GRAN FINALE to the 2011 U.S. Tour

My stay in the Washington, D.C. area was a perfect wrap-up to a memorable 7-week (almost!) coast-to-coast U.S. cooking lessons/lectures tour. It synthesized what my annual U.S. tour is about: connecting with family, old friends and former tour guests via my lectures or cooking classes of Umbrian rural cuisine. In the D.C. area, five superb cooking classes were the gran finale: such an interesting variety of people involved in stimulating and interesting work (consider the area!). I learned much in conversation with many of them while cooking.
Some of my Rome junior-year-abroad friends live in the area: Joan and her husband George took me into their home and other Rome friends joined us there for a brunch and memory-sharing. Rome jr-year friend Mike and his wife Karen took me shopping for gifts for my family back in Italy. Rome friend David always picks me up at the airport on arrival – and gets me on the plane to Italy (this is a “U.S. tour routine”). I enjoyed lunch with UC-Berkeley friend Nancy and another lunch with Porter, former tour guest, now friend (and Umbria-home owner!).
Arrivederci to all… and see you in 2012!

CLICK HERE for itinerary of the 2011 U.S. tour
CLICK HERE for news on launch of the 2012 tour
CLICK HERE for all the stories on the 2011 U.S. tour