Focaccia is Italy’s most irresistible bread — crisp and golden on the outside, soft and airy within, and endlessly customizable. In this hands-on class, Laura Guanti invites you into the world of focaccia sorpresa: the trendy, over-stuffed Italian sandwich where the bread is just as exciting as what goes inside.

Each participant will mix and prepare their own personal batch of focaccia dough from scratch, learning the techniques behind proper hydration, folding, and fermentation. Because great focaccia takes time, your dough will be taken home to proof overnight and bake the next day — so the experience continues long after class ends.

To satisfy immediate cravings, Laura will have a batch prepared and perfectly proofed ahead of time. Together, you’ll bake it in class, then transform it into a gourmet focaccia panini using an abundant spread of high-quality Italian fillings: cured meats, cheeses, seasonal vegetables, spreads, and finishing oils. Each student will assemble their own sorpresa — layered, pressed, sliced, and enjoyed fresh.

This class blends technique, tradition, and indulgence — part bread workshop, part Italian sandwich feast. You’ll leave with the knowledge to recreate bakery-level focaccia at home, your own dough ready to bake, and a whole new appreciation for why Italians never underestimate good bread.

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Laura Guanti graduated from George Brown before completing a post-graduate program of Italian Cuisine, which involved travelling to Italy, studying in Emilia Romagna (home of some of Italy’s best pasta), and working in a fine dining in Potenza. This amazing experience helped her better understand her own family roots and traditions. Which she has now intertwined in to her modern cooking techniques and flavours. Laura has now opened her own catering & events company called Bellanti Events, where she draws from her teachings & Italian heritage to create dishes that are both comforting and innovative. Gnocchi is still one of her most requested dishes at the various events she does! @bellanti.events

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Every Week, The Depanneur invites TO’s best culinary talents to lead fun, hands-on workshops.