Italian Week Ottawa 2026: Meet Me in Little Italy Masterclass: Gnocchi Cooking Class

In this masterclass, Chef Cristian Lepore will teach and guide participants through the process of making gnocchi [pronounced nyohkkee], the classic Italian potato dumplings known for their light, pillowy texture. Simple and fun to prepare, this class is suitable for all skill levels. Experience not required.

Participants will enjoy a delicious selection of Italian charcuterie and cheeses while watching Chef Lepore demonstrate how to prepare a fresh basil pesto, cook a fresh batch of gnocchi, and serve it for sampling.

Be prepared to get a little messy as you learn and practice techniques in this small, intimate class setting. At the end of the masterclass, you’ll take home your handmade gnocchi, ready to cook.

All ingredients and tools needed will be supplied.

Many thanks to the Embassy of Italy for their partnership and support of this event.

About Cristian Lepore

Cristian is a professionally trained chef who brings his love of good food, health, and modern Italian cuisine to CIBUS, Ottawa’s best-kept culinary secret, and to Orto Trattoria, his soon-to-open restaurant in Centretown.

Following successful stints as Chef in both luxury resorts and Michelin-starred restaurants, Cristian brought his experience and love of Italian food and drink to the National Capital Region, where he served as owner and executive chef of DiVino Modern Italian Restaurant and as a chef at Orto Trattoria in the Glebe.

Creativity is key to Cristian’s ethos as he skillfully redefines Italian recipes for today’s health-conscious diner. He combines his passion for health and wellness with a talent for developing complex flavour combinations to create delicious dishes that welcome dietary restrictions and that taste as divine as their traditional counterparts.

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