Casa Carboni

Matteo and Fiona Carboni are the owner-operators of Casa Carboni – an Italian cooking school, pasta diner, wine bar and retail space in Angaston. It’s a multifaceted business, but given their combined experience, it makes a lot of sense.

Matteo is an Italian-born chef and his wife Fiona is a former wine export manager. They originally opened Casa Carboni as a stall at the Barossa Farmers Market, before going on to open a permanent site just two minutes down the road. That proximity allowed them to keep close ties to their network of market suppliers.

The market’s produce still determines the day’s dishes. And also justifies the flexibility and improvisational aspect to Matteo’s cooking classes.

Thursday to Saturday, lunch is simple: choose from two fresh pastas. A longer menu rolls out for lazy Sunday lunches. Wines are strictly European—the Carbonis handpick bottles to import from boutique producers they’ve happened across on their travels.

Cooking classes run from 9am to 2pm on Saturdays, after a market visit. You’ll learn four recipes: an entree; fresh pasta; gnocchi or risotto (depending on the season); and a dessert. A four-course lunch of what you’ve made follows, along with a glass of wine.