Julie and Jo, so good to connect once again over the burners! Can it be four years ago since Julie’s cooking class (with Jo as guest)? Jo, thanks for opening your door this time – and kitchen cupboards, fridge and oven! – to an enthusiastic group (everyone bubbling away as they cooked, like that chicken simmering on the stove). Jon, mille graze to you, too – not just for acting gamely as sous-chef for three Dallas classes – but also for having me in your home, for getting me to classes (and not only) during my memorable Dallas stay. (Over forty-five years after our junior year-abroad in Rome, Italian food is still a part of our lives, vero? Now we’re cooking it together!)
[lcaption]Dishing up the pasta with help from a new friend, old friend[/lcaption]
This Irving group truly teamed up to create our feast, each team taking on a task. Beth put it this way: “What fun, all the prep work – likely a finely-tuned orchestra. Everything came together and tasted magnificent… thoroughly enjoyed the evening.”
Margaret and Jeanie participated enthusiastically this second time around:
“Fabulous – loved the menu this year! Thank you for sharing your insights with your Texas friends!” Margaret wrote in her note to me. Jeanie added this: “Enjoyed the evening again this year. Keep up the great work.”
In her comment, Carmen highlighted my pre-cooking presentation on Umbrian rural foods, rural life: “Thank you for inspiring us to become Italophiles! It was a wonderful evening on all fronts… lovely meal..great stories, your delightful presentation.”
Mille grazie to each for your thoughts (impossible to share all!):
“Thank you so much for a wonderful evening. It was so much fun and I love the recipes!” Jo S. (host)
“Another fabulous dinner – thank you for sharing Italy with us. Bellissimo!” Julie (co-host)
“Your class was so enjoyable and I learned so much. Thank you for teaching me to prepare a nice dinner for my family of twelve.” Liza
“What a wonderful experience… a pleasure to cook with you. So glad you share your gifts with the world!” Anna
“An incredible adventure tonight! You are simply a joy and your life story is an inspiration and a proof of a spirit well-seasoned. Q.B.! ” Ellen (Note: all cooking classes quickly learn the concept of “q.b.” or “quanto basta”, meaning “as much as is needed.” A key concept to cooking italiano)
