Back from a delicious tasting tour of southern Italy
The group of eighteen (comprised of culinary and baking students, food and beverage professionals, and just plain food lovers) and I enjoyed a whirlwind tour of southern Italy, starting in Rome, and then by train to Caserta from where we traveled into the hills above Naples (the Sannio region) and then by air onto Sicily. Adhering flawlessly (most of the time to the tight schedule), we experienced cooking and baking classes, visits to artisanal food and wine producers, and fabulous lunches and dinners, all hosted by the warmest, most accommodating professionals with fabulous weather to match. Rain in the evenings always led to sunny Titian blue skies as we wended our way through the countryside, racking up more than 1000 miles in the expert hands of our coach drivers. Check out photos at my Facebook site.
Classes at Stephan Pyles beautiful restaurant in Dallas along with a class for pastry and baking students at the Art Institute of Dallas went wonderfully well thanks to the help of Zach Townsend, pastry chef and chocolatier (www.purechocolatedessertsbyzach.com). Many thanks also to all of the staff, both front and back of the house at Stephan Pyles restaurant and a shoutout to Chef Nina Hunter for hosting me as guest pastry chef and for setting up an enjoyable class for her students.
What’s next? Sign up NOW for my Passover dessert class at the Skirball Center, Los Angeles on April 3…..it will open your eyes to new ways to be indulgent at the end of the Seder meal. For more information, navigate to: http://bit.ly/eA8eQo.
