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…
“When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s amore,” Dean Martin used to sing. And all of us sang it, too, as Kathy played the ukelele and Tom strummed his guitar, leading us along, after our cooking class in their Fresno home. Click here to hear us/see us on YouTube. And…
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…