Pasta, Meat and Wine

Boo! Did I scare you? Give you a fright? I bet I did seeing as it’s been radio silence on the blogyssey front recently. For this I do apologise! But naturally I would be busy one week and a storm would blow out the Wifi the following one.  But to make it up to you all I will not only share with you my amazing full day Toscana cuisine cooking course experience, but also one of the delicious recipes.

A little over a month ago I had my 19^th birthday. It was my first away from home and the family so I was not what it would be like and I have to say I was a little… apprehensive. But my amazing Italian family made it an incredible day, filled with goodies and surprises, the first of which was a voucher to attend the above mentioned full day cooking course. From the moment I managed to semi-translate what exactly the voucher said I could hardly wait to go, and finally the day came. I have to admit, when I first walked into that large room with its two, bog, food covered tables, the two chefs in their pristine white uniforms and the few other course participants (all at least 10 years my senior) I was feeling slightly daunted. I still struggle to understand the language unless spoken to me as if I was old and deaf and was unsure how I would fit in. Turns out these were all silly and totally unnecessary concerns as by the end of the day I had almost everyone speaking together in English, applause and perhaps admiration for bravely tasting EVERY dish created (including Lampredotto – which is the LAST stomach of a cow and uncut looks like a deflated brain) and even a sneaky little selfie. But I am getting ahead of myself. Back to the tables full of food…

On the larger, long, rectangular table lay an assortment of rolling pins, flour, eggs, water and oil. The pasta table. The smaller, round table contained vegetables and a selection of meat, though most of the items I had never seen, let alone even thought about eating before. There was your usual mince meats (beef and pork) and chicken but then there was also liver, tripe, abomasum, and heart. Having chosen to take the meat course I couldn’t wait to see what these interesting looking animal body parts would create, and how on earth they could ever taste good, but of course where there is the will of an Italian (and a good splash of red wine!) there is ALWAYS a way.

Over the course of the day these packages were opened and magic was made in the creation of a ragu/bolognese style sauce, chicken and pineapple plate, fried liver, lampredotto and a thick tomato tripe sauce. However, not only did I learn how to make this magic happen, but also a huge amount of little tips and tricks, knife skills and simple cooking do’s and don’ts that are so versatile that I will be able to use them in almost any cooking endeavour. While myself and the two other ladies worked with the meat, all the others were busy getting their fingers flour-and-egg sticky and rolling out their pasta dough to make all kinds of delicious goodies. Fresh tagliatelle, ravioli and gnocchi as well as a whole bunch of others I do not know the name of.

Impeccably timed, we finished our sauces just as the fresh pasta was bubbling away in salted water and it was not long before we were all seated for a late lunch of our morning’s creations and a well-deserved glass of their Chianti red wine. Though the majority of the cooking had been done before lunch, we did continue on after with the smaller dishes (liver, pineapple and chicken) which we somehow managed to find space for in our already filled stoamchs. By the time the clock hit 4pm with the tables now bare we were all very satisfied and ready to call it a day and say our goodbyes feeling very happy indeed.

*recipe and photos to come tomorrow! :)

The Ways I've Changed

My goodness it feels like a long time since I last posted! Sorry for missing last week but I was away exploring my country of birth, England. Oh I am patriotic! While I was there I was asked if I considered myself a Kiwi or a Brit and… I couldn’t answer! So I have combined my nationalities and decided to call myself a Biwi (because Biwi sounds better that Krit!) Anyhow, this is not at all what I had in mind to write today but I just felt the need to share. Onwards with the original blog post plan we go!
 

I think it is fair to say that one the biggest reasons for students to take a gap year is to find themselves. Or at least this was a large factor in my decision. I expected that I would grow and change and I constantly had people telling me how much I would mature and that I would really learn who I really was. And it is definitely true. I have changed in a number of deep and personal ways. Which are exactly that. Personal. And reserved for my diary and Skype sessions with my family or best friend. But what I AM going to share with you all today is five ways I have changed that I did NOT expect!

No. 1 – Sneaning. Yes, I have previously discussed with in one of my earliest posts – here – but that fact that I did (and still do it!) is not a change I was expecting. At all. Whenever backpackers and tourists graced New Zealand’s shores with the jeans and sneakers I would always think how fashionably unacceptable that was and that I would NEVER commit such a fashion crime. But oh! Never say never. Not only do I now regularly snean due to its practicality and comfort, I actually have found myself looking at Nikes with the single thought of would-these-be-good-sneaning-sneakers? I have very little else to say on the matter other than that I have completely bowed to European sneaning-is-ok pressure and am not embarrassed to say so!

   

Now THESE would be nice sneaning sneakers!

No. 2 – While we are on the fashion topic I feel I must admit to something that I never in my wildest dreams imagined I would do. Yes. Even above and over sneaning. Double denim. I know I know! Until one month ago I was still appalled at the fact that double denim is an ok, acceptable and even fashionable thing here. But then I went to Amsterdam and found a beautiful light denim jacket at Mango for only 20€ and I could not resist. At first I only wore it over black leggings or occasionally a simple casual dress. But then one day when I already had my dark denim jeans on and I was starting to feel a little cold I did the unthinkable. I grabbed my denim jacket and put it on and after a quick (nervous) look in the mirror something deep in me changed and from that point I have been a double denim advocate!

 

I don't have a photo of me yet, but if Cameron Diaz does it, well need I say more?

No. 3 – Red wine. Now I had drunk red wine before living in Italy, but to be honest I never really liked it. I hated the way it hit your throat and messed with the taste of whatever food you were eating. I would take a white wine over a red any day. Basically I just liked white wines. The sweet, bubbly kind. That doesn’t actually taste like wine but more like the sparkling grape juice I always had at Christmas as a kid. But then Italy happened. At first I would accept out of politeness but now I will be the one offering! Everything I disliked about it I now love. The way it warms your throat and adds flavours to your every mouthful. In fact if I am to eat pasta with a rich tomato or meat sauce I simply feel like something is missing if it is not accompanied by a good, strong red wine. The earthier, the better!

 

Red wine -- I feel so cultured!

No. 4 – Spice. Another foodie change I did not see happening, least of all in Italy. In my food blog I mentioned our delicious homemade spicy oil that Massimo religiously drizzled over pasta and pizza and that I actively avoided despite his constant “Trust me. It’s very good!” And then I finally tried it. Now, like Massimo, I put it on almost everything and still can’t avoid his “I told you so” look every time I reach for it across the table.

 

mmmmm olio con peperoncino!

No. 5 – Seafood. Now I know this is another food one, but that’s what Italy does to you! I have really never been much of a seafood eater, in fact even eating fish was a push for me. Then, as fate would have it, I moved in with a family who own a frozen fish company. Being the good guest that I am and doing as mother dearest had taught me, I tried everything they places in front of me and as a result I have now tried (and enjoyed!) a large number of sea food including; cuttlefish, octopus, muscles, scallops, scampi, prawns and so many more!

A rather fine selection of seafood is I say so myself!

So there you have it, five of the unexpected and, while perhaps slightly superficial but nonetheless interesting, ways in which I have changed so far on this journey to discovering myself.