What a joy to be the “excuse” for a family reunion! I had been the tour guide for Ron and Liz on a couple Umbria trips – and Umbria recently came alive in their Rancho Santa Fe (California) home through a cooking class for their eight children (and spouses). Our class started off with an…
Tracy, Mike and I first cooked together years ago when they both participated in a San Diego class hosted by a business associate of Mike. A couple years ago, they decided to host their own cooking class in their El Dorado Hills home: a delightful gathering of Mike’s business colleagues (mostly). They live back in…
Janel and Eric’s Livermore (California) kitchen recently filled with family and guests cooking together in an event that spanned the generations. 93- yr-old “Nonna” Josephine mixed the ricotta and mascarpone for our tiramisu, surrounded by relatives of all ages. Italian roots in this family so cooking and eating together were certainly part of the family…
What’s the link that can bridge over four decades? A chance encounter in an Assisi cafe’ on a dark day, rain bucketing down outside. Last spring, I was there working on my computer – “americani” were at the next table. One of them – Molly – and I started chatting a bit, our conversation soon…
Mamma mia, quite daunting when a UCB friend, David, answered his own question to me this morning: “Annie, guess who is lecturing next at Santa Clara?” “The Dalai Lama.” On February 24th, he’ll lead a dialogue entitled “Business, Ethics and Compassion” and arrival two hours prior to go through security is necessary. No security passage…
“You have to mix a salad with your hands (clean hands)”, advised John (“Giovanni”) as he mixed together our Sicilian salad of steamed green beans, boiled potatoes, garlic and parsley at our Belmont cooking class. Leek frittata, too, was on this menu…and Giovanni headed to the burners and intrepidly – “I can flip those frittatas”…
Every U.S. cooking class features a memorable moment: I’ll always remember Carol’s San Francisco event (and not just for the good times with this great group!) but for our host’s proposed solution for the needed crispy lady fingers. Carol had purchased soft ones (not really doable for this tiramisu) but perked up brightly with a…
A festive Valentine’s Day table greeted all cooking guests entering Rich and Cathy’s San Francisco home on February 14th. But during our cooking class introduction – while I talked about Umbria, Umbrian rural life and rural cuisine – I neglected to mention Umbria’s tie to Valentine’s Day! San Valentino, born in Terni (Umbria) in the…
Susie and “Ferbie”, hardly seems possible that we met in Perugia TEN years ago! Enjoyed showing you the Umbrian wonders then as your Perugia guide – and how wonderful to link again as we cooked the flavors of Umbria in your kitchen, Susie (and Don). Your warm welcome greeted us right at the front door,…
The Northridge, California cooking class/dinner had a magical end (literally): with guest Dave treating us to a magic trick – after the feast, after the dessert – but before the limoncello! I often enjoy asking guests to tell us all something about themselves as we savor the Umbrian rural goodness – and when it was…