based on market availability and our personal taste preferences. One day, we deboned chickens and cooked several dishes using the various parts. Another day, we prepared 9 different varieties of seafood from scratch. And of course, we made many many kinds of pasta. :) Stefano and family are some of the loveliest people you will meet. Cooking with them was fun, delicious, creative, and perspective-changing. I’m so excited to share what I’ve learned when I cook for my family back home!

This was the BEST day in Bologna; I'm definitely a novice in the kitchen & I had the most fun! Stefano was very informative about the city, as well as cooking techniques & culinary creativity. The kitchen was immaculate and he was joyful throughout the ordeal, even as we created a mess in his beautiful space (and even serenading us with a song or two). There were 8 in this particular class & he included us all in every aspect of the experience. I highly recommend taking advantage of this wonderful chef in this beautiful city!

I brought 6 couples to CIBO for a team-building evening off cooking and eating. It was a perfect way to get to know each other and have fun. Stefano is one of the easiest cooking teachers I have ever worked with. His energy is contagious and he has a great sense of humor. He made cooking easy for everyone. His staff is also wonderful and knowledgeable. The food was amazing and everyone left in awe, satisfied and wanting to return for more!

A holiday in Italy is always fun, but our class at CIBO surprised us as a highlight, providing great memories and a bonus, improved culinary skills. Chef Stefano and CIBO Staff were really enjoyable and inspiring. The food and wine were the stars, but this fantastic experience is mostly credited to the easy going highly skilled style of the CIBO staff with their focus on fun and learning. Apologies to my Italian wife and her family, but Chef Stefano’s recipe and tutelage inspired us to cook the best Lasagna ever, that’s high complement after 60+ years of loving Lasagna among many great Italian dishes. Best of all, we came away with recipes and tips on for several dishes which we’ll enjoy many times over. We look forward to another evening at CIBO when we return to Bologna.

I have been fortunate to attend cooking classes all over the world. But I had never done an immersion cooking school until our 3-day experience with Stefano Corvucci. I loved watching chefs but I always wanted more. Having a private, hands-on cooking marathon exceeded my expectations. We were able to shop, prepare and dine on the Italian favorites my family loves. And the best part, I am able to continue the experience in my own kitchen with local ingredients found in my home markets. My experience at Stefano’s home kitchen changed how we prepare & love pasta, pancetta, & parmesan. The lessons I learned by cooking with the chef, rather than just watching, resulted in a more valuable experience. I highly recommend Stefano Corvucci without hesitation.

Just returned to the US after spending 7 days with Stefano at his home in Blaze, a small village in the mountains. When he states you have a 3-story home to yourself that is an understatement. This home has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, a modern and ancient kitchen plus a well-appointed living room/office with piano. Plus the Tigres River begins as a spring on the property. We spoke via web conferencing initially until he knew what I wanted to learn, how we could do it and as an added bonus what I would like to see. Stefano is the consummate chef and professional, beginning with a trip to a butcher and then waiting for the fresh vegetable truck to come into town. He purchased all we needed to cook the dishes I was interested in, and of course some local Italian wines to try. His style of instruction is thorough and hands on, with a good dose of humor and really good music. We made Bolognese, pasta, Gnocchi, beef short rib stew, broth made of chicken & beef plus cacciatore. I have made Gnocchi and cacciatore since I've been home and both were good. The key is he teaches you that you can do it on your own, I'm proof to that. We asked if we could extend our trip and go to Venice, Stefano made all the arrangements for us (at an additional cost) plus gifted me with a Vivaldi concert to celebrate my birthday, wow! Stefano can customize your cooking/touring trip to your specific needs, just ask him. My travel partner has mobility issues and Stefano was empathetic and made sure he was comfortable and could participate. If you're considering learning authentic Italian in a fully immersive experience, contact Stefano Corvucci, you won't be disappointed.

My husband and I have spent two Italian vacations with Chef Stefano. I had so much fun the first time at the kitchen in Bologna I couldn't wait to return a second time. Staying at his mountain home is an experience like none other. Stefano is a gracious host, his passion about local food, wine and history is infectious. Beautiful and relaxing atmosphere, something for everyone. Hiking, cooking, biking, art and exploring. I can't wait to return!