Slowlife Family Farm

Wow, wow, wow!!! My family will treasure this experience forever and always. The host family is full of soul and every expression us full of heart. They truly put the EXTRA in extraordinary. We also met travelers from around the world in our group and became fast friends with similar interests. It was a whole day and we left with lasting memories and full hearts 💞 You won't regret this or ever encounter a similar experience as it can not be duplicated by anyone anywhere.

This day went beyond our expectations. I was traveling with 6other family members. There were about 20 in our group Rather than a regular cooking class in a kitchen, this is an immersive garden-to -able cultural experience. Carlo and Jess share their family traditions in a way that made the experience very special for everyone and people from all over the world were sharing their own cultural 'flavors.'. We LOVED it!! And, oh THE FOOD!! The food was amazing!! It was a feast! I originally bought tickets for 5 of us because I am a Celiac and a sister is a gluten-free vegan. But while making arrangements, Carlo heard that, he said "No! You have to be together! We can take care of gluten allergies and vegan diets.". We were both SO happy we went. We ate really well and were overwhelmed by their hospitality and delicious meal. This is a must-do!!

This was not just a cooking class or a farm-to-table workshop, it was a very real and warm experience. Carlo and Jessy express their love for Sicilian traditions - it warms your heart. To be part of the harvesting, cooking and the traditional game was a true honor! If you’re on the island, you should definitely book with Carlo and Jessy!

I wish I could give this experience 10 Stars!! Carlo and his charming wife, Jesse, are perfect hosts. This is not just a "farm-to-table" experience: it's about hard work, turning a dream into a reality, food, family, and fun--and, most importantly, love. We told stories, sang songs, laughed, and at times, even cried. Carlo described the archeological history of the site and the strong connections to the Sicilian culture, Jesse described how the liturgical calendar is linked to the crop harvest while picking sprigs of fennel. Their children hand-made pasta sheets that we formed into garden-fresh ravioli!! We ended the hot day drinking wine and diving into a cold river. It was simply unbelievable and unforgettable. Teddy & Meg, from Santa Fe, USA

The story of this historically significant property was fascinating, as were the many archeological finds under the overgrowth that had to be cleared away. The result is a lovely place in the country side with a beautiful home and garden where we got to pick and cook and socialize with other like minded people on a beautiful afternoon. We've taken the standard Ortigia cooking class where you go to the market and then cook up the swordfish with local produce but this was orders of magnitude more fun and more interesting to boot. We highly recommend this experience!

Enjoyed making ravioli from home milled flour. Also picking the veggies from their garden for our lunch feast. Local wines were great and the people and their home and farm were lovely

We booked this as a cookery experience and gosh it was so much more than that. My three sons, aged late twenties and myself had just the best day ever. Carlo and Jesse could not have been more hospitable and generous. Everything about this experience is unique and I could not recommend it more highly. It was a very personal insight to a Sicilian family who cares greatly for the land and the environment they live in. Bravo!

Carlo and Jessie have such wonderful warmth and passion that they share through their stories, food, garden, archeology and love of the land and culture around them. They have created something beautiful and you will have a unforgettable experience with them... and probably take away some new traditions as well as a satisfied belly and special memories.

This was one of the most special and magical experiences of our lives! Carlo, Jessie and their family were so welcoming and warm, it just blew us away :) We learned about the history of their family farm, picked fresh vegetables in the garden, played with their lovely dogs, had some philosophical chats with nonno and had the most wonderful meal that we all prepared together. There was singing, toasting and lots of laughing… it felt like being invited by friends 🤗 We can only recommend visiting this unique place and meeting these fantastic people!

They live on a 40 acre archeological site in Syracuse. They grow their own food, make their own bread, wine and pasta. We got a tour of the farm, picked our vegetables, helped prepare the meal and drank lots of wine. The food was all organic farm to table and the wine was bottomless. Our hosts Carlos and Jess were so warm and inviting, it felt like we were part of their family. Met Nona and Nono who also participated. They sang traditional working songs and we all joined in. Their dogs were so friendly as well. After our meal we had cannolis and espresso. After we helped clean up Carlos took us to Ortigia for a tour of the city. Best day ever!!! Highly recommended and better than expected.