Foodie Trends for 2026: Skip the Stale Cooking Class. Make Your Home Feel Like Italy
It’s official, cooking classes are getting a glow-up in 2026.
Forget the fluorescent lighting, matching aprons, and one-size-fits-all instructions. Food lovers today are looking for something more. More personal. More hands-on. More real.
That’s why this year’s biggest foodie trend isn’t happening in a sterile kitchen. It’s happening in homes, backyards, and private venues, with experiences that bring the flavour and the feeling of Italy, right to your door.
The Rise of the Private Cooking Class
Across Australia (and especially here on the Gold Coast), people are moving away from the group class routine and turning toward intimate, high-touch experiences that feel tailored and social.
What’s driving the shift?
More meaningful celebrations
Birthdays, hens parties, and reunions are about connection, not sitting in a line of strangers.Hands-on learning, not demos
Guests want to make the dough, stretch it, top it, fire it. Not just watch.Better settings
Your home, your vibe, your playlist. No sterile benches or pre-portioned ingredients.Premium results
Real technique. Real ingredients. Real wood-fired pizza in your own space.
Enter: The At-Home Pizza Masterclass
At Marino & The Dough, this is exactly what we do, no aprons printed with slogans. No gimmicks. Just Italian technique, 72-hour dough, and a masterclass built around your space.
Led by dough artisan Luke Marino, these sessions are designed for:
Private groups of friends or family
Work teams looking to connect outside the office
Anyone who wants to learn how to cook real pizza, not just follow a recipe
And yes, we bring the oven.
Why Pizza Is the Hero of This Trend
Pizza works for a reason. It’s interactive, tactile, and deeply satisfying, and when done properly, it’s also an art form.
Whether you're hosting a birthday or gifting the experience to someone else, a private pizza night turns your home into a Neapolitan kitchen, complete with:
San Marzano tomatoes
Fior di latte
72 Hour Fermented Dough for flavour
Wood-fired or gas-powered cooking
Warm, Italian hospitality, right where you are
Experience Gifts for 2026: No Stuff, Just Stories
Another reason this trend is booming? Gifting has changed. People want to give (and receive) moments, not more stuff.
Private masterclasses are quickly becoming one of the top experience gifts of 2026, perfect for:
Milestone birthdays
Wedding presents
Corporate Events
Christmas and holiday gifting
And unlike most classes, this one travels to you.
Things to Do on the Gold Coast? Start with Pizza
If you’re looking for something genuinely different, whether you’re a local or hosting friends, this trend is your answer.
Private pizza masterclasses are:
Social without being crowded
Creative without the pressure
Delicious, fun, and just the right amount of hands-on
Plus, the mess stays in our gear, not your kitchen.
Ready to Book Your Own?
Luke brings the fire. You bring the people.
✔ Private bookings across the Gold Coast & Brisbane
✔ All tools, ingredients, and ovens provided
✔ Tailored to your group size and vibe
✔ Perfect for up to 15 guests