Welcome back Lisa – so lovely to have you back with us to teach Tuscan cooking
Just a small montage of photos from our two Tuscan Cooking sessions this month – hopefully we will manage another next month in Florence and then we have at least three days set up in London in mid-December cooking Tuscan Christmas dishes and aperitivi.
Gretchen and Gill making the pasta for our Primi – ravioli con pere e gongonzola
Gill concentrating on folding her pasta over the yummy pear and ricotta filling
Yes, boys get in on the act too – some even enjoy it …..Bob is chopping tomatoes for the fish dish!
Whilst some ladies find the left-overs irresistible……………..? Chocolatisssimo!
And finally even Husband joined us for the eating part – note the number of members of the “clean plate club!”
Our second class was on Tuesday 14th October – in the same location in Florence , Da Pinocchio in the Piazza Mercato Centrale. Close by by the recently redeveloped Central Meat, Fish and Vegetable market – we stop and shop there before the class just for the fun of it.
For the second session we had fewer chefs but plenty of diners for another fine menu – starting with Bruchette with Zucchine and parmesan – which had to be chopped at right angles so they pop in the pan without sticking.
More pasta making to follow – not only ravioli but also tagliatelli and a non-throwaway recipe for making a thin Brodo soup with fresh chicken stock and left over pasta.
Next , we cooked Arista – the best part of Pork Loin with Tuscan potatoes – all smeared lovingly with olive oil and rosemary.
And finally a Tiramisu – with chocolate slabs and pureed strawberries.
Another Brindisi – cin-cin ciamoci – Salute!
And last but not least Susan gets a congratulatory cuddle from Cosmo for a job well done.
Planning next week for next year but our objective is to re-introduce the monthly class – so in November and three days in London in during weekend of 12th ,13th , 14th and 15th December.
Buon Appetito !
The photos say it all, a very happy day, full of joy and laughter and we learnt a lot as well. Lisa was great, the soux-chefs comprising ourselves, Tina and Penny all took part in producing a culinerary delight for our fellow dining guests in a wonderful setting. Thanks to all for making it yet another special day for us.
Thanks so much for this feedback Mike and Linda – as you say the photos do suggest that you had a good time stretching out that pasta to the max!
Thanks so much for your visit to Florence and your enthusiastic participation in our activities x
This is the real thing! Lovely, simple, fresh and delicious food. You learn how to make things you’ll make over and over again. You won’t learn just recipes but also technique. You will learn the WHY of what you are doing. All taught by a truly, truly, special human being who cooks from her heart. These are the classes NOT to miss!
Loved, loved, loved this class … I was looking forward to meeting Lisa and learning how to make the delicious Pear and Gorgonzola Ravioli … Yum! With Lisa’s guidance during the class, I now feel confident that I can try the recipe on my own. The class was wonderful – wish I could join the classes that are being planned in London!
Penny – thanks for arranging the class – I enjoyed meeting my classmates and making pasta with my new “cooking buddy” Gill! Lisa – thanks for making the class fun and choosing a delicious menu! Wonderful memories!!
Thanks everyone for your wonderful comments – making me feel quite hungry!
Thoroughly enjoyed the Italian cookery class. So much so, that when I arrived back to the UK, I ordered myself a pasta making machine (I think that is what it is called!!). Lisa was superb, even her description of how to boil the Ravioli, “Don’t put too many in the pan, because you want to see the pasta dance and move and sway”…
Nick and I both enjoyed the cooking, the wine, eating the food, the company and I thoroughly enjoyed buddying up with my new cooking friend, Gretchen.
Superb day!!
Thanks so much Gill and Nick – so pleased that you enjoyed the day and I hadn’t caught Lisa’s dancing description of the ravioli – but I love it!
This was a cooking class with a difference. Lots of laughs and some really good cooking tips. Who knew? Want to know the secret then for a cooking class with a difference with a very special chef then sign up to the next one.
Lisa is simply the best and her cooking class was both fun and informative. The setting was beautiful, in the grotto of Da Pinocchio restaurant in the piazza of the Mercato Centrale. We loved making the pear and ricotta ravioli and the fish and potato dish she taught us was absolutely divine. Since the class, Vicki and I have cooked it twice, once with salmon and the other with Branzino. Lisa’s skills and enthusiasm really made this class an outstanding evening.
Thank you for this Bob and Vicki – so glad that you enjoyed the class and even more happy that you are being creative with the recipes – Bravi