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Cucina Della Rosa helps bring family, friends and colleagues together for memorable events. We provide everything you need to enjoy fun-filled cooking classes and private events by helping our students learn how to plan, cook and entertain with family and friends. We inspire passion and confidence in our kitchens which will ultimately last a lifetime in yours! At Cucina Della Rosa, you cook, you eat and you enjoy camaraderie... we do the dishes!

What's Cooking?

Mary Rose went to school (so to speak) and was a featured chef in the Great American Cooking Expo held at Harper College, Palatine IL. She is pictured with the founder of the event, Mike Indovina, Rick Petrocelly of the Olive Tap and the Daily Herald’s Food Editor, Deborah Pankey. Guests were treated to a sumptuous pork loin and a Q&A session that proved to be a real crowd pleaser!

Mary Rose at Cooking Expo

Mary Rose explains “Hands-On” Cooking techniques

Mary Rose at Cooking Expo

Great American Cooking Expo

Visit Our Photo Gallery

Discover the “Art of Cooking and Entertaining” right from the comfort of your own home by visiting our Cucina Della Rosa photo gallery to view pictures of our gorgeous kitchens, recent events and lots of people having fun!

Once you see the photos for yourself and have the opportunity to experience the camaraderie, smiles and cuisine… you can be assured and trust that CDR’s team will do the same for you when we host your next event.

As a complementary service for private events, we will download your digital images into a photo album to share with your friends and family over and over again on the internet. We’ll even provide the camera, so all you need to do is say cheese and smile!

As an added value to you, the CDR photo gallery provides the convenience of on-line ordering for prints and customized cards, mugs, calendars and even aprons with the images from your event. Just think of the unique gift-giving souvenir possibilities that can keep giving back to you over the years.

At Cucina Della Rosa, we’re honored to be your hosts, so be sure to check us out and tell a friend. After all, we’re only a few clicks away!

Mary Rose at Cooking Expo

The DACOR facility in Schaumburg is perfect for large groups

Mary Rose’s Tips:

Based on requests, we’ve added several new lifestyle based classes to help you have more opportunities to celebrate cuisine with your friends, family and colleagues. Here are a few special scheduled classes that can also be booked as a private event for groups of eight or more.

  • We’ve added several (Mom’s Morning Out) breakfast theme morning classes for those of you seeking some solace while the kids are in school. Join us for gourmet coffee, hot chocolate and fun-filled hands on cooking! Great for groups of moms, book clubs….
  • If you are looking for the ultimate power lunch, and tired of going to the same old restaurants, we will satisfy your hunger with a sumptuous hands-on style (Lunch & Learn) class packed with nutrition! Try it – you’ll like it!
  • For those romantics out there, we have created some very special (Couples Nights) to help you heat up your relationship and passion for cooking together! This is the ultimate date… and you can also bring your favorite beverage!
  • Now is the time to pre-book our summer camps for the kids. For more information, please check out kids section.

Click to download Cucina Della Rosa Cooking School brochure

About Us

Cucina Della Rosa Cooking School provides the perfect venue for discovering the fun of cooking and entertaining with your family, friends, colleagues and clubs!

CDR was created by Barrington resident and owner, Mary Rose Hoover, to inspire people to cook with passion and enjoy the experience with family and friends while entertaining. As one of her students stated, "Mary Rose shares her passion in every encounter with you and in return it becomes yours!”

We offer hands on style classes such as Pasta-Making, Hearty Soups, Herb-A-Licious and Italian Desserts. CDR has also become the “talk of the town” for hosting our client’s Private Events such as such as memorable family nights, ladies night out, and couples-only gatherings where fun and entertaining are the main ingredients! Read more »

Featured Recipe

Pasta Aglio e Olio

(Pasta with Garlic and Oil)

Try this great-tasting dish that can be prepared in less than fifteen minutes.

  • 1 pound dried pasta (100% semolina spaghetti or linguine)
  • 1/2 cup cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 to 4 peeled and lightly crushed garlic cloves
  • 8 quarts of water (Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water from cooking process)
  • 1/4 cup sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes (Optional)
  1. Heat oil over medium/low temperature in a skillet large enough to hold the cooked pasta and other ingredients.
  2. Add garlic and cook until garlic is golden brown. Remove skillet from heat and set aside to cool for five minutes. Add optional pepper flakes to cooled oil
  3. Bring water to a rolling boil, then add salt and pasta and cook until al dente. Drain pasta in a colander, while reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  4. Place pasta and reserved water into the skillet with cooled oil, toss together and serve immediately – salt to taste.

Serves 6 to 8