Submitted by Dana Wilkins on the 2022 winter session program in Italy sponsored by the Department of Linguistics and Cognitive Science…
This week we attended a cooking class in Sorrento where we learned to make several traditional Italian foods like fried zucchini flowers and tiramisu. This was a truly incredible opportunity to not only learn how to make and get to try several new foods, but also to talk with a local family and learn about the family history of their villa.
The day began with an introduction to the family and their business, Villa Ida, named after their grandmother. We then donned our aprons and began to prepare the food. Sorrento is famous for their lemons, and we got to cook with lemons fresh from trees on the property. After all our preparation, we got to tour their wine cellar while the food baked and learn about the process, they use to make various wines. The owners explained how every year all their friends and family gather to prepare the wine and how he gifts them each a painted ceramic with the year on it to thank them for all their help.
After touring the cellar, was the moment we got to taste all the food we made. They brought out the first course which consisted of tomato salad, cucumber salad, fresh mozzarella, and the fried zucchini flowers. Next followed our baked pasta, then the breaded veal and potatoes, and finally a lemon tiramisu for dessert. Dining in Italy is a different experience to dining in the United States. Meals at restaurants in Italy are often multiple courses and sometimes hours long outings. They are very much social gatherings. In the United States, after we finish with our meal, we typically want the check very quickly to pay and head out. In Italy, it’s common to linger after the meal, perhaps having an after-dinner coffee or drink. This has definitely taken some adjustment, but it’s a nice change of pace compared to the U.S., allowing me to truly enjoy the meal and wonderful flavor of the food.
Overall, this was an incredible, unique experience, and I look forward to the two more cooking classes to come (and more delicious food)!
