Experiencing a Dante Alighieri Society Cooking Class
Nothing is better than learning to cook a real Italian meal from a real Italian chef. You can count on getting a recipe that is compiled of only the freshest ingredients and one that has been passed down through several generations within the family. Just last month DAS held a cooking class put on by Chef Tom Mirabito, at our Lady of Mount Carmel. If you have never signed up, you are missing out on a morning of fun. The church has a commercial kitchen that is perfectly suited for small groups to take cooking classes. Upon completion of the class you actually get to sit down with other DAS members and guests and enjoy the meal you prepared.
Chef Tom dazzled us by sharing stories of what it was like to go to cooking school at the same place Antony Bourdain attended, Culinary Institute of America and what it was like to own a restaurant. I asked if all the sordid stories that Bourdain shared in his book titled Kitchen Confidential was true and he smiled and said indeed it was…
Getting to Know Molise, Italy
As of today, I have officially been studying abroad in Sorrento for one month. September was easily the quickest, most fleeting month of my life. As much as I’ve tried to grasp onto them, the days have slipped through my fingers like sand, (something that is seemingly everywhere these days, thanks to the beautiful Sorrento beaches!). As I reflect on my time thus far in Italy, I cannot help but to feel overwhelmed with gratitude. This has been my first time in Europe, and I can easily say that my time here has been amazing.
One of the most enjoyable ways to spend the summer or early autumn in Italy is hike or climb in the mountains. There is a very extensive hut system across the mountain ranges that allows one to venture into the mountains carrying only a few essentials. Typically, only a small backpack is needed as the huts provide food and shelter (and wine). You need only carry extra clothing, ample water for the days outing, a compulsory sheet and any climbing gear needed for the objective you have set.
Getting to Know Sardegna, Italy
These towns may be small in size, but they’re big on character. Picture cobblestone alleys lined with flower boxes, locals chatting over espresso in the piazza, and trattorias where nonna is still in the kitchen stirring the sauce. In towns like Orvieto in Umbria, Montepulciano in Tuscany, or Polignano a Mare in Puglia, time seems to slow down. You’re invited to savor life—literally and figuratively—with long lunches, leisurely walks, and spontaneous moments of wonder.
Getting to Know Campania, Italy
Getting to Know Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy
We know the best way to learn Italian is to immerse ourselves but that is easier said than done as we can’t just move to Italy for a month or two. I have been struggling with how to become more comfortable with learning and speaking Italian while living in the US. After five years, I think I have figured out a few ideas that will keep us all challenged and provide a few methods to the madness. It goes without saying that the key is to spend time every day learning and practicing.