A Taste You Can’t Refuse: Old-School Italian Favorites - 07/24/2026

A Taste You Can’t Refuse: Old-School Italian Favorites
Hands-On | Full Meal
Friday 07/24/2026
6:30pm - 9:00pm
$95/person
Chef Sandy DiGiovanni
Adults 18+

Menu
Pasta Puttanesca
Pasta Aglio e Olio
Sausage and Peppers “Sangwich"
Homemade Cannolis

Class Description
Step into the heart of old-school Italian cooking for a hands-on evening filled with bold flavors, comforting classics, and a few dishes worthy of a seat at the family table. In this lively class, guests will prepare a menu inspired by the rich traditions of Italian-American kitchens—where the sauce simmers low, the garlic is plentiful, and nobody leaves hungry. Tonight's class is taught by our longtime instructor and consummate entertainer, Chef Sandy DiGiovanni.

Chef Sandy DiGiovanni grew up in the restaurant business, learning to cook alongside her restaurateur mother and baker father from an early age. With decades of experience owning restaurants and catering businesses, she later gained national recognition as a finalist on NBC’s America’s Next Great Restaurant. Today, Chef Sandy shares her passion for cooking through engaging, hands-on classes at The Culinary Center of Kansas City.
We’ll begin with two iconic pasta dishes that celebrate the beauty of simple ingredients done right. Guests will simmer Pasta Puttanesca, a bold and briny tomato sauce layered with olives, capers, anchovies, and garlic—famously known as “Ladies of the Night Sauce” for its unforgettable personality. Alongside it, you’ll master Pasta Aglio e Olio, a classic favorite featuring golden garlic, pepperoncini, fragrant olive oil, and fresh parsley tossed with perfectly cooked pasta.

Next, we’ll turn our attention to a true Italian-American favorite — Sausage and Peppers “Sangwich.” Juicy Italian sausages paired with sweet sautéed peppers and onions are piled into crusty rolls for a hearty bite reminiscent of neighborhood festivals and corner sandwich shops. To finish on a sweet note, guests will learn the art of making homemade cannoli from scratch. You’ll roll delicate dough, fry crisp shells, and fill them with a luscious ricotta cream studded with chocolate, cherries, and almonds—a classic dessert that never goes out of style. After all, in this kitchen, we make flavors so good… it’s a taste you can’t refuse.

About Our Shared Cooking Experience
One of the things that makes our classes special is the community we build around every workstation. For most classes, each cooking workstation accommodates four people, and we thoughtfully pair individuals and couples together to create a collaborative, social experience. Over the years, we've watched countless friendships form over chopped vegetables and simmering sauces.
 
Most guests find that cooking alongside new people adds to the fun and creates unexpected connections. Whether you're signing up solo, with friends, or as a couple, you'll likely share your workstation with others who are just as excited to learn, laugh, and enjoy a great meal together. Please note that if you registered with other people on the same order, you will automatically be seated together. If you signed up as a party of four, you will automatically have your own workstation for most classes. If you'd like to sit with another registered guest and you haven't booked your seats together, please let us know in the "Comments" section when you sign up, and you will be seated together and placed at the same workstation.
 
We understand if you'd prefer a more intimate experience with just your own group. If you'd like to reserve an entire workstation for your party, simply purchase four spots and you will be given your own private workstation in most of our classes. This guarantees your group will have the space to yourselves. Please note that a few of our classes have six people per workstation. These include our Sourdough, Sushi, and Tamale-making classes. Questions about our class format? Feel free to reach out—we're happy to help you find the perfect cooking experience!

Dietary Restrictions & Allergies
If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, you must call 913-341-4455 before registering so we can discuss if a class is appropriate for your allergen issues. We’re happy to find a class for your needs if we cannot reasonably accommodate an allergen restriction.

• We are not a nut-free facility and cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.
• Some dietary restrictions may be challenging to accommodate depending on the class menu. Many chefs must prep and portion ingredients and demonstrated dishes and substitutions are not an option.

Our team is committed to making your experience as inclusive as possible, but we want to be upfront about our limitations. The more notice you give us, the better we can prepare. When in doubt, please reach out—we're here to help you determine if a particular class is the right fit.

Refund Policy
We provide a full refund if you need to cancel more than three (3) weeks prior to the start of a scheduled class. You will receive an Account Credit if you need to cancel at any time within three weeks but prior to the class start time. Please note that any refund issued for classes purchased using a Gift Certificate or Account Credit will result in reinstatement of the original Gift Card or Account Credit and will bear the same expiration date. Account Credits issued for cancelations within three weeks of a class will expire one year from the date of issuance. We reserve the right to cancel a class for any reason, at any time, in which case you will receive a full refund.

Other Notes

• Please enjoy a 10% discount on all items in our retail store during the full calendar day/night of your class or event. Our retail store will be open for browsing prior to class, during any breaks, and after class. 
• This class is for adults 18+. Children 14-17 years old are allowed if accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please let us know in the "Comments" section of the sign up form if you plan to bring a minor. 
• Please click here for a full description of our FAQs and Policies. Finalization of your registration tells us that you have read and understand them. 
• Want to buy a Gift Card for you or someone else? They’re available here.