I’d never cooked in a state-of-the art kitchen surrounded by multiple work-of-art kitchens, countless bathtubs, a display of toilets – and a shower nozzle display worthy of a museum of sculptures! But Merv’s Fresno event took place in just such a setting. And how perfect to cook in a showroom kitchen like the one at…
Cooking a feast, sharing a feast is always the best link, the perfect way to celebrate. Our dinner in San Francisco was two celebrations: host Charlie’s birthday and a celebration of nearly fifty years of friendship for us University of Santa Clara women! SCU friend Yvonne summed it up: “a perfect reunion. On to next…
Cooking together always connects people, forms links. And cooking together often reunites. And Julie and Rob’s San Carlos cooking event did both: new friendships formed as all our “cooks” sliced and diced and Julie, Rob and I reunited and reminisced over our days together in Umbria when I was their tour guide (and Brandon, Drew,…
Kat and Mike’s Del Mar, CA Valentine’s Day cooking class was a birthday celebration for Kat and a celebration of friendships. Gabriela and Paul summed it up in their post-class note to me: “Awesome evening that really inspired laughter and friendship – loved cooking as a team. Enjoyed our cooking evening – and now, for…
Not all cooking classes start with shopping for ingredients at a local outdoor produce market. But my Santa Barbara class with Mary and Ed did. Not all cooking classes are preceded with a direct Assisi link. But this one was: there was San Francesco right over the main altar in the Santa Barbara (Franciscan) mission…
Hollyce P., part of the group of delightful women united to cook at Alicia’s Del Mar home, summed it up: “Tasty food, the warm friendship, a little wine – and what’s not to love? Thank you for bringing it all together.” Meet Hollyce: Bev R put it this way: “My gratitude – a special memorable…
Mille grazie, Karen and Michael, for joining in with Deirdre to host a most special evening of Umbrian rural food – highlighted by California organic goodness. Anne M., those strawberries from your farm added not just inviting color but indescribable juicy goodness to our tiramisu. And your butternut squash – with sage and leeks –…
Bill put it this way to me in his post-cooking class note: “Anne has provided a fantastic picture of life and cuisine in Umbria – and not only tonight but on our trips with her in Umbria.” Such a joy to share Umbria through food lore, cooking Umbrian goodness and then feasting – as we…
Susie and Don did it again: gathered a delightful group of their own friends and “unknowns” for cooking up Umbrian goodness in their Laguna Hills kitchen. Many times, people write me about wishing to join a class, though unable to host one. Susie and Don welcomed these requests into their group of friends and the…
Links are always formed at our Umbrian rural cuisine cooking classes and sometimes, surprising ones: at cousin Tom’s class in Monarch Beach, a participant, Sandy, had studied her junior year abroad in Rome where I had studied too (if quite a few years prior)! Sandy’s husband Randy proved to be an expert onion-dicer (for our…