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ANNOUNCING! U.S. Cooking/Lecture Tour 2010
(...and what a tour in winter, 2009!)
ANNOUNCING! U.S. Cooking/Lecture Tour 2010 (..and what a tour in winter, 2009!)
My 2010 tour kicks off in early February, 2010 in California and from there, on to Seattle. I will then head east, cooking and lecturing my way across the North America for 6 weeks. I already have bookings for some events - and priority in choice of dates will be given to those who book first. For all information on the cooking classes (how to host, how to participate, rates), please see Cooking Page. For all information and rates on my presentations, please see Lectures Page
...and now let me tell you about last year's wonderful tour:
On Feb 6th, 2009, I headed off to the U.S. to spread the word on Italy and Italian lifestyles - through cooking lessons in private homes and through my illustrated presentations. This 10th annual US tour was a memorable one and kicked off in Corona del Mar with a wonderful cooking lesson in the home of former tour guests (now friends!), Brant and Nancy, who hosted their second cooking event with me. A cooking class in San Diego followed and my warm and welcoming host, Didi, asked me back a second night to do another class: this time as a team-building event for her office staff! Enthusiastic participants cooked along with me at Tom and Mike's event in Del Mar, CA - and the evening ended with singing and dancing!
On to northern California for a cooking class in Marin County, hosted by Howie and Dave who had toured with me (as did many of their family) here in Umbria some years ago. Our cooking class was a most enjoyable "reunion". In mid-February, I presented my Power-pointed lecture "Italians, HANDS ON!" to an audience of 500 in Los Altos, CA. In San Francisco, I presented a similar talk (but without Power Point) for the FIERI organization, a group of young Italian-American professionals. I gave my talk at Tarantino's on Fisherman's Wharf, as the young audience enjoyed wines and a buffet set out by the restaurant. "Fieri" means "proud" (plural form) and I hope that my talk made all the participants proud to be italiano!
Next stop was Dallas, Texas area for events at Selwyn School in Denton, TX. The school was celebrating their International Week and my task was to bring Italy into the school, making it alive for children from 3 to 18 years of age. I had taught kindergarten through high school in a "past life" so I was eager to take up the challenge.
The Selwyn staff was warm and welcoming and I felt that I was part of the "family" as soon as staff member, Adina, met me at the airport with her lovely daughter. Carol, also school staff, had toured with me in Umbria years ago and her enthusiasm and determination brought me to Selwyn (mille grazie, Carol!). Opening ceremonies of International Week the next morning gathered all the students together and set the pace for the week.
The following morning, teachers and teacher aides helped out as I worked with nearly 50 children ages 3 and 4 making Italian fruit cup, macedonia, and talked to them about Italian healthy eating as they all chopped pears, apples, bananas, grapes, oranges, tangerines and counted out the raisins for their macedonia. They learned the Italian words for the fruits as they worked. We mixed all the finely-chopped fruits into a large bowl, stirring in orange juice and lemon juice and then each child enjoyed the "fruit" of their work in paper cups. Kindergarteners and first and second-graders, too, made macedonia and many lined up for first and second helpings. One little first-grader l said to me, "I'm having a sleep-over on Friday - and I'm going to ask Mommy if we can all make macedonia!"
With the older grade-school children, I offered a presentation on Italian gestures - and all went home enthusiastically talking with their hands. My Power-pointed talk, "Italians, HANDS ON!", gave the middle-school and upper school students insights into the Italians and Italian life-styles. My day at Selwyn School was certainly a memorable highlight of the trip and an enlightening day for me. As a result of my time at Selwyn, my 2010 tour will also find me sharing Italy, Italian lifestyles and Italian healthy eating in U.S. schools.
While in the Denton/Dallas area, I also offered cooking classes in the evenings in the homes of Selwyn School parents and staff. At each dinner, I was treated to Texas hospitality and met warm and most interesting people.
From Texas, on to St. Louis, Missouri where I reunited with the Moore family who had toured with me here in Umbria. Such joy to reconnect and share Umbria once again (this time, in their kitchen!). Memphis, Tennessee area followed and once again, my cooking class hosts, Scott and Sherry, had toured with me (on two different trips!) here in Umbria - as did their friends who joined in the class. Once again, what a perfect way to reunite!
Atlanta, Georgia was my next stop and hostess, Becky, brought together a wonderful group of women friends. Becky has not yet toured with me in Umbria but had been in touch with me a couple of years ago for assistance in planning a stay in Umbria for her group of about 12 women (most were at Becky's cooking class!). I helped plan their Umbria sojourn but the trip had to be canceled - but hopefully, temporarily!. I open my cooking classes quite often with a photo presentation (on my computer) of Umbria and the farm neighbors who taught me to cook so I was able to bring Umbria - in photos and in the food we cooked - to Becky and friends. An enticement to Umbria!
While in Atlanta, I met with a group of enthusiastic travel agents to present a talk on the "hidden secrets" of our bellissima Umbria. Colette O'Brien Allen at Alliance Travel was my generous host and I am grateful to her for the opportunity to get out the word on Umbria.
From Atlanta, I went on to Snellville, Georgia where Karen and Donna put together a wonderful evening of Umbrian rural cuisine - which, I hope, will entice many of the particpants to Umbria. Three of the guests - David, Cindy and Melanie - had toured with me here in the past and so once again, the cooking class was a moment of reunion. Donna will soon be in here in Assisi on a trip planned by a teacher at the local high school and affirmed Italophile, Bobby G. - also responsible for getting the word on my US tour around Snellville/Grayson area. Mille grazie, Bobby G!
West Palm Beach, Florida was my next stop and I think that my generous hostess there, Donna, has by now hosted my cooking classes five or six times!
Once again, Donna gathered together a wonderful group of enthusiastic women who joined me in cutting, chopping and creating as we talked about Italian foods and culture.
Durham, North Carolina, was my last stop this year and hosts, Barbara and Joe, hosted a dinner which I cooked (along with an assistant) for 10 of their friends. (Note: I offer not just cooking classes but also dinners cooked and served to guests). Joe and Barbara had rented a villa in Umbria last year (near Perugia) and invited friends to stay for a week and then their children and grandchildren for three weeks. We toured together many times during their month in Italy and I became very attached to their grandchildren (who happen to be in various photos on my website, by the way...!). During my second night in Durham, Barbara herself cooked a wonderful dinner (I was not allowed in the kitchen this time!) and her son, wife and three of the grandchildren were there, along with two other couples who had toured with me in Umbria. Che bello!
From Durham, on to New York City, for a few days of art museums, long walks and visits with old friends from junior-year-abroad-in-Rome ( '68 - '69) days. I also caught up with other friends I have made here in Italy, who are living in New York. While in Texas, Missouri, and California, I had also enjoyed joyous reunions with Roma friends, University of Santa Clara (undergrad there) and UCB (grad school) friends. These annual 6-week U.S. cooking lessons/lecture tours find me working hard but also relishing many a reunion: not just with old college-day friends but also with many of my former tour guests whomI now consider friends.
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