Another class in another kitchen. Food, Culture, and Society in Italy. So it's mostly cooking but also with information about all things Italian. The professor isn't a professional chef but an architect (who specializes in renovation since there's no room to build in Florence), and he comes from a family of restaurant owners and managers. So he knows what he's doing.
Parthian chickenThe first lesson was all about classic and traditional Roman fare. We made a very rustic, very Tuscan chicken dish, which was very tasty. We didn't season the chicken at all. The sauce (involving parsley, celery, wine, and anchovies) made all the difference. Amazing, and a custard that involved honey and pine nuts.
My final class was Food Photography, which was pretty much the same thing as Food Writing but with everything applied to cameras and pictures. Our professor has worked photographing for National Geographic before, so he also knows his stuff.
When I got back home, we all went out to dinner at Trattoria Pallattino which is in our neighborhood and was brought to our attention by Alison's Frommers 2008 book. We also got a nice lesson in Italian meal scheduling because the place didn't open until 7:30, and we got there at 6:15. We followed Henk's suggestion and had an antipasto picnic in the tiny piazza next to it. We bought wine, cheese, bread, salami, and olives from a nearby shop. Some of us got gelato from Vivoli next door to have dessert first.
When the trattoria did open, we were not disappointed. The food was great.
After our rather long European dinner, we all split ways to our various apartments although not everyone went back to their own. I ended up falling asleep and did not wake up to go to the American bar - although it was kind of the leavers to ask - and had a nightmare where I was back in Maryland and wanted to be in Florence.
My final class was Food Photography, which was pretty much the same thing as Food Writing but with everything applied to cameras and pictures. Our professor has worked photographing for National Geographic before, so he also knows his stuff.
When I got back home, we all went out to dinner at Trattoria Pallattino which is in our neighborhood and was brought to our attention by Alison's Frommers 2008 book. We also got a nice lesson in Italian meal scheduling because the place didn't open until 7:30, and we got there at 6:15. We followed Henk's suggestion and had an antipasto picnic in the tiny piazza next to it. We bought wine, cheese, bread, salami, and olives from a nearby shop. Some of us got gelato from Vivoli next door to have dessert first.
When the trattoria did open, we were not disappointed. The food was great.
After our rather long European dinner, we all split ways to our various apartments although not everyone went back to their own. I ended up falling asleep and did not wake up to go to the American bar - although it was kind of the leavers to ask - and had a nightmare where I was back in Maryland and wanted to be in Florence.
3 comments:
All right, so when you're a fabulous restauranteur in some posh part of DC/Miami/Chicago you're going to have to give me free dessert ;)
so maryland is a nightmare?? aw so is anything compared to florence i guess
Jacque - if I'm ever a restauranteur, fabulous or not, I'll give you a free whole meal.
"Andrea" - not anything! I'll still take New Orleans over Florence any day. and MD isn't a nightmare, just on that occasion. haha.
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