Cooking together is always a connection – and many of my U.S. classes re-unite me with old friends and past tour guests. A “culinary reunion” happened once again, in Alexandria, VA: how good to re-connect with hosts Barb and Joe after touring together in Umbria over ten years ago! As we-prepped for the class, I…
From the “Buon appetito – Dolce Vita” welcome banner on the front door, to the Michelangelo David towering in the dining room near the Roman columns to the Dolce Vita banners and everyone’s aprons, Tiffany’s birthday cooking class starred Italia! And not only: at the table, Italian phrase cards flanked each plate. Buon compleanno, Tiffany,…
“To think something wonderful like this happened in Lovettsville,“ wrote Carol after our cooking class in Holly and Andy’s 19th-century farmhouse in the Virginia countryside. Mille grazie, Carol, for this reflection, too: “The best evening ever, Anne – you are just so enthusiastic that it is contagious and makes this whole experience fun, fun, fun.…
Crawfish, alligator bites, zydeco shrimp, gumbo, boudin balls, crab claws, po-boys and crawfish bisque. Ahhhhhh. Louisiana has won me over – and that cajun goodness of southern Louisiana ranks for me as America’s top cuisine. Does it have any rivals? (Maybe the creole goodness of New Orleans that I’ll be testing during my stay here…)…
Mike and Gina, once again, mille grazie for such a warm welcome on my return to Louisiana. Mike, such good times last year doing two cooking events for Argent Financial Argent, one in Shreveport, two in Ruston. This year, my pleasure to bring Italy back to Ruston through an Umbrian rural feast and also a…
Usually, couples or single persons host my U.S. Umbrian rural cooking classes/dinners – but this year in Austin, three friends formed a “hosting trio.” Many thanks, Sharon, Sandra and Rebecca for putting together a memorable Austin cooking evening. And thanks, Sharon with husband, Greg, for letting us turn your kitchen into an “Umbrian trattoria” for…
The most gratifying leave-taking after a U.S. cooking class is the invitation to come back again the following year! Mille grazie, Judy and David, for bringing together such an enthusiastic group to hear the stories, the legends, followed by cooking up the Umbrian goodness: “Loved having you here – loved your stories and legends. Can’t…
No doubt about it: our Umbrian feasts forms links as all unite to create those buonissimo flavors – and then share them. And there were a lot of links at Rachel’s Austin class, new ones and old ones rejuvenated. I met our host Rachel years ago walking the footpaths at the Cinque Terre with my…
After our bellissimo Houston cooking evening with Bill and Peggy, Susan wrote me this note: “I guess I have never had real Italian food before because I never before had anything so wonderful! Now, what will I do when I want real Italian food? Thank you for giving me this experience!” Susan Susan, what to…
Cactus like sentinels on the rolling hills outside and Navajo and Hopi art surrounding us inside: a western setting this time for our Umbrian cooking class in Suzi and Dick’s lovely Tucson home. And this is always one of the joys of my US tours: not just meeting so many wonderful people but enjoying the…