Can’t remember how many years ago we met in your kitchen, Paulette. But I know the connection was Italian Notebook where you’d read my stories of life in Italy. I’m still writing rural memories for Italian Notebook – and still cooking in your kitchen! Thanks to both you and Jim for inviting me once again…
“…Ten years of trying to find a spot in one of your classes: I finally got in! It was worth the wait! I finally found you!..” Lorraine wrote after our Bethesda class, adding “What a wonderful cooking class this has been! Every part of it was fun and delicious! Next stop: Assisi!’ Lisa and Gary,…
Am I just giving out recipes to the cooking classes? I hope not. I want to teach far more than Umbrian rural cuisine: I want to share with U.S. cooking classes the riches of Umbria’s rural culture, rural people, and their rural wisdom. Sherry, my Hernon, VA host, you understood that: “ …..Thank you so…
What makes “a magical night”? Diane and Bill know: “Whenever friends and food come together, it is a magical night,” they wrote to me at the end of our bellissimo McLean VA. cooking class, hosted by Marget and Steve. “Thank you for your inspiring words,” they continued in their note, referring to my pre-cooking class…
“…. a wonderful evening of cooking, laughing and eating!” is how Pauline summed up our Ocean View, Delaware evening, adding, “You remind me of my times with my Italian mother-in-law.” And host Susan put it this way: “Everything about the evening was reminiscent of growing up in my Italian neighborhood….it was all centered around family,…
“Thank you for serving up some soul,” Jen wrote after our Lexington class. After all, Jen continued, “At the end of every day, it should be like this – good people, communal table, good food and wine.” And cooking together cements relationships, too, as Leslie so insightfully pointed out: “Thank you for coming to our…
Mark, can this really be our fourth cooking class together?! Your Marlboro, MA. cooking classes (gathering together clients and friends – and family) always include generous amounts of good laughs added to the ingredients… Remember a past class when your greengrocer gave you a fennel, thinking it a leek? (“You can’t make a leek frittata…
Suzette summed up our Scituate cooking class like this: “One of the culinary highlights of my year so far. You are an informative and engaging storyteller and chef extraordinaire.” Mille grazie, Suzette and to each of you who joined in on creating our Umbrian rural dinner. And as always, cooking is connecting: I had last…
Cooking IS connecting and my U.S. Umbrian rural cuisine cooking classes have reunited me to past tour guests, friends from University-California Berkeley days, University of Santa Clara classmates, junior-year-abroad-in-Rome friends and even by high school friends! Angie, mille grazie, for hosting the most enjoyable class in Oconomowoc (WI) and so very glad the ties remain.…
“There’s no better way to bring people together than preparing delicious food and hearing about all their backgrounds…” Sharon wrote to me after our cooking class with TEMPO women in Madison, WI. Sharon, your words echo Nadia’s, culinary historian in Umbria! Ever since meeting her one November at the Citta’ di Castello White Truffle Festival…