---
title: "From Italy to Germany (via Meet): How Food Helped Me Stay Connected"
description: From Piacenza to Ireland to Stuttgart — this is how Federico’s passion for Italian food became a way to connect with others through online cooking classes.
---

[BlogmeFede](https://federicomazzoni.com/en/blog)

# [From Italy to Germany (via Meet): How Food Helped Me Stay Connected](https://federicomazzoni.com/en/blog/dallitalia-alla-germania-passando-per-meet-come-la-cucina-mi-ha-aiutato-a-restare-connesso)

 Written by [Federico Mazzoni](https://federicomazzoni.com/en/blog/author/federico-mazzoni) | Aug 13, 2025 11:38:07 AM

### My journey through countries, lockdowns, and lasagna — and why I still cook with strangers on video calls

##### 👋 A Journey that Started with Pasta (and a Lockdown)

In August 2019, I moved from Piacenza, Italy, to Dublin, Ireland, for a new job as a **Solutions Engineer at Salesforce**. It was an exciting step, but not an easy one.  
Six months later, the pandemic hit — and like many others, I found myself far from home, working remotely, and trying to stay grounded.

My answer?  
Cooking.

I started preparing dish after dish from my hometown. Not fancy restaurant meals — but real Italian comfort food.  
Eventually, I invited some friends over for a dinner, and after the meal one of them said:

> *“This is really good! You should host paid dinners.”*

So I did.

##### 🍽️ Hosting Dinners in Dublin

From that moment on, I began hosting dinners at home. Nothing commercial — just a **small contribution to cover the ingredients**, and a room full of hungry (and curious) guests.

I even bought a whiteboard to **tell the story of each dish** — its origin, ingredients, and personal memories tied to it.  
Cooking became a way to **connect**, to share culture, and honestly, to stay sane during lockdownù

 

##### 🇩🇪 Moving to Germany, and Going Virtual

In 2022, I moved again — this time to **Stuttgart, Germany**. But starting over wasn’t easy.

As a **remote employee**, I didn’t have colleagues to meet for lunch. I didn’t know many people. I cooked, but only for myself.

Until one day, I thought:

> *"Why not bring the same warmth and storytelling to my team — but online?"*

*That’s how my **virtual cooking classes** were born.*

##### 💻 The First Class (and Why I Still Do It)

The first class was simple. A short recipe, a few team members, and a lot of improvisation.

But the feedback was amazing — not because everything was perfect, but because it felt **real**.  
We cooked. We talked. We laughed. Some dishes flopped. Others were devoured.  
What started as a way to feel less alone slowly became something bigger.

Today, I host **online Italian cooking classes** for individuals, friends, teams, and families.  
It’s still a side project, but it means everything to me.

Because food has always been more than fuel — for me, it’s how I share who I am.

##### ❤️ Why I Keep Doing It

> I’m not a chef. I’m not a restaurant.  
> I’m just someone who loves food — and the stories behind it.

I created these classes to **cultivate a passion**, and to pass on the knowledge I’ve grown up with.  
If you join a session, you’re not just learning a recipe — you’re spending time with someone who believes that **a plate of pasta can bring people together**, even through a screen.

##### 👉 Want to join me in the kitchen?

 

[View full post](https://federicomazzoni.com/en/blog/dallitalia-alla-germania-passando-per-meet-come-la-cucina-mi-ha-aiutato-a-restare-connesso)

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