In the spring of 2012 I took a 4-month break from the business of catering, school and life and decided to go to culinary school in Florence, Italy to further my skills in the kitchen. It was the most relaxing and adventure filled time of my life. I learned how to make many new dishes from the best instructors, traveled to many different countries to taste different cuisines and learned all about different cultures. I really discovered my true passion for food and love for traveling!
I must say I did not enjoy very many of the dishes we made in our Italian culinary classes, considering true Italian cuisine is based on a poor man’s diet. I was introduced to a variety of meats, game and fish into my diet much more different than I have ever experienced before. We would make anything from cow tongue, tripe, pigeon, rabbit, quail, octopus, monkfish, squid, muscles, and so much more, and just about everything had anchovies. I did not take away too many recipes that I could recreate here in the states and actually have people enjoy them. But rather I took away many valuable skills that I will use for the rest of my life. I also took a baking class on top of many culinary classes, which I loved and I was surprised I did not gain 100 pounds. It was wonderful to learn the right way to make so many different pastries, breads and desserts! To help me learn the Italian language when I was there, I volunteered at a homeless shelter by serving lunches, which was not only a wonderful ministry to help, but I got to really immerse into the culture, language and food even more!
One of the favorite parts of my time aboard was to travel at any opportunity I had on weekends. I was able to travel all over Italy from northern to southern, and the many towns in between. Including Sicily, the island on the southern tip, and we tried some of the most magnificent fish dishes, along with my first cannoli, from the town in which it originated. I was also able to travel over to Paris for a long weekend to meet up with my cousins and of course see all the main attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and many more; but I got to go to the famous Pierre Herme shop and try his decadent macaroons. I had enough brie and baguettes while I was there to last a lifetime and of course I had to get a delicious nutella crepe out on the street, and enjoy some authentic French food at some amazing restaurants. One of my favorite places that I visited while abroad was Spain, not only for the fact that it was much more affordable, but the agriculture was incredible, the food unbelievable and the fun lifestyle amazing and exhausting! I have never eaten so many delicious tapas as I did that weekend, from potato wedges with a cilantro aioli to the whiskey chicken, which was my favorite. Every place we left I felt the need to take a nap after because I was so full.
My time abroad flew by, as I made great friends, ate wonderful food and learned many new skills. It was the best memory of my life! It not only gave me a travel bug, but also a huge appreciation for different cultures and cuisines. Some of my most favorite dishes I now make frequently are the many different types of ravioli, pasta and pizza, all the Italian staples!
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