The perfect afternoon with Mom
Today was a wonderful day. We started with a true Italian breakfast (as in they don't really have breakfast) with a quick stop for cappuccino and a pastry just like the locals! After the stop it was off to San Gimignano where my mom and I had an amazing cooking class and Emma and Howard explored the beautiful walled city. Our cooking class was completely hands on, given by a women and her uncle who also run a b&b but when they are not busy they offer a cooking class and lucky for us it was available. We started off making our own homemade pasta which we rolled each "pini" (slightly thicker spaghetti shaped pasta) by hand and followed up by making a delicious but very simple checca type sauce wih tomatoes, basil, garlic and oil. Next sauce was a "cream" sauce made without cream but actually emulsified cannelloni beans. Not being a bean person I really didn't expect to like this true Tuscan dish but it was incredible and felt very rich even though there wasn't a drop of butter or cream in the entire dish! We also made two different antipasti dishes..bruschetta and a simple salad with tomatoes, cucumber and soaked bread. All beautifully presented. Next was the "secondi", the main protein course. We had a very simple chicken saltambucco made with a sage leaf and one slice of prosciutto. Unlike the rich dish served at home, this was simple, flavorful and much smaller than anything they would serve at home. The flavors rather than the portions are huge here!!! All of these dishes will most definitely be making an appearance at future dinners in Calabasas. Can't wait to share them with all of you. In addition to the amazing food, each course was paired with a fabulous local wine that enhanced every bite! After the class Howard and Emma picked us up and we had just enough time to go back to San Gimignano so my mom could see the medieval walled city for herself! To end a glorious day we made it back to the villa without even one wrong turn. Look at us. Feeling like locals. Back home safely and looking forward to a quiet dinner at home....and some MAHJ!!! Love to everyone. |
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