The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have delivered a defining moment for Australian winter sport. Australia finished the Games with six medals – three gold, two silver and one bronze – the highest medal tally in our nation's history. 

While the athletes braved the cold, we invite you to lean into the heat. At Vanilla Zulu, we trade the technical precision of the slopes for the passion of the kitchen. In this guide to our latest Italian session, you will see:

• The social layout of our paired workstations fosters a team environment that mirrors the spirit of the 90+ nations represented by global talent.
• The technical demo mix makes sure you learn the secrets behind the meal without the boring chores like peeling onions or carrots.
• A look at the menu, starting with golden porcini arancini through to the silkiest gnocchi in town.
• The home essentials, including our Italian Tool Kits and cookbooks, are for anyone wanting to keep the magic alive.

The medals are locked in and the history books are written. Australia has officially shattered the ceiling in Italy, finishing the Games with six medals: three gold, two silver and one bronze. This has been the highest medal tally in our nation's Winter Olympic history!

While the world has watched athletes compete in the freezing cold of the mountain slopes, Italian culture has always centred on the warmth of connection and food made with real passion. 

The historic co-hosted event involving 2,800 athletes representing 90+ nations is now closing out and local Brisbane foodies are searching for authentic Italian cooking classes. At Vanilla Zulu, our Rustic Italian 2 session bridges that gap, giving you a fiery kitchen environment to master the art of generosity. 

What Can You Look Forward To In The Kitchen?

Locking in your spot at the workstation starts at $129 for adults, with a group rate of $110 for four or more, or $95 for youths. 

These three-hour workshops run on weeknights starting at 6 PM and on weekends starting at 10 AM and 3 PM. We make sure every table works as a team on a roadmap through our different Italian classes.

• Always wanted to master the dual-purpose risotto technique? You're in luck! You learn how to create a rich porcini risotto and golden arancini at the same time. We get to show you the technical steps to achieve a crisp outer shell and a rich, earthy middle for your guests.
• Eager to learn the secrets of pillowy gnocchi? You’re at the right workstation! You learn the light-touch method for making gnocchi starting from scratch. We will cover the preparation of traditional sugo and burnt sage butter sauces. This dish is also gluten-free!
• Dreaming of perfecting the cannoli craft? Get your piping tools prepared! You’ll learn how to pipe the perfect vanilla ricotta filling to get that signature crunch and high-quality finish.
• And for the grand finale? Mangia bene, ridi spesso, ama molto — You'll enjoy the meal you just built with a glass of wine to purchase from our licensed bar while you chat with your fellow chefs.

Bring The Vanilla Zulu Energy Into Your Own Kitchen

Once you have mastered the skills in our kitchen, you might want to keep that momentum going. As a secondary thought to your class, we have curated the exact gear our chefs use.

• Pick up an Italian Gnocchi Tool Kit to make sure your home results match the class. 
• For those who want the full setup, the Complete Italian Tool Kit provides the reliable equipment needed to entertain with confidence.
• We also suggest the Quickies Italian Cookbook. It is a collection of our favourite recipes, tried and tested at the school for years.

A tavola non si invecchia - at the table, one does not grow old.

While the ice of the winter games fades, the timeless heat of our kitchen keeps the spirit young.  Our athletes bring home medals, so let's bring home the passion of winning Italian recipes to Brisbane. 

Browse our full schedule of Italian cooking classes to make your booking.

FAQS

Do your Italian cooking classes include making pasta from scratch?

Yes! Our Italian cooking classes teach you the "from scratch" essentials, covering professional dough preparation, various pasta shapes and traditional sauce recipes.

What are the four classic Italian dishes? 

We call these the Roman Big Four: Gricia, Carbonara, Cacio e Pepe and Amatriciana are simple pastas that share big flavours starting with Pecorino-Romano and black pepper. In three out of these four, you use guanciale (cured pork jowl) to reach that authentic result. They are like a family tree of flavour; start with Cacio e Pepe, add pork for Gricia, then add tomato for Amatriciana or egg for Carbonara. Talk about passion on a plate!

What is the oldest Italian dish? 

Testaroli takes the crown as the earliest recorded pasta! It is a rustic pancake-pasta hybrid from the Lunigiana region. Made of just flour and water, it is an ancient staple that keeps the long-term history of Mediterranean cooking alive. We think it is the ultimate OG comfort food.