I'm a Certified Italian Chef!!

I've been looking forward to today's S@S trip since I signed up back in March! Today I was able to take an Italian cooking class....and because I was the trip m family-owned hotel. This hotel was originally the family home where they would host a lot of friends and family and cook for them. So, the family was encouraged open a restaurant, and then they were encouraged to add a few guesthouses for friends...which eventually expanded to this quaint hotel. It was so peaceful and beautiful. It's no wonder that the hotel needs to be booked at least a year in advance...even for the low season.

Because our group was so large, we had to split-up into two groups. One group would cook first and the second group would be able to take a tour of the grounds and go swimming. How luxurious. ;) My group cooked first, and we were taught how to make fresh pasta. So our chef came out and taught us the simple steps to make pasta and showed how the same procedure can be used to make practically any pasta. While the steps were simple, I had some trouble with the technique. The chef had to come over and fix my dough. :( Eventually I was able to roll it out into linguine pasta.

Then it was time for the groups to switch, so my group had an opportunity to either swim or take a tour of the grounds. I opted for the tour, and it was so great. They showed us how they used to make olive oil with the most elementary equipment and how they make it today. They have beautiful grounds that grow everything from grapes, olives, figs and plums. They utilize all of these fresh fruits and vegetables in their cooking and the food items that they sell.

Of course this meant that we had to make a trip to their family store. I was able to buy some amazing olive oil, preserves and a bottle of sweet prosecco. My hope is to take it home for us to enjoy at Thanksgiving, but depending how much room I have it might to be consumed on the ship. Ooopps! ;P

Soon it was time for lunch and we all assembled in the outside patio that was our "kitchen" and we were served a seven course lunch, which included: salad, chicken liver pate, bread, an antipasta plate, our actual pasta in a marinara sauce, our main entree was lemon and herb chicken with potato wedges. Then we took a break to help make the dessert, which was Tiramisu...my favorite. It is quite a simple recipe. I don't know why I haven't ever made it before.

After we made the Tiramisu, we of course got to eat it. While we were being served dessert, they gave each participant a certificate certifying us as official Italian chefs...so see I wasn't lying. I am now a certified Italian chef!!!

It was amazing. It's definitely not my last cooking class in Europe and the Mediterranean so I'll definitely keep you posted on the other yummy dishes I'll be making on this voyage. Now...if only I could get access to the ship's kitchen! ;)