Dinners with CJ

Dinners with CJ runs pasta classes in a cozy home in Bay View, with room for up to six guests. Each person gets an apron and their own work station. Every class covers two pastas with different sauces. One menu pairs gnocchi in sausage cream with gnocchi in roasted tomatoes. Another pairs pumpkin ravioli in brown butter with pappardelle in tomato and fennel. The hosts started teaching in 2019 after a trip to Italy.

While the dough rests, everyone breaks for aperitivo, an Italian snack with a cocktail or mocktail. Then you sit down at a communal table to eat what you made. When the Wisconsin weather allows, you can eat outside. The meal ends with homemade limoncello, espresso and a light dessert. You're encouraged to bring your own wine, beer or nonalcoholic drink.

Classes cost $80 to $85 per person, and you book them by email. You take the recipes home. The school holds a 5.0 Google rating from 32 reviews. Keep in mind that cats live in the house and there is no gluten-free pasta option.