Buon Appetit!

Last year we had planned a trip to Spain for our anniversary and just a few days before we were supposed to leave, Dave had to cancel because something came up at work. So, this year he pulled out all the stops and arranged a for private chef to teach us real Italian cooking for a day. It was great!

Chef Mario, me, and Dave

At the Academia

We took the Metro to the train station and took a 7 am train from Milan to Parma, then we took a bus to the Academia Barilla and met our chef for the day, Mario Grazia. We cooked ourselves crazy from 10-5, with only one little break, during which I immediately fell asleep. (see me sleeping in the sun below)

Our Menu

Arancini di Riso

Escaloppe di Salmon

Risotto Primavera

Cheese and Egg filled Pasta

Saltimbocca alla Romana

Spaghetti alla Chitarra with Amatriaciana Sauce

Making sure it's safe :)

Risotto

Bolognese Sauce

Ricotta Cheese Stuffed Ravioli with Thyme

We made 3 shapes of pasta

Tartufi Dolci Neri

Hazelnut Cake with Sugared Hazelnuts

I really did fall asleep immediately during our 10 minute break. It was a beautiful day!

One of my personal favorites!

We tasted everything and started out eating as if it were a meal but we were so full at the end we could barely even take a taste. It was so fun to cook with Dave! And now he can't tell me he doesn't know how to make anything...
Thanks for a great trip, honey!