Cooking with Chef Abram: Loyola High School LA Cooking Class

A Starry Culinary Adventure in the Heart of Italy

A few days ago, Chef Abram and I had the absolute joy of welcoming a group of Loyola High School students from Los Angeles in Turin for a pasta-making adventure like no other. But this wasn’t just any cooking class: this was a star-studded journey through Italian tradition, creativity, and a little friendly competition!

Why stars? Because these students hail from Los Angeles, the City of Angels, sure, but also of Stars, and because in Italy, pasta is the true star of the table. But beyond that, stars have always been a symbol of ambition, dreams, and guidance…just like the journey of mastering a new skill.

Under the guidance of Michelin-trained Chef Abram, they learned how to make star-shaped ravioli from scratch, a dish inspired by their city and the brilliance within them.

Pasta Making Class: Cooking with Chef Abram In Turin, Italy

Setting the Stage: A Culinary Classroom at Eataly Turin

The experience took place at Eataly Turin, the world-renowned Italian food emporium dedicated to showcasing the country’s finest culinary traditions. Before rolling up their sleeves in the kitchen, the students took a guided tour of Eataly with me, exploring the roots of Piedmont’s iconic ingredients.

From hazelnuts -which give birth to Turin’s legendary gianduja chocolate -to Piedmontese cheeses they discovered the deep connection between food, territory, and culture. This wasn’t just a visit; it was an immersive lesson on how culinary heritage shapes identity and traditions.

Cooking with Chef Abram in Turin is a fun-packed, educational and crazy delicious experience you won’t miss out when in Turin!

I showed them why Piedmont is such a foodie paradise, from the legendary gianduja chocolate (the original Nutella, but better!) to the region’s world-famous hazelnuts and cheeses.

For me, food isn’t just about eating, it’s about understanding where it comes from, why it matters, and how it connects people. And I could see their excitement grow as they started seeing food not just as ingredients, but as part of a bigger story.

The Art of Starry Pasta: More Than Just a Recipe

Now, onto the main event: pasta-making with Michelin-trained Chef Abram! With flour on their hands and rolling pins ready, the students teamed up in pairs to create their own fresh pasta from scratch.

Making fresh pasta dough from scratch, mixing “00” flour (plus semolina) with farm-fresh eggs, just as Italian grandmothers have done for centuries.

Rolling, cutting, and filling ravioli—but not just any ravioli. These were celestial-inspired, star-shaped parcels filled with local ricotta, herbs, and Parmigiano Reggiano.

But why the star shape? Because food, much like life, is a journey towards discovery. Just as stars illuminate the night sky, our experiences—especially shared ones—light up our path.

One of the teams made these nice star shaped ravioli. It may look easy to create this shape, but, mark me, it isn’t;) and that’s the fun when you succeed, right?

Pressure, Teamwork, and a Dash of Competition

Cooking is not just an art; it’s also about adaptability, precision, and working together under pressure. To make things more exciting, the students competed in a pasta-making contest:

Teams of two had 20 minutes to produce the highest number of perfectly shaped ravioli.

Plating and creativity were also judged—because in Italian cuisine, aesthetics matter as much as taste.

The Winners? The duo that demonstrated efficiency, teamwork, and culinary finesse.

The champions were awarded a golden star trophy, along with a mattarello (rolling pin) and a ravioli cutter, so they could bring their newfound skills back home.

Some teams were laser-focused, while others were just having fun, covered in flour and laughter.

More Than Just a Meal: A Taste of Italy’s Heart

Once the competition was over, everyone sat down together to share a meal, enjoying the fruits of their labor. This moment of unity—laughing, tasting, celebrating—was more than just lunch. It was a lesson in culture, connection, and the simple joy of gathering around food.

To commemorate their experience, each student received a PASTAPORT, an exclusive keepsake recognizing them as official Pasta Galaxy Explorers, marking their journey through Italy’s rich culinary universe.

Our Pasta Stars: kings of the Pasta Galaxy 🙂

After an intense pasta showdown, we crowned our Masters of the Pasta Galaxy! The winning team got a golden star trophy, a traditional Italian rolling pin (mattarello), and a ravioli cutter, so they could keep making fresh pasta back home.

But the best prize? Sitting down together and eating the ravioli we all worked so hard to create. Because in Italy, the best memories are made at the table.

The Social and Anthropological Meaning of Pasta

This class wasn’t just about cooking; it was a window into Italy’s social and cultural fabric. In Italy, pasta isn’t just food—it’s a ritual, a tradition, a symbol of togetherness.

Throughout history, Italian cuisine has always been about transformation, much like the journey of these students:

Simple ingredients—flour and eggs—are shaped into something extraordinary.

Pasta-making requires patience and resilience, much like achieving personal and academic goals.

Cooking together fosters community, cooperation, and creativity, essential life skills beyond the kitchen.

Like stars, these students each have their own unique brilliance, and through this experience, they learned that culinary mastery, like personal growth, is a process of learning, adapting, and shining in their own way.

Join Us for an Unforgettable Culinary Experience in Turin!

This was more than just a cooking class; it was an immersive, hands-on cultural experience that blended history, tradition, creativity, and fun. Whether you’re a school group, a family, or a team of colleagues, we offer customized cooking adventures designed to bring people together through the joy of Italian cuisine.

So, are you ready to reach for the stars and become a Pasta Galaxy Explorer? Join us in Turin, Italy, and let’s cook up something magical together!

PS: Want to see more of this super cool cooking class? Go check on our instagram account @ieatfoodtours and follow us on social for juicy updates!

About the Author

I’m Cecilia, a sociologist turned food experience creator, storyteller, and co-founder of I Eat. Food Tours & Events Turin. With a background in food tourism and a deep passion for immersive culinary adventures, I believe that food is more than just what’s on the plate: it’s history, culture, connection, and creativity all rolled into one.

Whether I’m designing a one-of-a-kind cooking class alongside chef Abram, running an interactive, educational food tour in Turin, writing about the magic of Italian cuisine & beyond, or sketching pasta galaxies and more, my mission is always the same: to bring people together through delicious, unforgettable experiences.

Let’s explore, cook, and shine bright: just like pasta stars! 😉

Thanks for reading,

Cecilia

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