Birthday Candle in the Tiramisu (Mar 21, 2011)

Kathleen and Bob’s Arlington, Virginia cooking class was a celebration of Bob’s birthday – but the gifts were for all of us! All the “chefs” in this festive group cooked in Italian-flag aprons with sharp (in all senses!) new paring knives. Italian-American guest, (another) Bob was one of the first to arrive and set right to chopping with his new knife – entering once more into Italian culinary traditions: “This was just like being back home years ago, eating all the different foods”, he wrote to me after the class. Another Italian-American cooking with us, Donna, was reminded of the “old days”, too: “I enjoyed this evening so much I have to say I got a little misty in the middle of dinner – I am Italian and grew up with a large family and we had so many joyous dinners such as the one we had tonight”.

This class started in the living room with my introductory talk on Umbrian culinary traditions – and a review of our menus. And then the cooking fun started, enhanced by animated conversation. As we cooked each dish, we brought tastes into Bob’s elderly mother who was working on a new afghan in her bedroom (and had baked a pie for the event as well!). Course after course was enjoyed over the sharing of stories and as a gran finale, a candle adorned Bob’s tiramisu. Buon compleanno, Bob and mille grazie to both you and Kathleen for a delightful evening – and a much-appreciated gift… I am enjoying that new paring knife!

COMMENTS:
“This was such a lovely and fun evening! Thank you for all the wonderful insights.”
“Anne, the dinner was sarap! That’s ‘delicious’ in Tagalog. From your Filipino chef, Monte and his American wife, Megan: thanks for sharing your sarap recipes and your lovely tales of life in Umbria.” Monte